Organizing My Thoughts

[windinthemaples]

I, like Sarah, am still mentally tackling how to write about the weekend I spent visiting willow_cabin and mermaiden in New York. I think my experiences and thoughts can best be separated into some subject categories. They'd be something like:

Graeme's Growing Up, an end of an era, really, where I left him for the first time. We both learned that it was possible, that he was old enough and independent enough to be without his mama and that Daniel could be a great single parent.

Vegan Nom Nom Nom. Food? Oh, yes, we had amazing (vegan) meals in New York from shmancy restaurant to simple sunset picnic.

People (and Animals) as Conduits to the Divine. Psychic readings, channeled messages, inspired insights, supernatural practical jokes. It seemed like I was hyper-aware and connected to those messages from the Universe.

Life is Good and the World is Beautiful Like, whoa.

I'll have to finish uploading my photos and do some mental sorting and filing before I come back to those topics and the weekend's great fun. In the meantime, I have my Tuesday dentist date (awesome, super, eep) and a bunch of psychic travel homework for my Inner Temple apprenticeship to catch up on, and then preparations for another weekend away--this time with rubymulligan, sweet and sarcastic girl after my own heart. :D

Comments

[willow-cabin.livejournal.com]

We miss you! ♥

[sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com]

And I, you! Did you get my email? :)

[sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com]

Oh, scratch that question. I got Sarah's reply. We'll work something out for another time. {{{hugs}}}

Thank you for being such generous, outstanding hostesses. I had a fabulous time and was so honored to be in your home. :)

[willow-cabin.livejournal.com]

*HUGS* Thank you for being such a generous, inspiring, wonderful friend! I'm so happy that you enjoyed your visit. We had the best time in the world. We loved having you in our home and hope you come back to see us soon. (Like, tomorrow maybe? :D)

[sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com]

I would have to do some laundry and buy new jeans first. ;) But seriously, name the date and I'd happily be there. :) Daniel has sprouted his parenting wings which gives me leave to...well, leave! :D


{{{hugs}}}

[aerialmelodies.livejournal.com]

Love the icon photo! :)

I can't wait to hear everyone's stories of the weekend. It sounds amazing. And look you, traveler! *raises hand* I too am in Traveler's Anon. XD

[sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com]

:) Daniel, Graeme and I seem to spend more days out of town than in. It is part too-small condo and (a much bigger) part wanderlust.

[aerialmelodies.livejournal.com]

Heh, to quickly interject and correct my lack of coherent sentences: "And look AT you, traveler!" Okay, I'm done now. ;)

Wanderlust is the fuel behind all of my travel (and my dwindling bank account, oops). It's like breathing to me - without it, I'm not sure exactly what I'd be doing. It's always a pleasure to know other people who have that same feeling - not to mention read their AMAZING stories and adventures!

I think it's wonderful you take Graeme with you so often, by the way. I've read many stories about adults today who were taken on countless family trips as children and teens. Their view on the world is just amazing. It'll be interesting to see what Graeme thinks~

[sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com]

I hope so. His family is spread across the globe, so I think he'll grow up with a pretty broad and tolerant viewpoint. With the world becoming so flat, so to speak, it seems like time is the main constricting factor to travel. D and I get to where we're wedging extra jaunts into our schedules, last minute, sideways or however we can get them to fit. So, I guess my main constricting factors are time and clean laundry to repack into my suitcase. :D

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

Jenn and I were talking as we were driving home last night...before the weekend, we were both recovering from deep sadness...but a mixture of your presence, our soul group reconnecting and the deep magic that we experienced quantum leaped both of us. I'm writing again like crazy, working on jewelry, and am so, so inspired. That ritual was the highlight of my year. :)

We are so beyond blessed by your friendship, and appreciate it more than I could ever say. And we miss you. *LOVE*

[sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com]

Can anything else be said other than "{{{hugs}}}" and "Love!"? Maybe, but that pretty much covers the basics. The two of you brighten my life, lighten my burdens, and refill my spiritual soul's well. :)

[neva-butterfly.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that D excelled at his trial by fire weekend of solo parenting!! That has to be a huge weight off of you, knowing he can handle it.

[sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com]

I sorta pictured Graeme sobbing his way through the weekend and calling out my name through the night. They met me at the airport and Graeme, unlike my flighttime fantasies, didn't come running and leaping into my arms. He looked at me and was like, "Oh, hey. I've run out of water. Would you refill my sippy cup?". I admit there was a let-down but it also has freed me to be able to travel again without him and know that the boys will be totally okay without me.

As another fringe benefit, Daniel now *gets* how hard it is to get anything else done while caring for a toddler 24/7. He used to see me as having all this freetime and now he's got total empathy about how yes, I have time to click into the internet for a few minutes at a time here and there, but not really to do whatever I want when I want.

So all around, the trial by fire was hard enough for him to be impressed by my mom-skills and easy enough that he'd agree to do it again. :)

Do you think you'll go to AR2010? Sarah and I were talking about it, in large part so she can meet you, and in small part for the access she'd get to all that vegan food. ;) I'd considered 2009 but, frankly, I'm not that big a fan of LA.

[neva-butterfly.livejournal.com]

I will definitely be at AR2010, and Sean will probably speak again. I'd love to see you and meet Sarah and Jen before then though. I was hoping to do some traveling this fall, but probably won't after all--a little medical setback. We're not going to AR2009 because the travel is just too much.

If both of you come for 2010, I'd make some good food to share so you wouldn't just depend on the hotel... And hey, would take a field trip to Sticky Fingers or something.

I see what you mean that you feel a little let down that Graeme wasn't overjoyed to see you and was like "thank goodness you're back I barely survived!" But now you know you can travel some... Also the feeling appreciated is great too.