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Reveling in Reunions

Back in the USA and Reveling in Reunions

May 28, 2018

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We have been back in the USA for two weeks today. And we have been in constant motion. For us the 18 months we were traveling outside the USA flew by. But to people we know back home they felt like we were gone for a decade.

We weren’t. Just 18 months.

The Martini Mamas

And yet, on our first return to our home country we find ourselves caught up in a myriad of reunions, nearly every day. I told my husband I thought the demand on us was mostly because of the novelty of our adventures. I think by the time we return again for a visit next year, that novelty will have worn off.

Book Club Babes

Please don’t misunderstand. I LOVE all these reunions. We are having such a great time getting re-acquainted with our loved ones. We had a big reunion with my husband’s family right away. And I have spent individual time with my parents. Our oldest son

The Lund Family

Lifelong Friends

has been here at our house several times and we went to Seattle yesterday and toured the brand new Nordic Museum with our youngest son. We are doing our best to work around our kids work schedules so we can spend as much time with them as possible.

I spent four days in Nashville with my girlfriends from high school and we had another lovely reunion last Friday night with some of our oldest friends who we have known most of our lives.

Yard work with my Mom

I loved seeing the wonderful ladies of my book club as well as my dear girl friends who are known as the Martini Mamas. I’m lunching with other friends, meeting for coffee with others and having wine with still more. Next Sunday we head to Zion for a reunion with Arne’s college friends. Lucky me.

My son Erik

During the time we are here in the USA I’m spending every Tuesday with my Dad (as well as other days). We have had lunch together and we brought him from his assisted living home to have dinner at our house. I’m spending every Wednesday with my Mom. So far I’ve helped her in her yard, but she and I have plans to do several girl things together from crafts to Ride the Ducks in Seattle.

Arne is also spending every Wednesday with his Mom. They went for a walk, he did yard work and they are attending the Seattle Mariners games.

My friends from high school

As we plan to continue to travel for an undetermined amount of time, spending these eleven weeks here in the USA soaking up our family and friends is our goal. The time will fly and we will be off again before we

Dinner with son Dane

know it. But then, I expect that time will also fly, and a year from now we will be back again. Back and forth – we see this as our way of life for at least a few more years. A grand adventure to see the world, while we can. How fabulous!

We leave again on August 7th – details on that coming soon.

We are Back

The Weird and Wonderful World of the USA

May 17, 2018

Laureen

Location: Gig Harbor Washington USA

And We Are Back – Adjusting to being back in the fast paced USA.

It’s both wonderful and weird being back here. It’s surreal and my husband and I keep looking at each other with a perplexed look – “was it always this “wired”?” Fast paced and a bit maniacal, we haven’t felt this in a while. But here we are and it will be like any other country we visit – spend sometime getting into the swing and then we will feel right at home. At least the language is familiar! Oh and the money is green – the way it should be. And there is toilet paper!! Woohoo!

For those of you who are personal friends and family, we hope to see as many of you as possible. Please note however that we are holding the majority of our time open for our family; particularly our aging parents and our adult children. But we still do hope to see our friends and we have many dinners and lunches and coffees and glasses of wine already on the calendar with our dearest peeps. But other than a quick reunion trip to both Nashville with my high school girlfriends(leaving today) and Utah (college buddies) in June, we will stay mostly on the Kitsap Peninsula during our visit.

We are staying in the home of our friends in downtown Gig Harbor while they are off in their RV for two months. This is from May 14-July 15. On July 15th we move to another home in Seabeck to be a closer to Arne’s family for our final three weeks. We depart the USA again on August 7th and plan to be away this time for nine to ten months. More on that later.

But for now we try to catch our breath, squeeze our loved ones, and remember to drive on the right hand side of the road!

So hello USA, Washington, Kitsap Peninsula and Gig Harbor. Hello, Susaday, Hafa Adai, Apa Kabar, Kihineh, Sabaidi, Swasdi, G’Day, Zdraveite, Zdravo, Xin Chao, Namaste, Chomreabsuro, Vanakkam, Is-Slama, Om suastiastu, Huh-low, Ssalamu, Sawubona, Salam-Alai Kum, Bom Dia, Bon Jour, Kia Ora, Hola, ‘Lekum, Aloha. Hello!