walkin on sunshine in 2013-2014

As a quick interim update-

I'm here.

It took 7.5 hours instead of the predicted 6.5. The last hour came in directionless, signless swampland and we started going a little nuts and road ragey, but the destination was totally worth it. Gas is expensive as hell, so I'm not sure where we'll fill up before heading back. Oh well. Worry about it NEXT weekend.

The family is wonderful and full of wine and beer and offers and hugs and happiness and the kids are great and the house is beautiful and the beach is great, and a bunch of us sat in a little cluster on the sand reading and watching the water for two hours, with cold beer, and it was terrific. Right now Aaron is still reading upstairs; I'm down in my shared room with my fussy laptop.

Everything and everyone is warm and loving and open and shared freely. There is a giant banner hanging on the cabana (WE HAVE A CABANA) with Grandpa's photo and a "thanks Mike... we miss you" sign. (This is the grandfather whose funeral I attended with Aaron 1.5 years ago.) When Grandma saw it, she pressed her hands to her mouth and cried openly. Then everyone else cried. It was really beautiful. She's so happy right now, just watching everyone flit around doing things, working out on the boardwalk and yoga in the gazebo and reading and napping and swimming.

I made myself, Aaron, and Kara's three kids lunch today and Aaron just watched with this goofy, knowing grin as I assembly-lined sandwiches and cut them into quarters and gave little pieces of provolone cheese to the kids to let them try before committing. Everyone is more or less conspiring to give single-mom Kara and pregnant Allison as much of a break as possible. Kara's delirious with joy, but Allison can't be kept out of the kitchen.

It's the total opposite of my mom's family. Aaron still has to coach me along, because I've had it drilled into me: don't ever touch anything that you didn't bring; but here all beach chairs are shared (with owners having polite dibs) and drinks and food are shared and one of the aunts bought me a new toothbrush without a second thought. I'm enamored. The kids got everyone up at 8 this morning, thundering around like a herd of tiny elephants, so Aaron and I took a nap before lunch on a couch in the main room, cuddled and sprawled. No one said anything or bothered us, but I just kept waiting for ice on the bottoms of my bare feet or general "cute" harassment. Nada.

It's crazy. I don't want to go home.

This isn't helped by Aaron cuddling me and saying welcome home when I got in Friday night. I'm officially in denial of time limitations until Saturday.