We have been home about 36 hours from our recent vacation, but I am still in low gear. I’ve slept in, read various magazines, and finally gotten around to emptying my suitcase of Tahiti’s sand. I only did this because Earl was eager to do laundry, and I never want to discourage someone else’s productivity.
At the same time, I appreciate that Earl doesn’t expect me to hit the ground running when we return from various trips. I just can’t do it, and I believe it’s because my body always arrives anyplace way ahead of my mind. In this instance, my mind is still on the cruise ship Tahitian Princess watching the world go by from our cabin’s balcony. Eventually, it will come home.
Knowing this about me and travel, my axiom is that it takes a day for every day I’m away to catch up. We were gone seventeen days this time — a record length — so I expect to be ready to greet 2007 somewhere at the end of February. It should make the year fly by. In contrast, Earl’s daughter — who traveled with us along with her husband, Mark — commented that she allows a day to get settled in. I admire her efficiency and maybe I should ask how she does it.
And maybe not. Secretly, I like keeping the relaxed attitude I acquire on vacations and I almost resent having to address reality again. Cases in point: I now am the one who makes the bed. I also do the cooking. Neither of these things occupied my time on our trip, as we had a bevy of ship’s staff at our beck and call. In addition, while we were gone, our cable company stopped our service and a bill that got lost in the mail arrived on my return, only to be past due. Both of these situations require immediate attention, but I doubt any room steward will handle them. Wait a minute. I AM the room steward again. Ugh!
I’ll get over it when my mind shows up. I always do; and, in fact, I like being in charge once the shock of it recedes. However, at the moment, I’m still struggling. Which is why I think I smell our dinner burning.
My mind better show up soon or there will be Hell to pay!
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