Arrived in Dallas at 5:00 pm on Saturday night. Shannon whisked us up from the airport. We met Gary and Jack at home and immediately went out for a tex-me dinner. Lots of guacamole. Yum. Back to the house ostensibly to play Mexican Train a dominos game, but we were all too tired so we watched the last night of the Olympics. That is we stared at the TV until 9:00 pm, which signaled bedtime. Good night to all and to all a good night.
Jimmy and I woke bright and early, 5:30 am, quietly dressed and left. First stop, Starbucks. I did not have a latte the entire time I was in Akbol Belize. I know, there are worse things that can happen. Nonetheless, I stood at the Starbucks counter and announced, “I am so excited to have this latte. Thank you all so much.” The employees did not seem at all phased by my exuberance.
We took turns driving back to Memphis, me writing Haiku, Jimmy driving and then me driving and Jimmy reading the CA, looking at Facebook and checking emails. Home at 2:00 pm. So strange to be on our street. It felt as though we had been gone for a month. Everything here is still so brown and there was a chill in the air. Our house seemed 5 times bigger than when we left. I commented as we walked up the drive, “Let’s sell this monstrosity and get a little bungalow.” Jimmy, right on board, replied, “I am right there with you Babe, but we have to wait a year.” We have discussed down sizing and after living in a tiny cabana for seven days, it is tempting to do just that, but we are committed to staying here at least one more year.
We went through the mail, put dirty clothes in the wash and we played with Kali, our dog, who had been staying with our neighbors, Mark and David. Jimmy went to the grocery to get food for dinner, salmon and brussels sprouts, and I paid bills while I caught up on two of my television favorites, Downton Abbey and Intelligence.
Amelia arrived around 4:30 pm. It took Greg and Katie a good thirty minutes to explain “potty procedures.” Amelia has been using the potty quite successfully since Saturday and we were tasked with carrying the torch while she spends the night and next day with us. “Mom, set your timer for 30 minutes. She has to go every 30 minutes. She wants to be left alone. Who wouldn’t. She gets a sticker and a string of beads every time she goes.” Katie was very direct. “Now when she gets up in the morning, first thing, she sits on the pot with her milk. Oh and I forgot no liquids after 6:45 at night.” When it was all said and done I kiddingly moaned, “Maybe she should go back home.” No way. We did great. She did not have an accident, used the potty four times over the course of the evening and each time we celebrated her victory jumping up and down and clapping. “I go potty, Pops,” she cried running into the kitchen to tell Jimmy of her success.
After dinner we folded laundry, Amelia played with my jewelry box while Jimmy sat next to her letting her put clip on earring on his lobes. Then, excited she declared, “GiGi, I get dressed for the ball. You too,” she declared, putting multiple bracelets on my wrists and hers. “I need shoes,” she said as she rummaged through my closet attempting to put on a pair of my best Stuart Wietzman high heels. “No, Honey, try these,” I urged giving her a pair of my old patent leather pumps. She loved them. Here she is dancing with Pops at the ball.
After the ball, we put on our quitters, our pajamas, read three books and all went to bed.
It is now 6:00 am on Monday morning. We are all up and looking forward to a great day. Hopefully I will find time to write some Haiku. I am definitely going to practice yoga. Life is good. My timer is set to go off in ten minutes. We will be using the potty today.