Monday, November 4, 2013

Country Roads, Take Me Home...

to the place I belong...

I was away this last week helping my Mom and as much as I enjoy spending time with her, I begin to hyperventilate long about day 3 when I'm in a city. She doesn't even live IN the city. She lives in a very quiet subdivision, but I can't breathe. Just the thought that there are too many people surrounding me makes me cringe. I grew up here, but in my very first post ever, I mentioned how I always felt like a fish out of water and that still holds true today...maybe even more so.

Those of you who are regular readers know that I even have trouble dragging myself the 30 miles to town once a week.

This time I flew:


 That too puts me off balance. I grew up flying as we flew to Europe a lot to spend some summers and Christmases with family, but I hadn't flown in over 20 years until we flew out to California for our boy's Marine Graduation a few years back. That was SO worth it, and I wouldn't have missed THAT for anything in the world, but I did a lot of praying.

I'm not a fan of flying, but I took along some hand stitching to settle the soul.


Stitching does that, but those of you that sew, know that. It's hard to explain it to someone who doesn't sew. My mom asked me to make some potholders for some of her friends so before I left, I blew off the dust from my sewing machine and stitched some up so that I had bindings to work on. I have 2 quilts awaiting binding, but they are both 100" x 100" and would be a bit unwieldy to work on while flying.

I like to drive the back roads, but Mom thought I ought to fly and even though I am on the downhill slide to 50, sometimes you still do what you are told when your Mom is doing the telling. :)

I laughed when I saw this sign:


That is me up there and unfortunately, our girl inherited that trait although I blame hers on the fact that she never wears matching socks. :)

Flying from Dallas, there was a darling 18-month old little girl seated behind me who was so good. She serenaded those of us who were seated in close proximity to her with multiple renditions of "Tinkle Tinkle Little Star". She was using her indoor voice and it was very sweet. Some might be irritated by this musical concerto, but you could not help but grin and be completely charmed by her unless you were a close relative of the Grinch, and even then, I'm thinking she would have wormed her way into even your heart.

When I arrived and opened my suitcase, I had a lovely note from the TSA:


Hmmm...I wonder what they deemed suspicious. Could it be the paper piecing box of hexagons  (no scissors), or the chocolate covered almonds? Surely my devotional didn't raise the alert. The note says they search random pieces of luggage, but they broke my zipper. :( Perhaps I should have left them a note on the off chance that they would search my suitcase that told them that they must hold their tongue out in order for it to zip properly.


My parents have built an amazing circle of friends through the years. I love their friends. Some of them even come out to visit us and spend holidays with us. They have become extended family. They all live on the same street so there is always something going on. One leaves flowers at the door, one brings a homemade Lemon Meringue Pie, one invites us over and cooks amazing salmon for us and another invites us to dine on Ossobuco, another leaves a still warm loaf of banana bread at the door because we are gone, another invites us over for dinner and a movie, we attend a grandchild's baptism, we have a group of them over for supper...and brunch, we gather at one home and everyone sets up tables in the circle drive on Halloween for trick or treaters...hundreds of trick or treaters, and everyone brings food to set up in the garage. I am wiped out when I get home. I guess you could say I have reached my socialization threshold. Or I have reached my socialization saturation point. LOL Yup. Socially saturated. That says it best.

I felt a bit better once I looked out the window and began to see crop circles instead of houses:


 And before long, I recognized the Cap


and even spied part of the ranch:


Our girl came home this weekend! She came home on Thursday to spend some time with her Daddy. She said, "I know how he gets when you're away". :) And she too needed some dirt road time. Being socially saturated runs in the family. LOL So it was nice to have both of them greet me when I arrived at the airport and it is really, really good to be home.

13 comments:

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

Socially saturated! I love that! It doesn't take much to socially saturate me. ;-)

Chiska said...

Socially Saturated--I love that. Not having the privilege of living where I can escape it now I know what to call it when I just need that space! Thanks for sharing this.

Sandy Panagos said...

I can just imagine how worn out you were when you got home. Sounds like a lovely trip though.

juliehallfeldhaus said...

I hear ya sister I like to stay home too!!!! And flying is for the birds:) Although there have been many a time when I have watched a hawk or even a turkey vultures gliding along in the sky that I have wished I could fly like a bird!
Welcome home.

Doniene said...

Been wondering about you!!! So glad that you spent time with your Mom - I know that she so enjoys that time! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to fly!!! But alas, not on the agenda for me to go anywhere where I can - besides I usually have a dog or two with me - not paying extra for them!! LOL Besides Mike HATES, HATES, HATES to fly - so I'd have to go by myself!! So glad Caitlyn spent some time at home!! What a blessing.

Praying daily for Tyler and all his company - what a sacrifice!!


Blessings sweet "dirt road friend"!!

Unknown said...

Welcome home! I love the socially saturated....I may have to use that. I always just explain it away that I'm anti-social.

Judy said...

Oh my, how I love seeing your land by plane. So rewarding dearest. I cam back to San Antonio last Wednesday so my daughter could go to Dallas. Flying is not my favorite either and I fly from Sacramento, CA! But seeing the faces of my sweet grandchildren at the airport yelling "grandma, grandma" always makes the trip worth every moment. I will be returning home this Wedneaday morning but I am coming back Dec. 27 th and I am bringing their Grandpa with me!! Then it will be a very special time!!

Nancy said...

Glad that you were able to visit your Mother and to soak up a bit of the "city" life. By leaving the dirt road from time to time, the love for it becomes even stronger.

laverne said...

LOVE the description!I was so shy growing up and it still flares up some but if I know some one really well its not a problem,I can visit quite well,but a social situation....

Pauline said...

Socially saturated, love that one, it describes my DH to a T. Will have to use that one this week end since we're invited to a wedding. Won't be too bad thou, it's here on the ranch, in the park and will be informal with a barbecue to follow. So glad you're back home, I missed your post.

Michigan Gal said...

I'm glad you're home too. As much as you love your Mom, it's where you and your heart belong. Hugs.

Anonymous said...

Saw C just briefly at the rodeo this weekend, one of these days when I'm in Roswell we'll have to get together. Does Jennifer J still blog? I lost her link somewhere in cyberspace...

Denise :) said...

I love your description of the sweet little passenger behind you! How precious! My suitcase totally took a hit when I traveled last time. My zipper was completely busted off the front opening (luckily there was nothing in it) and the suitcase had a rip in it. *sigh* Glad you had a good and safe trip, suitcase notwithstanding! Hugs!! :)

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