Wednesday, October 21, 2015

the day before

The day before taking off somewhere, anywhere, spikes the emotion meter significantly. I do not want to be far away from those whom I love. I do not!

But, without question, I get excited. The flight connections (even tomorrow's bus ride to Chicago and eight hour layover in Detroit) never seem too bad, the packing is easy, thoughts stray to being in a different place, sleeping in a room with a novel view, taking new walks along new roads. All this is beyond cool.

Even though I do not want to leave those whom I love.

It's good to have a busy and full day. I distract myself from the "leaving" part of travel and concentrate on getting things done.

Right after breakfast...


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I get organized: farmhouse needs a once over, suitcase needs to be packed. My trip is short -- I'm leaving tomorrow, returning Friday next week. Still, I need to travel wisely and simply and that requires some thought.


And in the late morning, I am with Snowdrop. I find her where I left her -- under the table!


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For much of the morning, we practice standing. Not by a chair or table but in the middle of a vast open space. She knows she is vulnerable...


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...and she is always tempted to take the easy road and just sit down!


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... but of course, when she stands tall and steady, she beams with pleasure and confidence.


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And after, we spin around and jiggle and jounce, all to the music of her music class songs and she is a happy girl indeed.


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In the afternoon, I take the girl out of her usual routines and cart her downtown. I have a bus ticket to pick up, a take-out dinner to buy.

Snowdrop is... puzzled: garages? Elevators? Clothing stores? (I thought I'd pop into one or two to see the state of fashion these days.)


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We walk along State Street, pop into the Union, stroll out onto the dock by the lake. Bicycles, Snowdrop, they're all riding bicycles!


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Yes, she gets that the world is vast and wonderful. But her real smile comes when we finally return home. This is where we process all that we experience elsewhere.


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God, I'm going to miss all my variously situated young families!

And, too, the guy who'll keep the farmette running in my absence.


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I really should pack.