SOMETIMES “Life” gets in the way of a good story…. I started this story a week ago as I was leaving Texas…
Back to the land of the long white cloud, most probably rain and certainly winter chill factor (for this summer gal)
I have had two fantastic weeks in Lake Jackson Texas… sharing the lives of the Wachtstetter family…breakfasts out, lunches at 11am, dinner at home after a swim in the pool or a cool beer! watching live The USA Open Tennis smash its way to the finals this weekend,
A bit of puzzling (Jigsaws) always one on the go!, side trip to Austin, for a live music hit!
Checking the letterbox every day…yes one gets mail every day, one writes checks to pay bills and posts them in the mailbox with the flag up…(no hunting down a post shop to post mail) , one’s groceries are loaded in bags at the supermarket (that you’re not charged for) trash is trash! One big black sack! Life is simple!
The world here is not totally reliant on electronic transactions…and still has the human touch…checkout operators…who recognise faces!
Family pool parties…for games day…for birthdays and just a Sunday afternoon…a home filled with laughter and love, kindness and lots of food!!!
I am leaving Texas with a better understanding of the mid term election race and what it means for the country! Many people on my travels I have met outside America have expressed they would not step foot in USA at the moment under the Trump leadership…I, even more now, do not understand why….seeing the carnage and pointless murders (by radical lefties) of some really good people trying to promote freedom of speech! And freedom of choice!
A 14 hour flight home to my people…sons, Grand sons, a new house, a container full of my worldly possessions! Cars to give some love to, and a blank canvas of gardens to create!!! With my little helpers (maybe the odd big helper!)
This Journey has been a big one…the 35 day, 500 mile Camino walk sometimes seems a distant memory,,,but in my alone time memories float back in and I see the smiles on the faces of the strangers I met…and those conversations that we never finished!!!
The heatwaves of this European summer have created a shift in my tolerance of heat levels! Or is it age?
I have caught up with many of my international family and friends in the last four months and treasured our time together!
Some of my family and friends lives have changed forever while I have been wandering the globe, losing loved ones, battling illness, new babies have arrived…making new connections…losing old connections…new cars, old cars…new homes…. The Circle of life!
NOW ….. I am home….a week actually…. To my new home in the bush!
First night in my own bed in four and a half months, sitting on my terrace (in my winter woolies…yes it’s cold) listening to the morning chatter of the birds!
The week has been a physical one as I camped at my sons and cleaned….for three days, lifted a house lot of furniture from my storage… testing my back and bicep strength, then unpacked for three days!
The wardrobes are full! The kitchen is full and the unpacked boxes stacked in corners ready to unpack!
The family surrounds me and fills in my evenings with noise and hugs!!! My granbabies now little men chatting away with (strong) personalities and determination!
The hobby cars have homes…and getting ready for the next big adventure… to the cortina nationals!
Internet finally up and running…and now a garage full of excess furniture! A tiny house becoming a bit of a priority!
The summer gal has layered up with thermals and jeans…acclimatising to a kiwi spring…with temperatures maxing out at 15 degrees , rain…with a bit of (welcome) sunshine breaking through, just enough to let me know a window clean is high on the job list!
But the peacefulness of my downtime, the birdsong, and nikau palms…
Makes it all worthwhile!
I am surrounded by nature and only 10 minutes from town life!
Landscaping and lawn mowing will fill in my days as summer is just around the corner!
All who wander are not Lost girls 