Florence, South Carolina

On our way back to Virginia. Spending the night at a Holiday Inn that is hosting a massive family reunion. Our room is on a courtyard facing the pool. Are y'all thinking what I'm thinking? Yeah. There's going to be lots of voices outside our door tonight.

I hated saying goodbye to E's mom this morning, thinking how long it will be until I see her again. As the car was heading north, my mind was traveling south--imagining her day, the cans of Sprite and Ensure, the TV set to Animal Planet, her walker next to her chair, and the nurse standing by to help her as necessary, including the task of distracting her from the deafening sound of absent family.

I'm dragging today. Tired even after dozing in the car on and off all day. It's been four weeks since we left home. We've traveled 2,500 miles in the van and slept in five different places. When I wake up in the night, it takes me a while to get my bearings, figure out where I am, and how to navigate the darkened room and find the bathroom. All my clothes are wrinkled from being bound by my suitcase. Everything smells unfamiliar.

Tomorrow we  arrive at my friend Lynn's, and i'm looking forward to settling into the familiarity of her home and our friendship. Then on Tuesday it's back to Woodbridge and house buying and mortgage loans and house inspections and tying up loose ends. Next week at this time, I'll be home, trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my summer.

Comments

[Ortizzle]

You've done so much in such a short space of time. I'm sure you'll be digesting it all on the plane trip back to Belgium, and well into unpacking your suitcases and bags and boxes with all of the goodies you have accumulated.

With all you have done on this trip, and all the places you have traveled, I am amazed that you have had time to post so frequently and so eloquently. Good luck with all the tying-up of loose ends next week!

[platypus]

It must be exhausting and overwhelming and wonderful all at the same time. It's good that you've made the trip, though, and as Ortizzle says, you can digest it on the plane.

[Peter]

In a strange way, parts of your post sounded way too familiar Veronica, although the context was quite different, over here in Antwerp, Belgium:

- the deafening sound of absent family: check
(my family insulted Hans, my friend you met at the Roma in Antwerp last June)

- trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my summer: check
(as I'm unable to work the persistent rain is making the Belgian summer of 2007 a non event)

- There's going to be lots of voices outside our door tonight: check
(yet another huge drag queen show in front of Antwerp city hall tonight - can someone pull the plug? I will post some pics though)

On topic: like platypus posted, It must be exhausting and overwhelming/wonderful all at the same time.
Driving all the way along the US East coast, buying houses, meeting close relatives and friends: no matter how exhausting, you're sure not getting bored ;-)

[V-Grrrl]

Peter,

When I get back, I'm making plans for Antwerp. We'll create our own party--and Hans is invited.

[Peter]

Thanks Veronica! For someone I only met once, you're a most warm-hearted woman.

[Nance]

Stop wondering: you'll be recovering from this trip.

[TB]

Good luck with the closing. I hope all will go well and you'll find a little time to relax before the long trip back.

[Arabella]

I know what you mean about the unfamiliar smells. I think that's the hardest part about being away from home. I always forget it, too, until I'm in the midst of the new smells.

[wordgirl]

Do you know how incredibly lucky you are to have such a longtime buddy?