The Two-Week Countdown

You may know that I am coming up on a rather large occasion (maybe it's all in my head). My hubby keeps laughing at me, telling me I'm so old ("You're too old for me now")... but I'm actually taking it seriously -- yes, I'm turning 30 in a matter of 14 days. I have a personal tendency to overplay certain occasions and life events -- I am completely guilty here. For the past month I have (not in order of occurrence or importance): pulled stray gray hairs out of my head and brought them to Paul as proof; come home fully depressed over not fitting into the size pants I was at age 24; carried on monologues (to Paul) about how I need to start acting and dressing my age; felt a deep yearning to rid myself of belongings I've carried around since boarding school (i.e., cassette tape mixes).

Things I dread about turning 30:

• Having to color my hair, rather than choosing to
• The body shifting only worsens with time
• I am almost the age my mom was when she had already had three kids
• Getting rid of my super low-rise (and hence unflattering) pants
• Children probably look at me as a real grownup, possibly even old lady

Things I look forward to in the next few decades:

• Having children
• Becoming wiser with age
• Growing old with Paul
• Buying a weekend/retirement house in Maine

Things I want to learn & do:

• Be a loyal friend and loving wife
• Remodel our kitchen
• Learn Korean and/or Chinese
• Travel around the country and the world
• Successfully sew an article of clothing
• Continue learning to cook and bake
• Learn the ukelele or guitar
• Grow closer to my family and Paul's
• Continue my daily walk with the Lord

Rancho Relaxo

Sorry I've been offline for a while, but I have a good excuse. Two Saturdays ago, August 26, the hubby and I boarded the Jeep Cherokee at 5:02am (should have been 5:00 on the dot, but someone forgot his sunglasses and we had to loop back) bound for a foreign land. A place where they don't take US dollars, a letter takes two weeks by regular Post, and the air is fresh and clean: Bayfield, Ontario. This is a very special place for me, and now for Paul, as it is where my dad lived. We can't go there to visit my dad anymore, but Toni, my stepmom, still lives there, and it's an amazing place. We call it "Baypatch," but the home's official name is La Sirena (the mermaid).

A mere 10 hours, five pee breaks, six CDs, and one book-on-tape later, we pulled into La Sirena. It was just how we remembered it: the garden in full bloom, the waves calmly pulling into shore, her chocolate lab resting in a shady spot on the lawn. We had arrived at Rancho Relaxo for the coming week. Paul was finished with his six-year career at Cerulli, where we met, fell in love, and worked together for so long, and had a 10-day haitus before starting at McKinsey. We brought books upon books, suntan lotion, golf clubs, and a yearning to relax. And so we did.

For the first five days, we plowed through books, lounged in the adirondack chairs. Paul's parents payed a visit from Ohio. Then Thursday my sister and brother-in-law, and kids Jack and Lucy arrived. We took them raspberry picking, chased them around the yard, and made multiple trips to Rosie's, the ice cream shop.

And on Sunday morning we left, rejuvenated and ready to head back to life in Boston. So long, La Sirena. Until next time.