Fair talk, I created this post to talk all about my Easter visit to the states about a week after I returned, and now it has been sitting in my drafts for a week feeling neglected. Winter was a little rough this year. I think the thought of turning fifty was harder than actually turning fifty. After all, that just shows up one day. The dread on the other hand lingers around corners waiting to nip at you with random white hairs and knee pain. Honestly, I think nothing has aged me more than stepping out of the classroom, but I digress. Filled with existential dread about life in general accompanying the losses in my family, I decided it was high time to make sure I had some hard conversations with NBF and the boys. It was also well past time that I handled any lingering strings in the states. After all, some of this stuff I had lived without for four years now. So, I decided I could cure my homesickness and get all of this stuff finished in one fell swoop. Thinking I was going to handle paperwork and old belongings, I had phrased it to NBF as, "I'm going to Kansas over Easter," to which he replied, "What days do I need to take off work?" And just like that, my adventure buddy was on board and not going to be left behind. There were several funny conversations about the boys never forgiving him for not visiting and needing his bonding time too, dammit. It wasn't until I was leaving Kansas to come back that I learned he and the boys were planning a trip for them to come to Norway as a surprise for my birthday. So not only was I ruining his surprise, I was trying to leave him behind. Before the trip, though, I had some work to do. It has become a little bit of a tradition to overdo the egg hunt for the bonus kids. After hearing that we would be gone over easter, there was a little dismay thinking that would mean no egg hunt this year. I made arrangements with their mom to make all the plans for the day and to include their little sister and BK's girlfriend. They completed challenges on Goosechase together, and for every five challenges they completed, they received a clue to help find their final egg. Goosechase gave me a chance to have some pictures of their adventures as well. I planned things like geolocation, origami, egg painting, and silliness. I even worked with NBF to write the egg clues in Norwegian so their little sister would feel more empowered. While we were shopping to fill the eggs, NBF was picking up stuff for the boys as well. We decided it was a good thing we didn't have six kids. We wouldn't be able afford holidays. Of course, Norway was in full snow mode the day we left, so we were delayed a bit, however, NBF was the troubled one in security this time. In Amsterdam, we got pulled for extra security screening. I breezed right through, but when I glanced back, there was a huge warning triangle on NBF's crotch showing on the scan screen and a security guard was "checking his package". NBF his normal self says something that actually flusters the security guard, and we are on our merry way. The stay itself was wonderful, although we did little more than sit and chat or go to restaurants. I know NBF wanted to do more, and to be fair we tried to schedule a bison ranch tour, but there weren't any close and available. I forget that while I am going home, he is still in travel/tourist mode. Before we left, he was even googling, "Hidden Gems in Kansas". The boys and I agreed to do much better by him next time. Not that it really takes much to amuse him because seeing Walmart and Target done up for Easter had him giddy. He was picking up bags of candy just to feel the heft and to show me. I was able to show him the little plastic eggs I wanted for the kids' Easter in Norway and the cheap little toys I wanted (and couldn't find) in Norway. This time I was wise, though, and took an extra suitcase for his inevitable shopping. And shop he did. He bought some clothes, shoes, belts, and of course, some big bags of candy. I think he is just as happy showing the size of the bag to people as he is with eating it. The savings on the pants he bought would actually cover the cost of having to check an extra bag. One day NBF casually asked if he could go to a gun store, so we took him to one. Next trip, the boys want to take him to a shooting range. Heaven help me, but it was neat to hear him chatting with BAH. The smile on his face when he got to hold some of the guns! We also took him to a hibachi restaurant where of course he made fast friends with the chef. Maybe the best part of the trip ended up being the delay that let us stay one more day. It can be hard to leave. In those moments, it is hard to imagine ever being able to see my kids enough. Arriving home a day late meant I was really not feeling the trip to Oslo for work, but I had promised the girls I would do a painting night. I was actually excited because we were going to have an actual painting instructor come lead us. We were also going to add in some wine, so Painting with a Twist. Little did I know what that meant. Having had my birthday fall on Easter Monday and checking no for celebrating at work on the survey, I had thought I was off the hook. However, EVERYONE was wishing me happy birthday, so I knew someone had published it. Then I noticed where I was invited to "Painting with a Twist," my boss was invited to "Painting and Celebrate Nellie's Milestone." sigh. It was still a blast. It reminded me that we need to do these things more often. Back home fresh from a trip home and being loved on by friends, I feel ready for spring. Winter of course is not quite ready to give up. There have been burps and belches of snow, with one such burp dumping 12 centimeters of snow on us. I'm fighting back with my patio furniture and flowers, but I haven't triumphed yet. Although, this weekend, I am upping the ante by grilling. Until then, I'll just enjoy my morning coffee and the times I can live outdoors.
0 Comments
|
Nellie HillJust a woman leaping outside her comfort zone and telling the tale. Archives
April 2024
Categories |