Okay, so I did come back, in the end. And right now, with one cat on my legs and the other nearby in his basket, I’m pretty glad that I did. I actually flew back on Thursday, but I’ve been busy with family events and trying to overcome jetlag and coping with the fact that it’s seriously Autumn, soon to be followed by Winter.
The first frost came while I was away, so I returned to dead tomato plants (and squash and peppers). I rescued a few ripening fruits, but there sure are a lot of green tomatoes out there. Bah. The broccoli and kale and brussels sprouts are perfectly fine with the cool weather, though.
So, I would mark down my Frankfurt trip as a success. The timing was perfect: on Monday (when I went to Mainz), I was thinking I HAD to postpone my flight back, see if I could stay in the hotel for a few more days. I didn’t want to return to my regular life. But by Tuesday evening, I was perfectly happy that I had only one more day left before I had to leave. There’s something to be said for being able to sit around and do nothing in your own home.
Being away let me appreciate the fact that I do have a house of my own. After living in a room that was just one of many in somebody else’s building, the idea of an entire home that’s mine seemed novel and exciting again. I think that going through the same routines every day makes me forget how significant it is that I’m able to keep things running and in order. When I was away, the idea that I have a cupboard with a box in it, which contains (among other things) two packs of ballpoint pens — and they all belong to me — it seemed sort of marvelous. I know it sounds silly, but it’s enough to make a person want to come back.
Well, that and the little grey cat (who is now on my arm).
It sounds very sane to me rather than silly. I love going away but I get just as excited coming home to my cupboards and drawers and books and pens. And the cats. Nothing quite like cats to welcome a person home.
You can ripen green tomatoes by putting them in a paper bag and placing it in a dark place.
The pen thing, captures something wonderful about the essence of home. Great words.
You’re so sensible. I’m always trying to change my flight to come home earlier, no matter how long or where the trip.
Have you noticed that cats look really small if you haven’t seen then in a while? I guess they loom large in ones mind.
..how about imitation mince meat pie?
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Oh my goodness, I’m so in love with that mug (the green glazed one with the bark pattern)! It reminds me of one that my grandma used to have. Please say it wasn’t from a thrift store. Any idea where I might be able to find one?