I got to be home for Christmas, which was delightful. Even
after a career in the military, this is the longest I’ve ever been away from,
so it is always a treat to come home after an absence, but even better to get
there and we are all together! Dana and
Darby decorated the house and tree most beautifully – it really felt like
coming home when I got there. Of course, we had to go straight from the airport to the
University of Arkansas campus and see the second half of a
Razorback basketball game – Go Hogs Go!! I know, sounds crazy, but it was fun!
Shannon and David made it in through awful weather from
Montreal, and Darby trekked up from Little Rock. Everyone seemed healthy but
me, who had a sniffle with sneezes – my classic allergy symptoms. We ate at
our favorite places – Penguin Ed’s BBQ, the Catfish Hole, and almost P.F.
Chang's. We went on Christmas Eve to
Rogers intending to eat at PFCs and then go to a movie, but they had a 1.5 hour
wait; just too long. So we went to Mimi’s
Café next door and had a delightful meal together (and got an order of
orange/cranberry muffins to go to have with brunch on Christmas morning!). I
highly recommend Mimi’s Café!!
We saw several movies over the break – the new Hobbit, the
Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and the Hunger Games: Catching Fire. All good choices! We hoped to see American Hustle, but my
allergies turned into a sinus infection and I just couldn’t do it.
Christmas day started with brunch, then presents, then
cooking the turkey, then a lovely dinner, which my friend John was able to come
and share with us. And I got everything on my wish list – I’m just a little
fuzzy about who got me what because I was just a little sick and simply can’t remember
– I got back to KSA with things I didn’t remember getting. But I know who got me each significant thing,
and I am thankful for and appreciative of everything!
Shannon and David had to head back to Montreal a few days
after Christmas and it was hard to see them go.
Then Darby went back to Little Rock for a few days, and then I got
really sick Wednesday night of New Year’s Day!
We’d had a quiet evening in for New Year’s Eve – Chinese food from Mong
Dynasty in Fayetteville (my favorite!), we watched a movie and an episode of
Elementary (CBS’ excellent Sherlock Holmes drama), and watched the ball drop at
midnight. Not too exciting, but I was right where I wanted to be!
I was able to get in to see our family doctor late Thursday
morning and he gave me the works. I had two shots and got an oral antibiotic
chaser. By Friday night I was feeling a
bit better, and by Saturday noon I felt much better, and good enough to travel.
Big mistake. Don’t fly when sick, boys and girls. It wasn’t
the flying so much as the traveling. Flying was fine. Sitting in an airplane
for 8 hours was hard. Getting nothing more than catnaps for 2 days was
exhausting. Literally running through
the Chicago terminal, wearing a 30-pound backpack, to make my second flight
with 15 minutes to make it and arriving as they were closing the door, was
almost more than I could do, and I coughed uncontrollably for 2 hours once I
got on the jet. Pretty sure that little
jaunt set me back at least a week of recovery.
Nonetheless, I made it back safe and sound, albeit without
my suitcase. In the quick turn at Chicago during a snowstorm, my bag took its
leisurely time while I was running to make the flight. It took four days to
show up in Bahrain, but I’ll forgive it and Lufthansa – it was a rotten day in
Chicago and a lot of people had it rougher than me. Next time though, I will take
a delay and email work and tell them I’ll be back soon, but not yet!
And now I am pretty much all better – I have a little
residual cough that shows up once or twice a day, but yesterday I took a good
long walk and it felt great. I can focus again on my work and don’t need an
hour hap every after work day to make it through the evening.
Of course Dana and Darby came down with strep
throat a few hours after dropping me at the airport, and then were immediately
snowed in for several days while prescriptions were waiting for them at the
pharmacy! It’s lovely to live on top of a hill in the woods, but some days it
can be problematic. Thanks to a neighbor
who has a lovely little tractor with a blade, they finally got down the hill, got their meds,
and are finally starting to feel better! This is the worst time for me when I'm away, wishing to be home to help my girls and there's nothing I can do!
I am grateful for the opportunity to get home for the
holidays, and even more grateful for my wonderful family who make my efforts
worth the trouble. I love you all!!
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