Back "home"

Hit the road in Pittsboro NC at 4 a.m. on Friday and had an uneventful trip up I-95. No traffic issue until I got to Connecticut but nothing major in my 12 hours on the road. I made two stops - gas & coffee and gas and steamed apple cider - other than that just rolled along.

The trip was great. The first trip back to a former life is always tricky. It is still a bit "fresh" in my mind and it seemed strange to be heading back home by going north. But going into it with the attitude that everything that happens today is what is supposed to happen - made who I saw and what I did make sense. And everyone I saw had a "good life" and that is a good thing. People are all at different stages of their lives - since my friends range from 27 to 60. I like where I am on that spectrum.

Chapel Hill is booming and if you ever want to go stay for a few days there is an incredible new hotel - The Franklin Hotel - www.franklinhotelnc.com it is beautiful and the best location possible in my mind. The Carolina Inn is of course right in the middle of the campus, but The Franklin Hotel is brand new and a completely different look - which I like more.

BUT, I must say my accommodations for my trip were better than any hotel! My garage apartment in Chapel Hill and my country home in Fearrington Village!!! I am lucky my friends have such good taste and caring hearts. I had my massage in Pittsboro. My back is still suffering a bit from all the time in the car, but I will work that out today. I am going to take a short walk this a.m. and then head to Pomfret to meet up with sisters #4 & 5 to see basketball.

Brooklyn was good as always on Saturday. Saw my son, a great show, and sister #3's new dog and cat. I don't know how she and her partner have time to take care of all they have going in their life - and now animals. I guess I have never been a pet person.

I got so many great gifts from people I visited with - beside their time and attention. I have a little heart hanging by my computer while I write and my "Friends Make the Best Presents"* book from one couple; my Texas praline candy from another; incense, candy, Chopra's book "The Book of Secrets", an INCREDIBLE incense burning stand, writing paper, a sachet - a bag of gifts that was just one being even better than the one before gift bag; stories of UNC basketball from other friends - SO good to have people to talk sports with again - and I can always find that in Chapel Hill. It is always a gift for me to remind myself that I have such good people around me - my circle - who although separated by geography, stay with me and welcome me when I do my "drive by" visits and who help me reset my compass to my North Star. It was also different this time in that I did feel some sadness from missing people, but I was so happy to get home to my little - albeit chilly - home! Had a friend check on me as I drove up the highway that made me feel good.

*from that book which is appropriate in my mind to my visits: "We may all dwell on different shores, but in the end we are all in the same boat."

I have people in my life who are on very different "shores" but we seem to be able to stay in the same boat without capsizing...most days!

Good news, bad news - my car held up well. Guess my new car buying will be put off for awhile.

Now I am done with my vacation period and best shift gears back to work on Monday. I have to glaze my bowl on Tuesday night. Meet with my Memorial Chapel student reader on Tuesday night after glazing or Thursday. My alma mater is on a winning way and last two regular season home games are Thursday or next Monday. I am thinking that my boss' trip to Florida this past Wednesday did not get off the ground...so I am sure there will be some fallout from that. Looking forward to sister #1's trip to CT in early March. Will be checking with her as to the best travel time to use up the balance of my vacation time before June 30. Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday so I will have to check on church times for that when I go to church tomorrow with the parents - mother is having a mass for a friend's husband. I am also the airport shuttle for sister #4 and 5 for their trip to St Lucia in March.

Last night was a perfect re-entry. Got home in time to take a short walk; had my cheese/raw carrots/orange juice dinner; got two loads of wash done (got some extra exercise with that up and down 4 flights to the laundry room so I did not feel I shorted myself with my 2 mile walk); burned incense; took a soaking bath with some of my gift bath salts (from that goody bag I spoke of earlier! The gift that just keeps on giving); tried to watch my Numbers show, but did not make it - headed to bed at 10:30 or so and had a great night's sleep. That was another gift from my former life in that I bought my mattress when I worked there and it is the same mattress our Inn offered their 5 Diamond clients' so it is wonderful. Woke up at around my usual weekend time - 7:11 a.m.

Have a good weekend. I am a lucky girl to have the life I have!