To see the land of my childhood through the eyes of my children
To experience the sights and smells and tastes of my dreams via the senses of my kids
To relive the language and experiences of my growing up with the voice and being of my daughter
To visit long-hidden memories through the actions of my son
Sweet Surreality
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Monday, January 26, 2015
There and Back Again
The last two weeks have flown by so quickly, my head is in a whirl trying to catch up again. Or maybe that's the jet lag? Either way, my head is a little whirly.
At this time, two weeks ago, my little family ad I were boarding an airplane to fly to New York - to board another airplane to fly to Seoul, Korea - to board a final airplane to fly to Bangkok, Thailand. At which point, Tuesday night, 11pmish, we were greeted by my parents and whisked away in a car to Hua Hin where we spent the next 10 days enjoying tropical weather, good food, and wonderful company.
Then Saturday the 24th at 12:30am we reversed the whole process, managing to arrive back home by 3pm, still Saturday the 24th. Time is a funny thing.
It was so wonderful being home. And what I find most significant is that it was still home. Which reinforces the idea that home is not a place but a concept. I was able to walk into a house I've never seen before (except in pictures), live in a town I've never lived in before (although I've been there numerous times as a child as we frequently went to that particular town when we were going to the beach), and feel completely as if I had come home.
Granted, much of the furniture of the house was familiar to me (although not all), and the pictures on the walls reflected the childhoods of me and my siblings, and even the silverware and the dishes and yes even a few swim towels are all those I grew up with...and that all helps.
But it's the foods we ate (and the fruit--oh how I have missed Thai fruit--mangoes that melt in your mouth, bananas that have true flavor, som-o, papaya, guava, I must stop raving...), the language that surrounded me, the smells and even the weather that we were blessed with, all of it just felt right. I was finally home.
And now, as I sit here early in the morning, listening to my cottage girls getting ready for school, trying to wake my brain up entirely after a rough night with a little boy who hasn't managed jet lag well at all (its 11pm, let's play!!), and to find my rhythm again, and I find that here, too, I am home. But it is a different home.
It's the home that has been mine in 13 years of marriage; mine through work and tears and adult growth. And the foods are different, the sounds and smells not at all the same, but my home it still is.
And I am satisfied.
At this time, two weeks ago, my little family ad I were boarding an airplane to fly to New York - to board another airplane to fly to Seoul, Korea - to board a final airplane to fly to Bangkok, Thailand. At which point, Tuesday night, 11pmish, we were greeted by my parents and whisked away in a car to Hua Hin where we spent the next 10 days enjoying tropical weather, good food, and wonderful company.
Then Saturday the 24th at 12:30am we reversed the whole process, managing to arrive back home by 3pm, still Saturday the 24th. Time is a funny thing.
It was so wonderful being home. And what I find most significant is that it was still home. Which reinforces the idea that home is not a place but a concept. I was able to walk into a house I've never seen before (except in pictures), live in a town I've never lived in before (although I've been there numerous times as a child as we frequently went to that particular town when we were going to the beach), and feel completely as if I had come home.
Granted, much of the furniture of the house was familiar to me (although not all), and the pictures on the walls reflected the childhoods of me and my siblings, and even the silverware and the dishes and yes even a few swim towels are all those I grew up with...and that all helps.
But it's the foods we ate (and the fruit--oh how I have missed Thai fruit--mangoes that melt in your mouth, bananas that have true flavor, som-o, papaya, guava, I must stop raving...), the language that surrounded me, the smells and even the weather that we were blessed with, all of it just felt right. I was finally home.
And now, as I sit here early in the morning, listening to my cottage girls getting ready for school, trying to wake my brain up entirely after a rough night with a little boy who hasn't managed jet lag well at all (its 11pm, let's play!!), and to find my rhythm again, and I find that here, too, I am home. But it is a different home.
It's the home that has been mine in 13 years of marriage; mine through work and tears and adult growth. And the foods are different, the sounds and smells not at all the same, but my home it still is.
And I am satisfied.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Thankfullness - 1000 Gifts January I
1. 4 Gifts Heard
- Beauty of four blended voices in a cappella. Thank you Pentatonix for adding some memorable sound to our Christmas this year.
2. A Gift Outside, Inside, and on a plate
- A visit to the Billy Graham library with the beauty of Christmas lights all around, a fire and Christmas stories inside, and a cup of hot chocolate at home to warm up.
3. 3 Graces you overheard
- Whispered to a baby brother, "I love you."
- A conversation between two residents over the phone, comparing their Christmases. And the statement of the one with us about how "Christmas should be about spending time with family" (although this is not her history of Christmases). Warm fuzzies that she has seen this new concept.
- "I like your hair," one resident from another cottage to one of the girls here (whose hair I did). Some needed validation :)
4. A Gift Old, New, Blue
- Red Touchscreen gloves for free which look lovely with my red scarf given to me a few years ago with my darling blue coat. I feel stylish.
5. Something you're reading, making, seeing
- A show that awakens and intrigues the mind, a pleasant heightening of tension and suspense without overt negative words or images, and a satisfactory conclusion to it all--Poirot.
6. One thing in your bag, your fridge, your heart
- suckers for the child needing a bit of sweet pacification on the road
- a chilled bottle of Kombucha for a tired day needing a pick me up
- whispered sweetness from my love
7. 3 Graces from people you love
- squeezy baby hugs, even when I'm tired of holding him, my heart still melts.
- "You're the best mommy ever!"
- Words of affirmation from my darling, letting me know I'm doing well in our relationship.
8. Dusky light, surprising reflection, lovely shadow
- A very full moon, hidden on the horizon, a freezing cold night of lovely clearness.
9. A gift held, passed by, sat with
- a cuddly four year old who wants to snuggle and nap with me
- two happy children, playing nicely, sharing, and being kind. What else can any mommy ask? So i left them alone to continue.
- A sad child who trusts enough to talk to us and seek advice and support.
10. A gift sour, sweet, just right
- lemon meringue pie. seriously. What better thing can one taste?
11. 3 Graces from people you love
- a super mom cape for Christmas--because that's just fun
- kindness shown from a big sister to a little brother--it warms my heart to see her care
- a blown goodnight kiss from a child who came to me angry and affection avoidant
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