away

going away can be so hard, and so blissful -- all at the same time. I've just returned from a several day trip away to another country. limited email access, limited phone access, and limited connection access. It was hard on so many levels. and not so hard on so many others.

I missed the reds here with every cell of my being. the pitter patter of the feet on the kitchen floor. the whispering as they fall asleep at night. the gentle breathing in my ear as S nods off next to me at night. the scurry to make the bus stop with "enough time" to greet our friends there. the schedule to keep straight and get all of it in.

but I reveled in the quiet, too.

the ocean lapping up on the shore. the 15 minute getting ready and out-the-door mornings. the peaceful bathroom trips - alone. long showers without the rushed feeling. the sun as it set over the ocean on one side of us. the sunrise as it greeted me heading to breakfast each morning. walking barefoot in the sand. building a sandcastle with the team.

ahhhhh ..... the beautiful blending of my lives - a mom, a wife, an employee.

back to the catch-up stuff here, and all of it is going well. one problem that I can foresee is the laptop battery has absolutely died. the forgotten powercord in my hotel isn't helping. {sigh} at least I had a roommate who will send it my way .....

so, here I sit ..... having blinked an eye and all stood still here. But I kept on going .....

away.

it is something that I need to do more often, but not always alone.

on to the new week.