Tuesday
Jul142009
What is this post lacking?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 7:07AM
I am visiting my mama in my hometown. Eighteen months is too long to be away.
Things I have discovered while here:
1. Life is better when it's 70 degrees (21 Celsius) with no humidity, calming breezes, and sunny skies.
2. Life is better when your parents watch your children for you so you can knit.
3. Life is better when your office overlooks a lushly planted garden under the shadow of a maple tree.
4. Life is better when it does not take 40 minutes to drive six miles. (9.6 kilometers) Instead, it takes about twelve minutes.
5. Life is better when your town is nestled on the side of a hill overlooking a massive body of water.
Now, I'm not saying my life in Washington, DC is lacking or anything like that. If there's one thing DC is not, it's lacking. If I were so inclined, I could purchase a live goat or a yuzu or a mountain dulcimer in DC quite readily.
My next door neighbor at home is a Fulbright scholar from Ghana. Up the street is a diplomat from Ecuador and his Canadian lawyer wife, who specializes in international business issues. Next door to me at my studio is the owner of one of the largest organic tea companies in the world. If you've purchased organic tea anytime, probably ever, it likely came from one of his farms in Japan or China. And then, you know, we have the president and all of those government-y people that live around here too. Just a few interesting people. Scattered about. Here and there.
So no, DC is definitely not lacking. Except in 70-degree-blue-sky-look-at-the-sun-sparkling-on-the-water-grandma-watch-the-kids-so-you-knit kind of things.
Things I have discovered while here:
1. Life is better when it's 70 degrees (21 Celsius) with no humidity, calming breezes, and sunny skies.
2. Life is better when your parents watch your children for you so you can knit.
3. Life is better when your office overlooks a lushly planted garden under the shadow of a maple tree.
4. Life is better when it does not take 40 minutes to drive six miles. (9.6 kilometers) Instead, it takes about twelve minutes.
5. Life is better when your town is nestled on the side of a hill overlooking a massive body of water.
Now, I'm not saying my life in Washington, DC is lacking or anything like that. If there's one thing DC is not, it's lacking. If I were so inclined, I could purchase a live goat or a yuzu or a mountain dulcimer in DC quite readily.
My next door neighbor at home is a Fulbright scholar from Ghana. Up the street is a diplomat from Ecuador and his Canadian lawyer wife, who specializes in international business issues. Next door to me at my studio is the owner of one of the largest organic tea companies in the world. If you've purchased organic tea anytime, probably ever, it likely came from one of his farms in Japan or China. And then, you know, we have the president and all of those government-y people that live around here too. Just a few interesting people. Scattered about. Here and there.
So no, DC is definitely not lacking. Except in 70-degree-blue-sky-look-at-the-sun-sparkling-on-the-water-grandma-watch-the-kids-so-you-knit kind of things.
in Chit Chat
Chit Chat 
Reader Comments (8)
Sounds like a good time to me, too : )
It sounds like your having a wonderful time! I'm happy you are able to take some time off and visit your family! Enjoy to the fullest all the great things you listed! :)
Barely in the 80's with low humidity in DC today ...but stay out of town until the weekend--it is suppose to be 89 and humid on Thursday. I, too, favor the 70's with a breeze.
Sounds heavenly. Enjoy!
I remember those days of grandma-takes-care-of-the-kids-so-I-can...! Now I'M the Grandma! But the granddaughters are no problem. Enjoy your relaxing time.
Things that change when your daughter (The Yarnista) comes home for a visit:
1. You get ten times as many hugs as before.
2. You see random skeins of yarn draped on furniture here and there.
3. There's a pile of 28 shoes in your back entry way.
4. Adorable grandchildren are available to do enthusiastic dance performances whenever asked.
5. Many bedtime stories are being read.
6. Lots of yummy food is being consumed.
7. Your computer gets more e-mail in one day than it normally does in a week.
8. You note wistfully how fast the years have sped by, and hope their next visit is soon.
9. The song "The Life of the Voyageur" gets sung dramatically at least four times per day.
10. You try to think about the memories you're making, and not the time their return flight departs.
With the closest grandparents being a 14 hour drive, I too miss the days when a grandparent would watch/play with them to knit. Of course, right now, I would be happy for anyone to take care of them so I can knit.... March can NOT come soon enough.
Give the grandmum an extra hug for me just because you can.
Aw, as usual, Yarnista's mom's post raises my happy yet wistful emotions. We must love what we have WHEN we have it.
Glad you had a nice visit.