Long road home

From Sedona to Brier was a four-day drive. We stayed with travel club members Shirley and Tom in Las Vegas, then with travel club members Nancy and Rob in Reno, then with old friend Jeanne in Roseburg. Traffic was light but several hundred miles of the drive was on two line highways - nice wide lanes but with passing necessary. It snowed between Reno and the California interstate. Even alternating driving, Art and I were both tired by the time we got home on Wednesday.

And we are still tired on Sunday. We do a bit of something, putter, and then take a nap. We feel fine - we are not sick - but we still haven't gotten back to our customary energy level. It could be the change of climate - it's in the 50s here in Washington and it has been cloudy for three of the four days we've been home. I notice twinges of arthritis that haven't been around since December. I also feel kind of weighed down, mood wise. Very glad we will be getting out of town next year for most of the gloomy months.

People are glad to see us. "Welcome back," they smile. I smile back. Their faces are familiar and dear. Our Washington life. On Thursday I went to water aerobics at our local recreation center. In the afternoon I visited my neighbor Jennie, and four-month-old Elsa smiled at me with very blue "old soul" eyes. Friday at noon was my customary 12-step meeting; that night Art and I went to vespers at my church - a lovely hourlong meditation. Yesterday I returned to drumming circle. This morning I sat with the congregation and smiled with delight at minister Eric's springtime talk. I have a massage tomorrow afternoon and a mediation on Wednesday morning. I am home.

In my mind are the faces of my Arizona friends and the time we spent this winter in the sun. Most of them are taking their own long roads home by now - returning to Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and elsewhere. 

Five years ago I would never have imagined we'd buy a winter place in Arizona. That was for "old" people who wanted to slow down and play bridge and sit in the sun in their declining years. Now I see it is for people who want to live in a sunny place. We can be as active or as sedentary as we want. I slowed down only from time to time. I didn't play a single hand of bridge. I sat in the sun on four occasions. Even Art's January health scare has resulted in our taking a look at the quality of our lives and making small adjustments in our activities and our attitudes. It's all good.

We have decided to sell one of our timeshares. It's in Whistler, British Columbia - a spring or a fall week each year. A beautiful destination, but no longer for us. We'll sell it for next to nothing and that is fine. Let me know if you'd like to hear more. 

Ahead of me this month? Do the taxes in the next nine days. Get a pedicure to repair my Arizona feet. Take the cat to the groomer. Call for estimates on refinishing our decks. Check on my grandson's grades to find out whether we're going to New York City this summer. For him, I hope so. For me? I'm not ready to leave home again just yet.