Just as one should never drunk-tweet or drunk-dial someone, I question the wisdom of blogging while drunk... or while jet-lagged. Because that kind of thing can have repercussions. I am back in Paris, where Jet Lag Hell has already commenced (although I actually DID get to stretch out and sleep allongé on the plane for a couple of hours, thanks to having an entire row to myself!)
So although I am here, blogging, my brain doesn't know what time it is and it is not firing on all cylinders. I have no idea what I am typing at this very moment, so I apologize in advance if I do (and I just realized I typed "I doing") something stupid like saying you look fat in that outfit or that you've got an ugly... Christmas tree. You have been warned: Caveat Blog-reader. Remove your children from the room so they aren't inadvertently scarred for life by my demented babbling.
It's not my fault. It's the blasted jet-lag.
The past week in NJ was a mixed bag. For one thing, there was the crap weather. Just before the weekend, it snowed. Then on the weekend, there was a LOT of snow. A whole lot. A freaking lot. With a layer of ice and sleet on top of it. And then wouldn't you know it, it snowed again on my last day, so guess who spent her travel-day morning shoveling snow for the third time in two weeks? (Another reason to be glad to be back in Paris where I shovel nothing when it snows. Then again, neither does anyone else. They don't actually DO snow removal in Paris, from my experience.) I am beginning to think that I shouldn't go back there in December because EVERY time I do, there is too much snow. Still... it did make for some pretty photos.
I WAY underestimated the ratio of Available Luggage Space Where The Airlines Won't Charge Extra to All The Crap I Bought. Consequently, I had to make an early morning run to the post office IN THE BLEEDING SNOW to ship a 14-lb box of stuff to myself. I saved a whopping $20 doing that, although really I saved more because although for $20 more I could have checked a second bag, I would have to BUY said second bag in order to do that. Greedy airline executives? I hate you. I really, really do.
The whole "Mom" situation was up and down. There were some good days, and some really bad days. The bad days were the ones where her behavior drove either me or my sister into a meltdown (at least she and I weren't taking it out on each other much). I enjoyed the good days a lot; the bad days sent me into a fetal position under the covers on more than one occasion. On the balance, though, I'm glad I went despite sometimes being tempted to hop the first available flight out of there. For one thing, I feel good about having been there to run interference for my sister and to give her a much-needed break from dealing with it all, and especially the whole exterminator crisis because who needs to deal with a vermin problem when you've already got your hands full? Primary caregivers need someone to come in and take on some of the responsibility, so they can have time to take care of their own lives. My sister is doing an awesome job of coping with our mom's condition, she handles it far better than I probably would if the situations were reversed, but even Wonder Woman got to sit down and put her feet up with a glass of wine once in a while. (I imagine.)
Getting to the airport yesterday was the hairiest part of my journey home. The roads were just awful, and the snow lasted longer than had been predicted. Luckily, my flight got out of Newark without incident, and I was happy and relieved when Georges told me he'd taken the morning off work so he could be there to meet me.
There is nothing like having the person you love most in all the world enfold you in his arms after a stressful trip and a long overnight journey. And then a bit later, having a sweet child come home from school and watch his face light up when he sees you.
So, jet lag or not, I'm home where I belong, and I know I was missed. It was the perfect homecoming.
Now, I have two days of laundry, cleaning, gift wrapping and packing to do, because on Saturday we and the garçon leave for the Christmas and New Year's holidays -- we're off to Saint-Raphaël again! I can't wait for that... being near the sea always brings me a sense of peace and well-being.
But first... SLEEP.
