Where does time go?

Well it has only been a week since I flew into Philly to come back to New Jersey but it feels like it was much longer ago than that. Except I also feel like I haven't accomplished much this week. That is frustrating. I need to stop treading water and get ahead!

Being back in Michigan was more lovely than I had even hoped for. There is nothing like being alone and not having anyone or anything to worry about but myself. It is a luxury that I don't get too often. (I remember having that way back in the past and now I wonder what I did with all the free time I must have had on my hands....I suppose I did more volunteer work than I find time for now. I remember tutoring adult illiteracy twice and week and doing charity runs....oh well those times will come again.) Anyway back to Michigan....it was so peaceful. Waking up in the morning and throwing on some clothes to go walking. Tree lined roads and early morning sun. The woodsy smell of autumn leaves. The twittering of various birds. The hush. And then in the afternoon wandering the town streets, acting like a tourist yet enjoying my native status! Funny thing was I so enjoyed my time alone and yet I found myself wishing to show things to the kids, to say things to the hubby....silent ghosts that walk everywhere with me. I am so thankful for them, more so than I think I realize on a daily basis.

Being back home as made me wish that I could live closer to my family of origin. Mom and Dad are getting older, it has become so apparent. I wish that I was nearby so I could help them more without appearing to be helping too much. I know that they value their independence and yet at times they need help. To be able to provide them with that would be invaluable to me. I have to resign myself to getting home when I can and calling often.

Wow!

What's the date today??? Can anyone tell me the date today??? For that matter can anyone just tell me what day of the week it is???

Time has been just a blur for me since the end of July. That is probably apparent do to my lack of posts immediately after I created this blog. Why is it that things move so fast and so slow at the same time?

Hubby got home after being overseas for a year on July 19. The movers came August 1 and on August 8 I found myself in another place (or is New Jersey another country? tee hee). I'm a bit tired of new places. You would think that they would all start to seem similar, which they do, but in significant ways they are all so different. I am dying for some great Thai food....I don't think they have even a crappy Thai restaurant around here. And if I eat another "slice of pie" (why can't I just have a pizza??) I think I will throw up. But I suppose that is neither here nor there.

We immediately got a house, which was a huge blessing. But getting the movers to cooperate was a whole other story. A week after we moved in here, the movers delivered our household goods....well at least part of our household goods....okay they really only delivered boxes (what the hell was I supposed to do with 36 boxes of books and not a single book case in sight?). I began to feel like if I slept on a strange bed, the floor or an air mattress for just one more night I might start to scream and never stop but eventually it all worked out. Finally on Aug 23 they delivered the furniture. It only took them from August 1 until August 23 to get our stuff all sorted out....I suppose that isn't bad...right? (Wrong!!!)

In the midst of feeling sorry for myself, Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and proceeded to flood New Orleans and destory that entire area and the area directly east of it (Biloxi, my old home). Watching the events unfold on the television was extremely painful. Worry, fear for friends still there, anger and guilty were and still are a huge part of my emotions in regards to that. Now that I know that most of my old friends there escaped harm and personal damage, I feel gratitude that we moved before Katrina hit and at the same time guilt for that exact same reason. It is strange how feelings are so often conflicting like that. I would run down there in a heart beat to help if it was possible but it doesn't seem like that is possible. Home matters, setting up a new home and settling kids into school and routines are actually were my responsiblities must be right now but my heart goes out to all those displaced and struggling, and also to those safe but living in a place that might no longer feel like the place they knew before the hurricane.

Well enough rambling for now. I am making pact with myself to try and post at least once a week. So much has happened since I last made an entry, much of it is a bit of a blur, both of bad and good. Katrina, moving, getting a house, my brother's wedding (Eureka Springs, AR is beautiful and they couldn't have picked a more beautiful chapel than Thorncrown Chapel), taking a vacation, meditating along the lakes back in Michigan....so much has happens in less than two months.