C: About to Embark.....!!!!

Well, we're in the last days of the countdown to our trip. I have decided not to call it "vacation," but rather "suspension of reality," for that is what we hope for. V and I both need a dose of fantasy for a while, and we intend on self-indulgence to the max.

We are taking the laptop and cameras and hope to be posting often from our trip (we'll see...). We are excited about the dimension that our blogging offers us. It gives us a great opportunity to share our adventure--and adventures are always best shared.

I think we are both having some angst about leaving--does anyone go away for a trip without worrying that she has not covered all the bases or that something dreadful will happen while she is away? My worry is the former: Have I written all the letters that need sending; made all the phone calls that need making; drafted all the pleadings that have to go out? My desk is a nightmare right now; something like this picture.

V worries about her ailing daughter and grandchildren. But, deep down, we both know we aren't all that indispensable to those whom we leave behind, and I have faith that we will both return rested and ready to better take on our challenges after the respite. And we are both anticipating a great adventure. I told V that it is going to be "Thelma and Louise," but without the law-breakng, and with a happy ending!

And we are both in the throes of packing I have already overpacked and am starting to remove things that I know are just r.i.d.i.c.u.l.o.u.s to take, and still I fear I am leaving something behind. But that always--always--works out. What I don't have with me I'll either make do without or find it on the trip.

Thanks to those of you who voted for my wood man question. Laura had the right answer, I think, although she was in the minority. She's a single country girl for sure. Her take was that this guy might just be a little desperate, and I finally figured that one out. My son met him, and he stacked a beautiful load of firewood on my utility porch. Son says he's every bit the character I thought he might be. Laura is right, though, I do think he is a good resource for my firewood needs, and I thank my neighbor, midlife country girl for the referral. He's just a little challenged in the social boundary area.

Anyway, we're going to be thinking of you all while we are on this (picture of our actual ship, taken on last year's cruise with MIL):


And we hope to prove it in our posts! C

PS - I have to say that V and both wince in thinking of the juxtaposition of our lap-of-luxury week being played out on the same ocean that holds the Haitian suffering. It's not a pretty picture in my mind to think of a view over Haiti with our cruise ship on the horizon. My son soothes, saying that the two are not connected and, he's right, this trip has long been paid for on the easy-pay plan and far in advance of the earthquake disaster. Still...