Friday, December 25, 2009
Holidays with Family = Good
I’ve come back to the States for Christmas. I knew this past summer that I was going to have to come home for at least part of the holiday season this year or risk consequences to my sanity. Unfortunately, my husband didn’t manage to join me, but it’s still been nice to be home and see my family. Not as nice as it would have been with him here, but very nice nonetheless.
I spent a few days in Seattle, hanging out with my mom, spending some quality time with the animals, and getting together with a few valued friends, then we hopped on a plane and flew down to Vegas. We’ve been here at my brother’s place just a little over 24 hours now, had a great dinner last night, spent some serious time opening gifts, and are now kind of chilling in front of the TV. Tomorrow and beyond: shopping, eating steak, snacking on good cheese, indulging in good chocolates, spending more quality time with loved ones. Not a bad way to spend a few days.
Having said that, every time I come home and get to spend time with family and friends (and animals), I am reminded of just how many things I miss being abroad, and just how much I wish I didn’t have to miss them. Here’s hoping you are among the lucky ones who are getting to spend time with the people who are important to you this holiday season.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Still Alive…
Yeah, I know, it’s been a very long time since I wrote anything here. Been having a hard time with a couple of things, which I won’t go into here any more than to say that I’m pretty sure my toothpick was broken and/or faulty. But there are some updates…
My husband’s parents have been here for the past 3 weeks, and we’ve been having a good time showing them just how different Mumbai is from what they thought they knew of India. They came together with his sister and spent some time in Mumbai with us, we all had Thanksgiving together, then they headed off to Calcutta to visit some extended family. After that, the sister flew back to the States and the parents came back to Mumbai for a few days, then we sent them off to the middle of the state of Maharashtra to see the Ajanta and Ellora caves (which they LOVED, as did we when we went). They’ve been in Mumbai again for the past couple of days, and are taking off tonight. It’s been fun having them around, going shopping and driving the guys crazy with it, and showing them some things about the country of their birth that they may not have seen before. Also: my husband has been super-thrilled to see his parents after so long apart from them. Thrilled husbands are a nice thing to have around.
On the horizon: I’m going HOME for Christmas! I’m really, really looking forward to it. I’ve been needing a good dose of the Pacific Northwest for a while now. I’ll get to hang out with some long-time friends, and even meet the 1-yr-old daughter of one of them for the very first time, see my cat and my mom’s neurotic-but-sweet dog, and generally relax. I’ll also probably be wrapped in about six layers of fleece, heavy sweaters, blankets, comforters, and probably some hats – I’m afraid living so long in Bombay has made me weak and I’ll be one of “those” people who come from hot places and are constantly complaining they’re cold! 🙂 Should be a sight to see.
Girl in the Rain 