~ back home ~
Tea for three. Taken in Windsor on November 18, 2009
It was a whirlwind trip but so worth it. Long flights with plenty of turbulence to make this fearful flyer’s heart pound hard are almost forgotten now that I am safely back home. Europe in seven days. Jam packed with exploring familiar places, lots of urban walking, climbing bell towers and white cliffs, introducing new friends to an old castle, a scrumptious lunch at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in Bath, a last minute visit to my all-time favorite market, and ~ most of all ~ filling the heart and soul with the laughter and love of good friends and family.
When I left for Germany 10 days ago I remember riding in the car park shuttle bus on my way to the terminal, dreading the long flight while observing the familiar road to the airport and thinking: “In ten days I will be back on this same bus, relieved to have survived all the flying, and brimming with the abundance of my travels. I will be the same person but so much richer for the experiences ahead of me. I will be grateful to have faced my fears and done it anyway.”
After picking up my car from the airport garage, all cleaned and shiny, I drove the two hours north, chatted with my husband on the phone for a while (he is still in London) and felt all calm and happy to be home again. Back at my apartment, I turned on the lights and the heating, unpacked my suitcases and went to pick up my cat. He happily settled back into his home while I finished my unpacking, started the laundry and prepared a light dinner. We had a cozy evening in front of the TV, albeit a short one because the jetlag and lack of sleep the night before caught up with me quickly.
Yesterday I was still off work because I had another visitor from Germany popping into Bellingham just for the day. We ended up going to Vancouver where she’d never been and had a lovely day catching up before she went back to Seattle in the evening.
Today I am back at work and ready for it. Our Christmas tree is going up this morning and on Thanksgiving I am jumping straight back into a 24-hour shift so that my staff can enjoy the day with their families. I am really looking forward to the festive season ahead, to baking German Christmas cookies and decorating my apartment. Things will be a little more quiet at the hotel and I am taking some more time off over Christmas when my husband is coming over for eight days. There is much I am thankful for this week, not in the least a peace in my heart as I haven’t felt it in a long time.
~ Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! ~
Your heart seems full of good energy and intentions. Lovely to know your time spent over hear contributed to this state of mind. Family and old friends are so important, aren’t they? Whether blood family or chosen family, we need those people around us, who have shared history with us at important points in our lives.
Happy Thanksgiving my friend! Thinking of you… K xx
A very Happy Thanksgiving to you too Kerstin.
Happy thanksgiving K. So lovely to see you both in Windsor. Love Fi x
Have a great thanksgiving Kerstin
So happy to hear that your trip has provoked a sense of peace within. Sometimes we just need to leave familiar surroundings and journey.
I wish we could have met up, but it looks like your adventure was packed!!! SO glad that you had a wonderful time and that you are happy to be home – always a good sign!!
xo
I give myself that same speech on the way to the airport!
I could just feel you getting settled in… the crank of the heat, your cat settling in. I hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving.
: )