Strut!
Geez I have been meaning to update all day, and well, better late than never. I've had a full plate the past few days. Peter's grandmother passed away at the ripe old age of 95. What a life. She left Ukraine as a peasant girl after Stalin(!) came to power and lived in a refugee camp in Poland. Hitler invaded and all of the refugees were forced to help aid the war including Peter's grandparents who regularly saw the merciless Third Reich shoot people on sight if they didn't like their look. After the liberation, she fled to Holland and eventually emigrated to the United States. Peter's mother was just a young girl. They travelled over with another family (Peter's father's) and the new immigrants betrothed their children. They worked at the fledgling Marcal paper products factory, married and years later produced my lovely husband, Peter. It was a complete treasure to hear all of these stories told over and over again over my Fourth of July weekend. The Ukranian Orthodox Church was so beautiful and the ceremony so completely engrossing. I am completely selfish to say that I had a great time, but since Pete rarely reads my journal, I am going to run the risk. It was just so fascinating, and it is so my area of interest. This was also the first time that I met many of Peter's extended family even though he is quite fond of mine. Peter's sister's wife and I only met one awkward moment when one of Peter's uncles said it would be inappropriate for us to enter the church. Peter's mother insisted and ultimately won. And I love her for it.
I realized this weekend how seven years with Peter has so thoroughly entrenched me in his family. It is truly my extended family and I cried along with them through the services. I was so happy to be able to just be there and to be invited by his mother, and just wow, so many other things. I fell in love with Pete a little deeper over this weekend. I was exposed to the vulnerable pulse of his very old school European family, and I was welcomed without question. And I love his parents and his sisters almost as dearly as I love my own parents and brothers.
Peter and I have also been very involved in a vacation to the lovely Pennsylvania countryside, QuakerTown, USA with my parents(!) next week. Yup for five lovely days just me, Pete, and my parents. My brothers have vacationed with them for years and Pete and I have always turned down their invitations. This year we decided to go to at least get them and my brothers off our backs about not extending ourselves. This is something that neither Pete or I look forward to (I suppose I do in a completely saidistic kind of way) but we will see how it goes. I am more looking forward to October when my little brother his wife and the two of us spend a week in the Florida Keys. This is something I did when Peter and I first met (I went with a close friend), and I have always wanted to bring Peter for Fantasy Fest (a sorta gay Mardi Gras in Key West) and to swim with the dolphins, the whole nine. We vacationed with my brother and his wife last year and had a great time so we figure let's do it again. Anywho, camping with my parents comes first so we will just see how all of that loveliness plays out.
I absolutely love my new house. I only wish I had more time to spend here. I am completely spread thin with work and all. Since NYC Pride has ended (which was amazing. It's always such a fantasy party, I never believe I was there. Digress. Another story. met Jessica Simpson. another story.), the dance department is all a buzz because several artists reveal/release new music during New York Pride. It kicks off the "busy season" for me from now until September so days become longer, deadlines tighter. You get the picture.
Anyway I have rambled long enough. I am actually kinda manic right now because I have the house to myself which like NEVER(!!) happens. I think I have to strut around naked for the hell of it, but I more want to play with the crazy cats. I'm Good.
I realized this weekend how seven years with Peter has so thoroughly entrenched me in his family. It is truly my extended family and I cried along with them through the services. I was so happy to be able to just be there and to be invited by his mother, and just wow, so many other things. I fell in love with Pete a little deeper over this weekend. I was exposed to the vulnerable pulse of his very old school European family, and I was welcomed without question. And I love his parents and his sisters almost as dearly as I love my own parents and brothers.
Peter and I have also been very involved in a vacation to the lovely Pennsylvania countryside, QuakerTown, USA with my parents(!) next week. Yup for five lovely days just me, Pete, and my parents. My brothers have vacationed with them for years and Pete and I have always turned down their invitations. This year we decided to go to at least get them and my brothers off our backs about not extending ourselves. This is something that neither Pete or I look forward to (I suppose I do in a completely saidistic kind of way) but we will see how it goes. I am more looking forward to October when my little brother his wife and the two of us spend a week in the Florida Keys. This is something I did when Peter and I first met (I went with a close friend), and I have always wanted to bring Peter for Fantasy Fest (a sorta gay Mardi Gras in Key West) and to swim with the dolphins, the whole nine. We vacationed with my brother and his wife last year and had a great time so we figure let's do it again. Anywho, camping with my parents comes first so we will just see how all of that loveliness plays out.
I absolutely love my new house. I only wish I had more time to spend here. I am completely spread thin with work and all. Since NYC Pride has ended (which was amazing. It's always such a fantasy party, I never believe I was there. Digress. Another story. met Jessica Simpson. another story.), the dance department is all a buzz because several artists reveal/release new music during New York Pride. It kicks off the "busy season" for me from now until September so days become longer, deadlines tighter. You get the picture.
Anyway I have rambled long enough. I am actually kinda manic right now because I have the house to myself which like NEVER(!!) happens. I think I have to strut around naked for the hell of it, but I more want to play with the crazy cats. I'm Good.