I should have written while I was in Virginia, but I didn't. I was in a frenzy for the few days before we went on our trip. We had to book our flight through a travel agency because of some ridiculous contract. All I'm going to say is that I could have made better use of the government's money and we wouldn't have had to leave at 10pm. So I thought I was getting home on the 18th, but Anthony and I arrived on the 19th. The flights were uncomfortable but not terrible. By the time we landed in Norfolk we were tired and just happy to have our vacation started. We almost walked past both our moms because they look so different from the last time we saw them!
The first few days were really cool getting to spend time with my mom and Anthony's mom. Saturday we had a party and tried to spread the word and invite everyone to have lunch with us and in part celebrate Anthony's birthday. Some of my extended family didn't want to come which got me upset. I have always felt strong ties to my huge extended family so for them to choose not to partake with me on that day was hurtful. I guess it's not as if I had been gone for 2 years... oh wait. Even though we only had a few family members show up we had a great time! There was a lot of laughter and two giant cakes! A friend of mine from high school has some talent in making cakes and she made a One Piece-Themed birthday cake for Anthony. It was amazing and I want some just thinking about it.
The rest of the week went by without much fuss. We hung out with some of our favorite people and got to see old friends. Then Friday rolled around and Anthony and I went on a mini road trip to JMU, my Alma Matter. It was nice to see the campus again and to see the changes that had been made. I was surprised at how much I remembered and how I had forgotten some things that had once felt so natural. I'm upset that all the Java Cities are being shut down. No more delicious coffee. I got to hang out with a friend from high school who also attended JMU and he's still there. Then I hung out with three of the most awesome people in the world! Well, 4 if I count Anthony. The only thing that really stunk was that the jet lag hit me hard. Foggy thinking and fatigue; it was just gross. I missed seeing some of my professors and I wish I could have stayed longer, but it wasn't in the cards. Saturday we got home in the afternoon and something terrible had happened. My mom's dog and long-time companion, Champ, was in bad shape from cancerous tumors that had taken over his body. The vet was scheduled to come at 4pm to put him down. It happened quickly. Like and old family member I was given the honor of washing him and wrapping him up and Tony, my brother, dug the grave. It was a good death for a good life.
Later that night I was fortunate enough to hang out with my sister and my family who were in town from New Jersey. I have a lot of fun with that crowd. But it had been a long and difficult day, so I didn't hang out late. Sunday was Easter and we visited family for most of the day. It was good to see everyone. Monday was a rest day and Tuesday was a travel day for me to fly to Peoria, Illinois to see my dad and his family.
I'll spare the boring details but I got to hang out with my favorite family and meet some new people. My father and I had a heart-to-heart and I hope that we can start rebuilding our relationship. Each relationship you have is a learning experience and an opportunity to break the chains that have bound you in the past.
I don't think that most people can identify the relationship circles they travel in and how they can break the negative cycles and begin to heal. For such "highly intelligent" creatures we sure act stupidly at times.
Finally it was time for me to leave Peoria and in a few days leave the mainland to return to Hawaii. Now, that was an interesting trip! Our flight out of Norfolk was delayed; because it hit a bird on its way in. We missed our flight to Phoenix out of Charlotte so we had to run, run, run and they held a plane that was headed to Denver. The last plane going to the west coast. Then when we got to Denver they put us on a plane to LAX that was delayed almost 2 hours. There was a bird stuck inside the terminal who was scavenging for food. By the time we got to LAX we missed the the second flight to Honolulu we were supposed to take so we had to get on a later one.
Amazingly I didn't freak out about all the delays. We had to be on the island by the end of the day and we managed it. It was so much nicer traveling without worrying about things I couldn't control. We got to Honolulu at 10pm... and then somehow I left my wallet on the plane. OMG, right? By the time I realized it, it was too late to get on the plane. I was told a number to call and to go back when the place opened at 8AM.Well the lady who gave me the information must have had some insight or been an angel because when I showed up the next day the girl at the counter told me the plane had already left. But I pressed a little harder and she called and discovered that the plane was having some maintenance done and was still on the island. Then it was just a matter of time for them to find my little blue wallet. I was amazingly grateful! Hopefully I will never have to deal with that again.
