(no subject)
back from the cape with daniel and sarah. i take them, now 5 and 10, down there every year for a couple of days of candy and as many fun activities as i can squeeze in. this year we spent a day in ptown with pizza and souvenirs followed by an evening at the drive-in. they also had their favorite sandwich of portabellos sauteed in balsamic and served on crusty bread with feta. the next day we went to mini-golf, trampolines, the library, and the playground. yes, i said the library. i needed some quiet time already! took them home, made an italian feast complete with fresh tomatoes that i brought from my dad's garden, buffalo mozzarella, and garlic bread. got sarah bathed and in her pjs with a sweatshirt and then surprised them with a trip to the general store for penny candy and a sunset walk on the beach complete with a metal detector! but there was a bit of a damper on that outing...
as the kids were playing on the beach, i got a phone call that the other family i have babysat, most recently a consistent gig of two nights a week that ended last fall, well, the dad committed suicide a week ago. i had just spoken with him a month ago! it was really shocking considering i ate dinner with him those two nights every week when i was there. we really got to know each other and he might have been one of the most decent men i have ever known. not to mention, head-turning handsome. he was only 40 and the kids are 3 and 7. now i'm just figuring out how i should go about sending my condolences as i know i'm one of only two babysitters they use...bad enough i missed all the services.
back to the cape...yesterday we met up with my old friend who i haven't seen in 12 years! she was vacationing in chatham but has been living in seattle for 8 years. we had a picnic while the children played at the bay. amanda is lovely and got to see first hand why her and her husband should not be considering children yet! it didn't help that the kids consumed massive amounts of candy in her presence.
anyway, glad to be home, in my own bed. my time here is closing in, less than three weeks now. still have no solid plan. looks like i'll stay in london a couple of weeks and then try to make my way to crete. stay there a week or so and go back to london, hopefully making some stops along the way, and stay until i get bored. it has been tempting not to get into my car and drive across the us though. no commitments is absolutely an amazing experience! i realize how fortunate i am and that this will not always be the case, and that fact tself, is exciting as well.
as the kids were playing on the beach, i got a phone call that the other family i have babysat, most recently a consistent gig of two nights a week that ended last fall, well, the dad committed suicide a week ago. i had just spoken with him a month ago! it was really shocking considering i ate dinner with him those two nights every week when i was there. we really got to know each other and he might have been one of the most decent men i have ever known. not to mention, head-turning handsome. he was only 40 and the kids are 3 and 7. now i'm just figuring out how i should go about sending my condolences as i know i'm one of only two babysitters they use...bad enough i missed all the services.
back to the cape...yesterday we met up with my old friend who i haven't seen in 12 years! she was vacationing in chatham but has been living in seattle for 8 years. we had a picnic while the children played at the bay. amanda is lovely and got to see first hand why her and her husband should not be considering children yet! it didn't help that the kids consumed massive amounts of candy in her presence.
anyway, glad to be home, in my own bed. my time here is closing in, less than three weeks now. still have no solid plan. looks like i'll stay in london a couple of weeks and then try to make my way to crete. stay there a week or so and go back to london, hopefully making some stops along the way, and stay until i get bored. it has been tempting not to get into my car and drive across the us though. no commitments is absolutely an amazing experience! i realize how fortunate i am and that this will not always be the case, and that fact tself, is exciting as well.