It's truly been an amazing week. I'd be hard to enunciate why, exactly, but I somehow feel some kind of new horizon has been opened up. Maybe it's turning 33 (because that's such a banner year, of course.) Or maybe it's many things.

Having my dad and stepmother here was absolutely phenomenal. We miss them very much, actually, and I wish we all lived closer. Seeing as they work from Seattle and we work from London, though, I think that's unlikely. We've spoken twice since he returned home, him using his laptop with the new Skype kit Angus installed, and I get to talk to him once more before we have a bit of radio silence while we're both away.

Our guests just left. Jill and her kids stayed the night, and it went better than I thought it would. Angus did indeed up his attentive game, and I have to admit in my childish way that being the center of his attention again was just what I needed. In the light of his sparkling, I felt calm and secure. I still recognize that around Jill, I am Logical Helen. Logical Helen is tough, has her game on, and is not rocked by emotions anywhere. Logical Helen is polite, laughs, and goes about getting things done. Logical Helen is a part of the real me, but she usually dwells behind Childlike Helen, Dozy Helen, and Laughing Helen. Having Angus understand that I have jealousy issues made a difference, though, and this visit went very well.

The house is quiet now for 24 hours. I feel like people have been here with us all week, which I guess they have. It's a day off in England today as Good Friday is a proper holiday. Angus and I will do a bit of work, and I'm personally hoping for an afternoon session in the bedroom.

The sun is shining. More than that, the sun is warm. The back door has been thrown open to a cloudless sky and a canine trods in and out of the house. The light is coming in all the windows, sheltering, calming, cleaning.

Tomorrow morning Melissa and Jeff arrive. I haven't seen them since February, and you probably wouldn't believe it, but I can't wait to see them. I know-it sounds cheesy, it really does. But I'm looking forward to having them here a lot. Melissa showed me her new haircut on Skype, and we'll settle in tomorrow to watch TV and chill.

And then, on Sunday, we're off. The four of us leave at lunchtime after dropping Gorby off at his bed and breakfast. We board a flight to Montreal, and we land in the late afternoon. We're checking in to an airport hotel for a meal and a night, then in the morning we take a flight to Miami, where we then connect and go on to Montego Bay, Jamaica. We spend 5 days in Jamaica.

Melissa is going to get certified to dive there. I couldn't understand it, but Angus was adamant that she get the complete certification with him, instead of doing parts of it in Sweden. I didn't get it until he explained it quietly to me-he wanted her to look back on her diving as something she learnt just with her father, he wants it to be a special memory. I got it then, and now I'm doing all I can to help. We've found an excellent PADI certified school in Jamaica. I've spoken with the instructors. I feel comfortable they're good, and Melissa is very, very excited.

Jeff may do a resort dive or two, it depends. While Melissa is taking diving class, Jeff will have one of about 50,000 water slides at this hotel to choose from. I don't think he'll be bored at all. We'll all be slathered in SPF60, aka "BLOCK THE SUN NOW!" sunblock, especially as two of the four are shockingly blond and just had a Swedish winter, and one of us has had skin cancer.

As for Angus and I, it's not our usual type of holiday, but we're looking forward to time with those he calls "his babies", and we'll relax (I'm taking several books), eat fabulous food, and hopefully have a lot of loving in the quiet nighttime hours (the kids have their own hotel room.)

Next Saturday we leave Jamaica and go back to Florida. We're making our way to Key West for two nights, then Monday we stay at South Beach for one night before taking a connecting flight in Toronto to come home.

It's been a hell of a week, my friend.

And now I'm going to paint my toenails red while soaking up the sunshine. I'm going to have a cup of coffee and smile at the man I love. I'm going to enjoy the last few days before we go away.

I'll see you on the 18th of April.

-H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 10:08 AM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
Post contains 833 words, total size 4 kb.

1 Sounds like a whirlwind! Have fun, enjoy your R&R. Glad the night with Angus' friend & kids wasn't as bad as you feared. Take Care.

Posted by: Angela at April 06, 2007 11:58 AM (MXLbn)

2 But...why would you go to Florida now? After all, spring training is over.

Posted by: ~Easy at April 06, 2007 12:12 PM (G5FSP)

3 Sounds like an awesome vacation - enjoy it!

Posted by: geeky at April 06, 2007 12:25 PM (ziVl9)

4 Have a great holiday, I'm sure you will.

Posted by: Akelamalu at April 06, 2007 12:30 PM (hpmlX)

5 Man, you need to calm your schedule down. I read your site every day, and I even check it several times a day because I'm a little OCD like that. I just can't take it when you take off for days at a time. Who will I read?!?

Posted by: Jen(aside) at April 06, 2007 02:10 PM (u973k)

6 Have a great time in Mo'Bay enjoy the sunshine and the relaxation. Bring back plenty of stories and pictures for your blog and flickr. Robin

Posted by: robin h at April 06, 2007 03:32 PM (VwhES)

7 My eyes are green now That sounds like heaven! Have a great time Helen!

Posted by: Heidi at April 06, 2007 04:51 PM (kUeAS)

8 Have fun! Be safe! And bring me back a cabana boy or two?

Posted by: Lindsay at April 06, 2007 05:28 PM (mHNC3)

9 I'll try to click on your Flickr site to see what a good time you're having. Of course, I'll understand if you're too busy to post...

Posted by: B. Durbin at April 06, 2007 07:44 PM (tie24)

10 I can't wait to hear how you like Jaimaca. My youngest son and his bride will be honeymooning there next February! Have a great vacation...

Posted by: sue at April 06, 2007 07:48 PM (WbfZD)

11 In Key West, if you have the time go to Pepe's on Caroline Street for brunch.

Posted by: TK at April 06, 2007 11:49 PM (A1t4c)

12 Bon Voyage! Have a safe, wonderful trip. Sounds like it will be a grand time!

Posted by: Teresa at April 06, 2007 11:55 PM (8uIlE)

13 That sounds like heaven to me! Have a wonderful time, come back safely and know you will be missed.

Posted by: kenju at April 07, 2007 03:03 PM (DBvE5)

14 Have a wonderful time!!

Posted by: Donna at April 09, 2007 02:02 AM (lQSbL)

15 Hang on tight and have a great time!

Posted by: Steff at April 11, 2007 03:30 PM (uKuUC)

16 *sigh* Jamaica. Oh how I miss that place. You going to be anywhere near Negril?

Posted by: girl at April 11, 2007 11:51 PM (eCQTJ)

Hide Comments | Add Comment