The Furtherance of Being At Home

I took Mark to the train station this evening, and am now alone for the first time in several weeks (with the small exception, I guess, of my hotel room in Chicago). I do like being alone….though it seemed far too soon to see him go. But we both have lots to do, as ever, as always.

And we’ll see each other in a few weeks, and we’ll drive back from World Fantasy together, which will be lots of fun.

I think I’m reasonably free from jetlag, although I am still tired. I know the sudden change of weather has something to do with that–it suddenly feels very wintry, with the heater on and me bundling up in, like, socks and everything. Yes I know winter will get much colder…but it was terribly hot in Italy, and quite warm here before I left, so the difference is striking. And all the plants in the garden are looking…end-of-season-ish. It just seems like a bigger change than should have happened for the time passed, I suppose. Though when does everything ever stay the same?

Actually all kinds of little things changed while I was gone. My favorite sushi restaurant closed down; three new stores opened up in a long-abandoned corner up on 39th. The streets have all kinds of new green paint on them. My gym now requires you to ask for towels at the front desk. Stuff like that, seemingly everywhere I turn. I wasn’t even gone two weeks. You know?

But it was a good trip–despite the difficulties at the end of it. I’m so glad I went, so glad I made that happen. And glad that I really made it a time to spend with family–my aunt, first and foremost, but I saw my cousins more than I have in years too. It was really nice to just settle in and BE there, to join Auntie’s life, meet her friends, go to her yoga class, all that. Our days had a nice rhythm. She had stuff to do, as did I–I brought freelance work, and books to read, and I liked having time to take photos and blog–but then we also did fun stuff together. And we had lots of really great conversations, starting from the moment she picked me up at the airport. We’ve always had a very good rapport, always understood each other. We’re both Scorpios (which doesn’t mean I enjoyed finding our little avatar on the bathroom floor!). I’m sorry she lives so far away–but not sorry she lives in such a wonderful place to visit. So I’m glad my life allowed for me to take the time to visit her.

I’m also pleased that I was able to do this without spending any money, pretty much. I bought the tickets on air miles, paying only the tax (something like $75, I think). And as for the money I spent there, I’d had 200 euros saved from a prior trip, and brought that along to get me started–and never needed more. In fact I got home with about 25 euros left. Never used my credit card, until I got to Chicago, where I spent about $30 on internet and meals over my vouchers. Not bad–cheaper than staying home. 🙂

So–all in all, a very nice trip. Even as I am glad to be home. I’ve got bulbs to plant in the garden, and freelance jobs to do, and the Joby proofreading to finish–did more than my quota today, but I still have two days of work left on it, I’m pretty sure. I want to get back into my exercise rhythm, and eating better–I ate whatever I wanted in Italy, which was usually pasta or risotto, plus plenty of wine…everything was so delicious. I haven’t stepped on the scale since I’ve gotten home, but all my pants are suspiciously tight, so, yeah. I’ll fix that. Of course I will….