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Monday, December 11th, Edgewater, Maryland
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We've been back "home" for over two weeks now, although in
a way it seems like we never left. Everyone has
been more than generous in accommodating the invasion of
the Zia crew. We have fallen back into our
friendships with an ease that warms our hearts. It
is a strange sort of limbo to be in, happy to be
enjoying the company we miss so much when we are
cruising, yet feeling a little out of sorts as permanent
guests in our friends' houses. We also have all
sorts of chores to take care of while we are home.
In fact, it is a little stressful trying to get
everything done between doctors and dentists and
business issues, and fit in all the visits with everyone
in the time we have available. We've been running
around like crazy, using our Outlook calendar for the
first time in seventeen months, trying to keep our
schedules straight.
My parents flew out from Seattle for a quick four day
visit. Dan and Candyce are very cool and get along
well with all of our friends, which is a good thing
since they accompanied us on dinner and lunch dates
throughout their visit. We tried to make time for
them to spend with the girls by themselves, since, truth
be told, that is why they were here. We have
managed to keep school up despite the overflowing social
calendar, and even had Gran and Gramps assist with that
on occasion. Cassie and Juliana always love
visiting with them and we are all immensely grateful
that they came here. I don't think we could have
fit another cross country trip to Seattle into the
schedule.
Joe has been working harder than ever getting a new
tenant for our rental property on Capitol Hill as well
as taking care of some maintenance items on our home in
Edgewater, which is also rented. Having these
investments run smoothly helps us stay out cruising so
they are chores that are well worth tackling. We
also have a rental property in Santa Fe that we will
visit while we are out there over Christmas. In
the end, we should legitimately be able to write off the
whole trip on this years' taxes.
We've noticed a few things that strike us as odd after
being away for so long. Some observations are a measure
of how we have changed and grown through our adventure.
Others are simply cultural anomalies that we notice
because of our extended absence from the States.
We
went to see the new James Bond film Casino Royale
the other night. We wanted to go catch dinner
afterwards. The show let out at 10pm and all the
restaurants had already stopped serving. Coming
from Spain where we find ourselves wishing we could eat
earlier than 9pm, it was pretty ironic to find ourselves
at a restaurant back home, too late to eat.
Joe was walking through the parking lot of the IHOP for
our first real American breakfast the morning we arrived
in DC and was struck by the
fact that total strangers actually smiled at him and said
hello. In Europe, everyone stares, but no one
smiles, waves, or says hello. It has been quite
an adjustment on the boat. Here, boaters always
wave when they pass each other on the water. In
Europe, they will twist their heads around to look at
you and your boat, but are shocked and dumbfounded when
you wave at them. I have had to physically
restrain myself as my arm automatically goes up to wave.
I like waving. I think I'll keep it up despite the
European reaction. I remember thinking at one
point during my college years that if I was able to make
even one person smile during the course of my day, I
would have accomplished something good. You never
know when that smile or greeting could lead to a new
friendship or even just a worthwhile moment.
String together many such moments and it becomes much
more meaningful.
Walking down the street in the States is a much more
carefree activity than taking a stroll in Europe.
Here, you are free to enjoy the crisp winter air, the
trees and the sun, to look at the houses and landscape
surrounding you. Walking the streets in Barcelona,
the architecture of the buildings, the statues and
public spaces, and even the people draw your eye up
towards them. Yet you resist. In the back of
your mind the certain knowledge haunts you and keeps
your wandering eye in check. Somewhere out there,
as sure as death and taxes, lies a steaming pile of dog
shit with your name on it. It is just a matter of
time before fate places your foot squarely in the middle
of it. Somehow, taking a walk in Europe just isn't
the same.
I'll leave you with that thought. I hope to share
a Christmas greeting with you in my next update.
Happy Holidays!
Next Entry
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Many thanks to our friend Craig Homenko for his assistance in setting up the website.
We also would like
to thank our buddy Scott Brunner who has been kind
enough to host the website on his server.
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