Home Sweet Home

12 days, 2,152 miles, and we are home. And we are tired. Alice has spent much of the day just like you see her up there on the sofa. We had a good trip although a bit bittersweet. Mom's doing well in the nursing home with lots of day trips home over the next few summer months. It's a good compromise for now. My son is almost to his final destination in Afghanistan, a command outpost on the border of Pakistan. According to him, the mountains are spectacular. The rest of it, not so much.

The graduate! We could not have been happier to see Sarah finish her RN to BSN degree. She's pretty darned over the moon having reached this mile stone. For the first time in 4 years she'll have a summer off from classes. Then it's off to graduate nursing school in autumn. Oh to be that young again and that full of energy.

Speaking of energy.....It has been exactly 22 years since I spent a day at the zoo with a 2 year old. I had forgotten just how fast they can move. We got to spend a lot of time getting to know my son's girlfriend and her daughter. We had family meals with them, my daughter, and her boyfriend, we watched cartoons that I've never heard of, we played ball with the dogs. We forged new family ties and made new family memories.

But there is just nothing like sleeping in your own bed with your dogs snoring in their beds. I've missed my studio and I must admit, I've missed my quiet time. It's good to be home.