Every time I try to write about the trip, it comes out sounding like a school kid's report on "what I did on my summer vacation."
What we did wasn't important. The important stuff was the small stuff.
So to cover what we did (because 2023 Self may be trying to remember).
Tuesday, October 18, I got there. I laughed when I walked in the kitchen; they knew I was coming and I spotted three boxes of wine (not bottles; boxes). They did say that one was almost empty.
Wednesday was the Gardner; I wrote about that.
Thursday we went for a long walk at an educational farm/park whose name escapes me, because I had said that I just wanted to experience Fall In New England. The air was cool and crisp, the "color" beautiful, and I loved being out in it.
Friday we went to the Eustis estate, a beautiful fully restored 1829 "aesthetic movement" home, that was an actual home up to the 2000's.
https://eustis.estate/ (rats - I didn't take pictures, and their web page won't let me copy. But it was gorgeous)
But the important things:
They got to spend some time with Diane. We've been friends for 40+ years. Mike met her briefly some 20 years ago. It sort of reminded me of when he came to visit in 2019 which was the first time he met Don, Della, Rob, Amanda, and the kids. It seemed strange to realize that Mike had never met my family. The same feeling as Wednesday - Diane has been my little sister, my chosen family.
Friday morning they "met" Ebaida. She has also been so important to me; I can't now imagine my life without our daily sharing. So we did a short FaceBook video call. She of course was charming and adorable. Like Diane - I felt a need to have people that I love know each other.
Having conversations. Not texting, not phone calls, not a video chat. Face to face talking (even if I did have to keep telling them to lighten up a bit - they're both into world events and politics, both of which are a bit dark at the moment and dammit - I was on vacation).
Looking at Mike's wee tiny bird parts, hearing his plans, and visiting his workroom. He had it built several years ago; it's only a little over 200 square feet because anything bigger would have meant trying to cut or blast rock. It's amazing how much he crams in there - 2 or 3 lathes, a CNC cutter, fancy air evac, all matters of equipment, computer, storage.
(pictures taken from either end. The dive helmet in the corner is a foam one that I made for him).
Meals together. Yes, the kids come to visit every 4-6 weeks, but they like eating out. It's not like having company for a bagel for breakfast or a sandwich for lunch - or company at all for 3 meals a day.
Sharing. I introduced them to "What We Do In the Shadows." I mentioned a book (Neil Gaimen's very creepy collection of short stories called "Trigger Warnings") and Mike picked it up from the library the next day. A couple of favorite videos - and the "behind the scenes" making of them. My favorite cooking videos - the group called "Sorted Food." Later, after I had showed them one video, I realized that I had said "I like to watch their videos while I eat; it's almost like having company." Did that sound pathetic? Did they notice?
Playing with Mike's fancy VR setup - so much better than the couple of cartoon-like demos I've used before. Except that my bruised hand is still healing from where a monster was coming at me - and I sucker-punched his bookshelf. Ouch.
Just being around other people. Barring work, I spent more time with them than I have been around anybody for the last 6 months or year total.
Downsides. I wrote about the lonely nights. Lying in bed and hearing the quiet murmur of of Mike and Margo talking, remembering those before-bed sleepy talks. Missing my "cuddle pillow" (although there were three pillows on the bed and I did hold one - but is it strange to think that you're somehow being unfaithful to a pillow?)
Totally random occurrence. I normally don't do FaceBook on my phone, but one evening I was on it briefly to check with Ebaida about our video call. And I had a private message from another woman who used to be in our short-lived book club. She has been having a *lot* of medical issues. In her message she wanted me to know that she had decided to go on hospice care, and to thank me for being a friend. Just how does one respond to that, especially if you've just run upstairs for a minute and dinner almost ready?
So yes - ups and downs, mostly ups. And I managed my first trip away from home, so hopefully the next one (to Harry Potter World with Kim and Diane) won't cause as much panic.
And there was a homecoming. It was odd getting off the plane with no one to meet me. And surrealistic driving home, because it was the same route and same time of day that I drive twice a week coming home from the museum. I wasn't expecting much when I got home; cats are not people or dogs, and they're usually a little restrained ("oh, were you gone? I hadn't noticed'). RiverSong came and rubbed my ankles, but my dear Hamish went bonkers. He was body slamming and head butting me and making his funny little "brrp!" noises and I felt that I had really been missed. Maybe a little too much - when I tried to walk he kept prostrating himself on the floor in front of me, which would have been cute if I hadn't been quite so focused on trying to get to the bathroom.
I was a little hyper over the next two days - trying to settle back into the alone life (although, oddly, not as lonely. I've noticed that it's mostly around other people that I feel lonely). But I'm back into the routine again.
I'm glad I went, but it's good to be home (writing this with Stumbles on one side, ReddBugg draped across my arm, and Hamish on the back of the couch). Crazy cat lady is back in her woods.
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