It decided to snow her in blustery Chicago they day I left. It has snowed everyday that I have flown this year - my luggage has taken quite a beating from the salt as well.
Side note: May I just say that Chicago and I have had to come to terms on this whole winter
thing. I told a few close friends back in Oct/Nov that I did not want to become bitter at winter this year. It starts small, but then just consumes you. All my years in the dorms I remember finding it difficult to endure those frigid, gray months. I truly do believe I struggled with acute Seasonal Affective Disorder. This winter has been different. I think the vow to not be at odds with winter and to have a cozy, warm, homey apartment to take refuge in despite the negative zero weather and countless snowfalls. Nothing like a good book, candles lit and coffee in a favorite mug to take comfort in despite the brutal wind. That and having the constant mantra of "spring will come. spring will come. winter can't last forever. one day it will end and spring will be here..." running through my head every step of my commute.So back to the Florida bliss story. My sister had hoped to come and visit me in Chicago for her b-day. She decided instead of flying here to the windy city in the dead of winter, I should fly to the sunshine state as a gift to her. This clearly worked out in our favor for the both of us.
For the record, even if Amanda lived in Alaska, I would be so thrilled to visit just to see her - but I will admit that her location in a place of sand and sun was the icing on the cake :)
I arrived in Pensacola quite late in the evening. I was consumed in a book the whole way there. A very depressing book, actually - The Unbearable Lightness of Being - (but that's another story). Talked to a guy from some Southern State on the plane. Amazed that we had an entire conversation without him asking me a single question. He was not at all shy to drop all sorts of details about himself, his expensive "toys", his business and his success, however... Sheesh.
Finally I was off the plane and into the arms of my favorite sister!! Who would have thought we would even be half as close as we are now?! I treasure every moment with her, every minute on the phone. I have missed her more than I thought possible. Sometimes I even feel like a part of me is miles away.I was amazed at how much Amanda went out of her way for me. What a hostess! She filled my room with, yes, candy!! Had everything that I could possibly need, so that I would not have to pack liquids and only bring a carry on. She even found out my favorite blend of coffe (Sumatra, for those of you who were wondering) and had that awaiting me. On the bed she had laid out a sweet white T-Shirt with NAVY spelled out in pink letters. Awww, sweet. I really feel like part of their family now.
The next morning was delightfully low key and relaxed. We took their wonderful dog to the beach to play with a dog of their friends. Franklin was a little too rambunctious for the little bitty lab puppy.
It was so wonderful just to live life alongside my sis and her hub. We made spicy, spicy thai stir fry and a cobbler for guests that night. We got to play some games with some of Amanda and Drew's good friends. So so so much fun. Each of the games required creativity (drawing, making up origins of phrases, more drawing). The evening included so much laughter. So good for the soul, so not a cliche. It did my heart, my whole person so much good to just laugh uncontrollably that whole evening and enjoy the presence of these dear friends who love my sister and Drew so well.
Some of the highlights included going to Destin, trying not to break things in a blown glass store, PF Changs, shopping at an amazing vintage store, another game night with friends and yummy cupcakes, visiting the awesome local artsy coffee shop, and last but not least, Confessions of a Shopaholic. Movies like these are infinitely better with my sister at my side. We made quite a ruckus in one scene because we nearly hyperventalated due to our laughing so hard. To date, funniest scene I have seen in a movie - perhaps it struck a chord because I could so see myself doing the same thing!!
The saddest thing - I did not take a single picture!! I am horrible at actually pulling out my camera and snapping a few. I just love being in the moment and savoring it all I can. The pulling out the camera seems to interrupt that to a degree. This is something I need to improve on, to be sure. Next time... I hope!
Ready to leave? Never. We are trying to come up with a 5 year plan (ever the planner) so that we all end up in the same place at the same time. Our current destination is Denver (Why? I say, why not!! Sun, mountains, beauty, clean air). I hate to picture the rest of my life living so far away and only having weekend visits once or twice a year for the rest of our lives. I just need to figure out grad school, and the rest of my life for that matter, and in 5 years we can all merge in Denver!
Since being in back in Chicago... Mmm, how to say this without sounding whiny? I came back with the flu. Who goes on vacation to the beach and then comes back sick?! Had to go into work everyday because my boss was in Mexico and we still had clients coming in so I needed to meet with them. Then my hard drive at work crashed so I was trying to get all my work done from my boss's computer. Thankfully it was still under warranty so it only took about 36 hours to get a new one up an running. What a week it had been . Still, the Lord is gracious to us and gives us all that we have need of. He is the One who sustains us.
It decided to snow (again- but that's OK, because I am [trying to be] resolved to winter and let it have its way) this weekend. I keep repeating the mantra - spring is coming... winter will not last forever... one day spring will be here and i can walk outside of my house without boots and a parka... it will come!!
Thanks for making it this far through this most tedious update. More to come soon, I promise!
xoxo!
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