Recent Posts

Thinking some more about if it were your last day of life... When I was almost 19, I lived the last day of my life in Brazil, a life that changed so much for me and brought me so much joy. 40 some years I still remember so many vivid details. My family offered a party and said I could invite anyone I wanted, but I only wanted them and the young man who I was in love with (a long story, this "romance" endured for awhile with him visiting me, and me returning to Brazil, and all I can say now is thank god for unanswered prayers. It ended 6 months before i met DH) I didn't want to entertain anyone else, or be distracted from my family. The song, In the Arms of the Angel she sings about glorious sadness, which seems like an oxymoron. But I get it. There was something about that moment of leaving them where I felt so aware of being alive as I struggled with waves of gratitude, joy, grief, sorrow.

Good morning! I am completely depleted but happy. We've been going 110 miles since we landed on Thursday. Made our first Costco run Thursday, then went to DDs apartment, back to the hotel at 10:00 pm. Friday graduation day, left the hotel at 7am, returned 10:30pm. Saturday, party day, left at 9am, back at 10:30pm. Sunday, left the hotel at 9:30, drove 2 hours to see my Aunt and Uncle in Amherst, drove back, dinner with Boston Mom and Dad, and back to the hotel at 10pm. Whew!

The graduation ceremony was surprisingly moving. They asked the 1st generation students to stand (1st in their family to attend college) and probably half the students stood. Amazing!!! So many joyous, proud families, many of them clearly immigrants, who sacrificed to give their children opportunities they didn't have.

The party Saturday was so fun, but tiring. DD found a cool venue in an old theater. I've joked I could cater my kid's weddings from Costco, but doing this party for around 70 people just about killed me. Everyone says they're going to help, but once the party begins, they become guests. It was amazing to see all the communities DD has, book club friends, friends from her very first job in Boston in 2015, from the job she just left, from her new job, from school, one friend she met when the 2 of them were attending theater solo whose whole family came, even her hair stylist. We finished the night on DDs deck eating leftover party food and taking shots with "the kids". Whew.

Yesterday we went to visit my Aunt and Uncle, and learned my dear Aunt has to have a complicated surgery. She has a very atypical hernia that will kill her if it is not repaired. It's scheduled for June 20. My Uncle's son will be with them for the surgery, and we offered to come for a few days when he leaves.

Today we are not leaving this hotel room until the last minute! Then we go to DDs apartment, and probably go bet some lunch, and then to the airport around 4. If all goes well, we will be back in Minnesota around 8:30 pm. Then back to work for 3 days. I already put in for a sick day on Friday, and now I am so happy I did. I'm looking forward to our quiet house and tea on my porch the upcoming weekend.

If I knew it was the last day of my life, I would choose to be with family, both birth and chosen, and I would meditate with gratitude about all the wonderful things big and small that made this journey so worth it. I'd like some sunshine too, like Liz.

The slugs are awfully cute (slug and cute in the same sentence seems weird though). I can see why they are quite popular and apparently well traveled ;)

I wish people in WI had CA discretionary spending money!

I actually found your last questions to be good ones to ponder. Makes one want to live every day to its fullest and savor the time (especially at our age).