Looking Back and Forward

I'm finally cleaning out my suitcase. I did all the laundry the day we got back, but then it seemed like a lot more fun to just put everything back in the suitcase instead of in my closet.  That was too final.

I just found the cover to the $10.00 umbrella that I bought in Paris in the pocket of my rain jacket. I left it there because in the fall when it's raining here, I think that will make me laugh thinking back on the day I bought it. The day my very mature daughter didn't want to buy an umbrella for fear of looking like the ultimate tourist. I won't point out that everyone in Paris had umbrellas but us.  I did purchase a very inconspicuous umbrella at a drug store. Not one of those cute black bumbies with PARIS scribbled all over it in white letters. I liked those but they were touristy. Mine is simple and purple and I actually brought it home with me. But that holder in my pocket makes me laugh.

I thought of another funny thing today, which isn't funny at all but makes me laugh every time I think of it. Taylor and I were boarding a train in Bath during the train portion of our trip. I think this was just a train change so we didn't actually spend any time in the city. We were on the platform and there was a gaggle of students so we stayed out toward the end of the platform to get a good spot.  This man walked up from the parking lot and I swear he had no frontal lobe (physically, not literally as we sometimes think of men). Now, I realize this is in terrible taste to talk about it, but I've never seen anything like it. He literally had no front quarter of his head. That's not funny, but it did make us crazy.  I wanted to take a picture - Taylor wouldn't let me. We got on the train, avoiding eye contact with the man with no head, and had to sit apart from each other because the train was very full. After a bit the conductor came through and he had the largest jowls I have ever seen in my life. His neck and head were abnormally small and his jowls stuck out like little balloons on each side of his jaw.  Of course, we weren't sitting by each other so when we finally got to sit together we started cracking up!  All I'm saying is...that town was full of crazies.  If you see Taylor, all you have to say is something like "how about that guy with no head" and it sends her into a tizzy!

I'm sad to be back because I really had fun with Taylor. It's hard to imagine that we ate every meal together for two weeks without a television distracting us from conversation. We actually talked to each other directly for 14 days in a row. Sure, some of the talking was louder than other talking, but most of it was good conversation. 

Now we are back in our ruts. I think that having habits and routines are good and comforting but I also find that they are most likely the reason that people that want to be creative aren't so much.  There is no inspiration to be found in the daily grind. I've been looking for it...but I don't see it. I made a comment about JK Rowling saying that and it has really stuck with me.

I've been thinking a lot about what I'm supposed to do with myself now with Taylor going to college.  I wonder if everyone goes through this "now what" phase and I'm guessing they do. When you have one child and no husband, it's almost like - now I can do whatever I want!! Yipee for me...right? But I don't know what that is yet and it's making me a little crazy.  Those that know me understand that I'm a planner and I like to have things going on and things to schedule and figure out and get excited for.  I think a lot of these feelings are vacation wind-down and high school wind-down and college anxiety. I'm also pretty sure it will get worse before it gets better. But for now, very important word, BREATHE. I used this word as my New Year's resolution a couple of years ago when I felt in a frenzy to understand a man and then realized that I just needed to relax and let life happen (we all know how that turned out). But the relax and let life happen part turned out really good. 

So, wait and see. I think I'm really going to start writing a book now. Those that know me also know I've been saying this since 1991. I once bought a computer (512mb Compaq) because I thought then I would start my book. Little did I know that at that age I had nothing to write about yet.  Now, I have a super fancy computer, lots to say and quite a bit of quiet time on the horizon. Let's say we cut the cable, cancel the Netflix and GO!

Ok, but first I have to go watch the Bachelorette. (kidding)