And then later they dropped off our household goods. We got all of our things and I got to work putting the house together. It's still a work in progress.
The first few days were really cool getting to spend time with my mom and Anthony's mom. Saturday we had a party and tried to spread the word and invite everyone to have lunch with us and in part celebrate Anthony's birthday. Some of my extended family didn't want to come which got me upset. I have always felt strong ties to my huge extended family so for them to choose not to partake with me on that day was hurtful. I guess it's not as if I had been gone for 2 years... oh wait. Even though we only had a few family members show up we had a great time! There was a lot of laughter and two giant cakes! A friend of mine from high school has some talent in making cakes and she made a One Piece-Themed birthday cake for Anthony. It was amazing and I want some just thinking about it.
The rest of the week went by without much fuss. We hung out with some of our favorite people and got to see old friends. Then Friday rolled around and Anthony and I went on a mini road trip to JMU, my Alma Matter. It was nice to see the campus again and to see the changes that had been made. I was surprised at how much I remembered and how I had forgotten some things that had once felt so natural. I'm upset that all the Java Cities are being shut down. No more delicious coffee. I got to hang out with a friend from high school who also attended JMU and he's still there. Then I hung out with three of the most awesome people in the world! Well, 4 if I count Anthony. The only thing that really stunk was that the jet lag hit me hard. Foggy thinking and fatigue; it was just gross. I missed seeing some of my professors and I wish I could have stayed longer, but it wasn't in the cards. Saturday we got home in the afternoon and something terrible had happened. My mom's dog and long-time companion, Champ, was in bad shape from cancerous tumors that had taken over his body. The vet was scheduled to come at 4pm to put him down. It happened quickly. Like and old family member I was given the honor of washing him and wrapping him up and Tony, my brother, dug the grave. It was a good death for a good life.
Later that night I was fortunate enough to hang out with my sister and my family who were in town from New Jersey. I have a lot of fun with that crowd. But it had been a long and difficult day, so I didn't hang out late. Sunday was Easter and we visited family for most of the day. It was good to see everyone. Monday was a rest day and Tuesday was a travel day for me to fly to Peoria, Illinois to see my dad and his family.
I'll spare the boring details but I got to hang out with my favorite family and meet some new people. My father and I had a heart-to-heart and I hope that we can start rebuilding our relationship. Each relationship you have is a learning experience and an opportunity to break the chains that have bound you in the past.
I don't think that most people can identify the relationship circles they travel in and how they can break the negative cycles and begin to heal. For such "highly intelligent" creatures we sure act stupidly at times.
Finally it was time for me to leave Peoria and in a few days leave the mainland to return to Hawaii. Now, that was an interesting trip! Our flight out of Norfolk was delayed; because it hit a bird on its way in. We missed our flight to Phoenix out of Charlotte so we had to run, run, run and they held a plane that was headed to Denver. The last plane going to the west coast. Then when we got to Denver they put us on a plane to LAX that was delayed almost 2 hours. There was a bird stuck inside the terminal who was scavenging for food. By the time we got to LAX we missed the the second flight to Honolulu we were supposed to take so we had to get on a later one.
Amazingly I didn't freak out about all the delays. We had to be on the island by the end of the day and we managed it. It was so much nicer traveling without worrying about things I couldn't control. We got to Honolulu at 10pm... and then somehow I left my wallet on the plane. OMG, right? By the time I realized it, it was too late to get on the plane. I was told a number to call and to go back when the place opened at 8AM.Well the lady who gave me the information must have had some insight or been an angel because when I showed up the next day the girl at the counter told me the plane had already left. But I pressed a little harder and she called and discovered that the plane was having some maintenance done and was still on the island. Then it was just a matter of time for them to find my little blue wallet. I was amazingly grateful! Hopefully I will never have to deal with that again.
And then later they dropped off our household goods. We got all of our things and I got to work putting the house together. It's still a work in progress.
