Well my dad left
🙁
And then my sister left
🙁
And once again I find myself here, all alone, in this strange land they call Texas.
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It was great to see them. I really had a good time.
Dad was here for three weeks, which seemed like only one, and my sister was here for two.
Now they’re both gone.
Back to the Mother Land.
Without me.
And I had to have a little cry on the way home from the airport.
Well a howl really.
It happens.
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I didn’t do much of anything during their visit which was nice.
Dad liked to sit outside in the 100 degree heat and read his book. I could only manage ten minutes at a time and I’ve lived here for twenty-six years.
My sister also liked to sit outside in the 100 degree heat and read her book.
Man!
You know what they say about mad dogs and Englishmen.
I’ve never been able to sit outside in the heat. Of all the people to come live here in sunny Houston, I was probably not the best first choice.
We went to the theatre to watch The Foreigner by Larry Shue which was really good and we had to laugh out loud.
Except it was FREEZING inside the theatre and we almost had to cry also.
I know, I know.
It’s too hot, it’s too cold. What’s a girl to do.
Live in Hawaii that’s what…
Anyway we didn’t ‘do’ the Space Center because it was like 100+ degrees and the thought of being outside on their little open air tram tour seemed a little…well, hot, but P did take my dad fishing five times! because out in the bay where the air is so still that the water doesn’t move and the heat beats down on you to the point where you think your brain is frying and you can’t see the shore line which is your only hope for survival and you begin to think you’re living in some strange hallucinatory land from your worse nightmare is exactly what the doctor orders for all 85 year old men.
Did they listen to me?
No.
And what did we get to show for the worry?
One little fish.
But
Dad survived to live another day and I think enjoyed living on the edge even if it did nothing but to prove that we’d never survive on their hunting and gathering skills.
My sister, on the other hand, found that worrying about whether your fishing skills are sufficient for survival meant nothing compared to being taken aside into the ‘special’ room at the airport because your hands show evidence of recent exposure to explosive materials.
We think that the only possible explanation for her detainment could be that we had been in my studio just before we left for the airport. Who knows what chemicals are lurking there. Fortunately I don’t know what to do with any of them except to make jewelry and my sister definitely doesn’t know what to do with them.
Thankfully she passed their second test and so avoided the ‘extra special’ room where she believed that the latex glove worn by the nice security lady may well have been put to good use.
Whew!
Sorry K.
So, now they have gone
🙁
And I’m still here
🙁
It will be O.K.
–
Send chocolate…
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I leave you with a photo of the only family I have left.
Aside from the two humans who live here.
And Pickles who doesn’t like to socialize with the local riff-raff.
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I’m sure it would melt if I sent chocolate, but I’m glad you had a nice visit with family. I’ve never been brave enough to visit that strange, hot land, even to visit my sister in Austin….though I’m just back from another strange land (Peru) where I visited with the SIL. (I’d be tempted to share a pic of the local fauna, save that some might object to the fact that it mostly appeared on a plate. 😉 ) No doubt your own four-legged folks will cheer you up.
One of my girls lives in Austin. It’s even hotter there than in Houston. They do serve the best hamburger in the world there though – the Magic Shroom from HopDoddy’s – so it might well be in your best interest to visit there one day when you fancy something a little more civilized than guinea pig 😉
Hi! I was just thinking about you and I’m so glad that you’re back! I’m also glad that you had lovely visits with your family, it’s important you know! You’re like me and can’t take the heat, especially that southern heat. I’m originally from New Orleans so I really do understand! So, stay out of it! That’s my motto! Thank God for central air conditioning! Take care!
I’m a hermit in my own little air conditioned cave, and love it! Well, except for when I remember walking in England. And breathing in cool, fresh air. And sitting outside for picnics…
Did I see that you had a birthday? Happy birthday 🙂
Found your blog a while back, searching for decent jewelry blogs! Yours always makes me laugh and I can certainly identify with you in many ways! I am from Germany, but have lived here for 32 years and all of my family is still in the old country! The misery when they leave after a visit never gets any easier, that’s for sure! Love your sense of humor and look forward to each new post! And your creations are amazing!!!
Ha Karin! I write my blog for that reason also (bottom of your about page). I started it to help me ‘get over it’ when it came to confidence and along the way I hope that, by osmosis, it might help anyone else who has the same doubts as I do. Life’s too short to feel as though you can’t do things, right?
Thanks! It does get lonely in that studio at times, where you begin to wonder if you are the only loonie out there doing the stuff you do – and then you find a kindred – albeit much more talented – spirit blogging about the same stuff! 😀
Aw, you do sound sad now that your dad and sister have left. I’m glad you had happy times with them. I get hot and flustered at 30 degrees (I’m Scottish) so I have no idea how they could sit out and read in those temperatures!! Your little cat family is lovely and your new studio looks exciting. I always look forward to your posts, you have a great sense of humour xx
That little sparrow, and your cat look beautiful, and I would love to live in a house by the sea, although I am a bit of a weeny about the cold as much as I hate the heat. I come from Essex, but have lived here for a while now. I miss home.