Let me just preface this with one thing. If you are one of the people who are just now hearing of our east bound travels of last week and you wish I had have dropped you a line so we could have met up, please forgive me. It was not because I forgot you. We were just booked full as it was.
A week.. Just enough time to get through the worst of jet lag before returning home to a week of re-adjustment. What a visit home we had. Because Vermont is sort of removed from the world up here in this beautiful green mountain lake valley tucked up near the Canadian border, and because Reno is not a huge destination spot either, making this trip typically requires two layovers and a full day of travel. That is if you are lucky and make all your connections. Which, on the way there, we did despite an average of a 20 minute delay on each flight. With relief, we finally descended upon Reno at 10:30 pm dipping and jerking with turbulence. By the time we checked in, ate and got tucked away, it was well past our normal bedtime being 3:30 am at home.
Needless to say we were slow moving Sunday Morning. We met up with the Reno Cousins and enjoyed a wonderful lunch under a big open sky while taking in the scenic beauty and catching up on all matters of news and celebration. Afterward eating, the cousins took us to the Church Fine Arts Building at UNR. The campus has changed radically since I was there last. Do people now tailgate in the parking garage? Regardless, areas that once held strong emotion and memories have been paved over and rebuilt up. Which is probably for the best. Despite the changes outside, inside the Art Building was seemingly unchanged, comfortable and a bit of a relief after the shock of trying to get my barrings on the extremely renovated campus. Anyway, we saw the play Eurydice. It was a contemporary take on the Greek Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice from her point of view and somewhat changed story line. It was well acted and costumed but strange. I still don't know what I think about it. After that it was off to Moms and Dunkles for dinner and then to bed.
Monday rolled around and we found ourselves lunching with the folks and visiting with the Grandparents. It was good to see that everyone was healthy and as well as can be. Discussions of current events, new pets and home life punctuated with laughter and warmth dominated these times. That evening we three found ourselves at T's. When I come to town she usually asks me to pull together any of our mutual acquaintances that I know happen to be around. Due to time constraints and other reasons, only D and M were able to make it. It was a perfect little gathering of my most favorite people. Dinner wrapped up early as it was a school night. Willow stayed the night at the grandparents while Connor and I headed back into Reno where we welcomed the arrival of our longtime friends Susan and Jake from California. Susan exhaled deeply and Jake's first question was "What are your guy's plans for snow play?".
Tuesday, we took the scenic route from Truckee to Carson in search of some powder to play in. We didn't find any until we hit Spooner where, tucked in deep shadows, a pocket of icy packed snow was found. We turned the boys loose and Jake enjoyed his third ever snow experience. On our way back to Reno we stopped and checked in on Willow. We found her in grandmas kitchen under a layer of butter, flour and sugar. She and grandma were happily baking batches and batches of cookies to share with the Family. After leaving moms we freshened up at the hotel before taking the boys to Circus Circus. It wasn't as exciting or as large as I remembered. But then again there wasn't much of a crowd to cut through and more than half of the midway had been shut down. I guess the boys now know what they are not missing.
Wednesday, after a leisurely morning, our company finally left. Con and I returned to Carson, had a good visit and waited for another one of the kids most favorite cousins to get out of school. She got too spend 2 whole days with the kids. Willow also got some time behind the wheel when Dunkle took her off road to learn how to drive a stick. The family went to see Beauty and the Beast and I crashed for a much needed recharge. The time change, the late hours, early waking, not to mention all the social interaction had wiped me out. After dinner, I returned to Reno while all the kids stayed with Grandma. At the hotel I took some time to read at the bar before heading out to meet M for her birthday celebration. Some bluegrass band was playing at a new music venue called The Saint. I don't know if they were any good. The noise, the crowd, the hubbub was a bit mind numbing and i didn't get a good listen. M and I enjoyed a drink at the front of the building while discussing her need to move on from something. My pillow however beckoned and I left after about an hour. The bar scene just doesn't hold the appeal it once did.
Thursday, I arrived at moms to help her get ready to greet the Forrest Hill Cousins who skipped school and drove over for the day. It wasn't as long a visit as we had hoped for but we are looking forward to them coming out to see us in August. After they left, I took the kids and their cousin back to the hotel to give mom and dunkle a break and give the kids some swimming time. The hotel however was booked full with High School aged girls that where there for a volleyball tournament and they sort of had a run on the pool and fitness studio.
By Friday, Willow had hit her limit and crashed out at moms and Dunkles after the cousin went home. Connor went to the movies with Dunkle and saw "The Fast Furious." He enjoyed it. Meanwhile mom and I enjoyed some intoxicating sunshine and some good mother daughter bonding time . We got in one last visit with the great grandparents before wrapping up and heading back to the Hotel.
Saturday Morning, bright and early we were at the airport and homeward bound. At least we thought we were. We were delayed an hour because a terminal in SF was closed and they were dealing with many delays. We had hoped that our connection would likewise be delayed but it was not and so we were routed and re-routed and finally landed in Philadelphia for the night before making the final leg home on Sunday.
How good to be home. How beautiful this world looks from above. Green Mountains is a very apt name for the range that makes up our backyard. During the trip Mom and Dunkle spoke often of their Camping plans and I must admit, flying over New England I too caught the itch. There will be hiking, fishing and camping in our future.
Greg was waiting, thrilled for our return. The week had taken its toll on him. He didn't eat well (If at all) He accidentally let Willows cat get out. Being that it was feral before we adopted it, it has not returned but has been spotted around the yard. We are leaving it food outside and hoping she comes around eventually. Needless to say it was a challenging week for him.
And after all that, Monday we all returned (with some relief) to our normally scheduled activities.
Oh! You may be asking why I don't have any pictures in this blog. Well, that is because I didn't take any.. except for maybe a few such as the back of Connors head to show him what his haircut looked like. During the trip I read the Circle in its entirely which paints the pros and cons of internet and gadgets and anyway, because of it ( and a crappy wifi connection at the hotel which I didn't want to bother with) I just wasn't motivated to document my life.. at least not like that. The story and smiles of the time spent with family and friends is engraved on my heart and that really is the important part.
When I did get home, however, I did take some pictures. We returned to a new more colorful yard. Within the week, the white of snow and brown of winter had given way to a carpet of lush green, pink blossoms, and abundant wildlife. April showers do indeed bring May Flowers and Spring is officially here.
Time to get twitterpated.
Well the time has come to put down the computer and get moving for the day.
And what day is it? American Drinking Day... Aka Cinco De Mayo. May we all enjoy some tall cool refreshment. Ole'
