IrishOboe

I’m very happy to report that the traffic on the way home was much improved over the traffic on the way up.  Mom, Dad, and I drove to DSTB and while the dads had to go off to work the next morning the rest of us spent a lovely few days playing with the boys and discussing homeschooling curriculum.  Both Mom and I want to be children in the DSTB household.  Aunt S has so many wonderful and exciting things planned for their first year of homeschooling.  Goodbyes were hard because we don’t know when the next time will be.

B launched his rocket for us in the park.  I was surprised how high it went!

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Mom and then spent a day and a half at NMKB and got to see APA and play games and eat well (K cooked both dinners, which were excellent).  I learned some sword exercises from B and told him to think about becoming the medieval sword fighting instructor at my medieval arts school when I open it.  ;)

I had particular pleasure playing music with K.  Despite the fact that his ability on flute has surpassed my ability on piano, we enjoyed playing through pieces together from classical to Irish.  I no longer have to keep a whole eye on the flute line to correct for counting mistakes, and in fact, as I aimed at hitting more notes K kept his internal pulse running so my mistakes didn’t bother him.  Music is communal.  Why did we spend all our time in individual practice rooms in conservatory?

After another set of hard goodbyes we made it down to North Carolina and spent the night with long time friends.  Our welcome included a homey dinner complete with sherbet in cute dishes, almond biscotti tea served in beautiful cups, pictures of the grandkids, and there was even a vase of gladiolus in our room.

It was more lovely than I can tell to be with them again, however briefly.  How it brought back the days of dress up and sleepovers, Anne of Green Gables and little brothers screaming “teenage mutant potty trainers!”

We made it home without much ado and enjoyed the evening with Dad and a movie: The Greatest Show on Earth.  I’d never been to the circus so I loved it.  I can’t say much for the plot, but that’s not what I find most important in a movie.

The next day I went to church for the first time since I’ve been back and everyone was happy to get Swiss chocolate.  I was happy to be in an Episcopal service again and take communion at the rail!  I am so grateful for the lessons on learning to worship anywhere, but there is no place like home, and no service of rich sustenance as a liturgical one.  No, that’s not all that’s important, but don’t pick on me, I’m just enjoying what I’ve got at the moment.

With Dad having to go to Chicago for work on Monday, Sundays can hardly be a day of rest, but with all the work we managed to watch some of Tiger Woods’ game and enjoy each other’s company.  The bright spot in my day was getting my plane ticket to Switzerland nailed down.  I leave October 2^nd and return July 8^th.  I guess I better like the program.  To my dear relatives, I hope to find some good deals for coming home at some holiday or another, but it might not happen this year.  Let me know when you want to visit me!

Now that I’m home my daily adventures will not be so exciting: study German, study French (I’ve done 10 Pimsleur lessons already and it’s not has impossible as I thought!), study Swiss German, practice a plethora of instruments, do my US taxes, do my Japanese taxes, learn about Swiss taxes (oh joy), plan stuff for teaching in Switzerland so I can eat, dejunk my room, apply for scholarships and grants, consistently do my PT exercises so my arms don’t fall off, learn to cook like cousin K, organize my life, and many, many random things I won’t bore you with.  My To Do list is ever expanding but I surely won’t forget to enjoy the company of my parents and soak up everything that’s good about American life.  The nature of my life here will mean you’ll most likely be subjected to fewer posts but more philosophical musings. ;)

It was so lovely to see everyone we did.  I love you and will miss you all!