Month: March 2014

Sunday, 9 March 2014 DAY 687 344 MOON 24 WAXING 53%

Two weeks ago we were on an airplane flying back to the United States from Chile. Today is the first day that I feel detoxed from the sequence of travels. I am at home at my parents, not more than 1o miles from where I was born. I am uncertain of the future. I know we leave in less than a month to Alaska to visit friends and family and to see Mylon graduate. And then what? And then I will be like all the other graduates of the class of 2014. I will embark to make my mark upon the world, a world that now does not seems so big, a world full of people that now do not feel so different, a beautiful world. We saw some traveling wuddle ducks that had a Texas layover on their way North, and soon we will follow. “You can dance like a wuddle and look just like a puddle!” – Viena. At some point all of this must end, so how about now.

Saturday, 8 March 2014 DAY 686 343 MOON 24 WAXING 46%

Mason lands in China. A plane to China goes missing. We traveled safely around the world with all of our angels. Today we traveled North into Houston to visit our long lost cousins. We finally found Baby Iso, who is not really a baby anymore, but he is a cute little Viena-eyed straight Ezra haired tree trunk leg little boy full of excited expressions and gestures and antics and movements. His excited movements when seeing Granma were priceless. We played with Iso until he passed out for his afternoon nap at 3pm. So then we called in the Cousin Recruits, Olivia, Jakob, and Uncle Kirk and we played some more at the local playground of goldilocks weather and tag and tales of West Texas and eating potatoes Summer of Love 68, and anything else Kirk wanted to say. Both Olivia and Jakob have grown. They appear to be polar opposites, but they function well together as a family and they drove over the 15 minutes to come and see and play with us. An owl greeted us on our return to Columbia Lakes.

Friday, 7 March 2014 DAY 685 342 MOON 24 WAXING 39%
We played on the playgrounds around Brazoria County.

DAY 342 PLAYGROUND

Thursday, 6 March 2014 DAY 684 341 MOON 24 WAXING 32%
When you think life might settle down, life takes off, life launches once again. Went to Brazos Bend State park and saw 25 alligators and one great horned owl.

DAY 341 GREAT HORNED ALLIGATOR OWL

Wednesday, 5 March 2014 DAY 683 340 MOON 24 WAXING 26%

I tried going through a stack of our mail that has accumulated over the past two years. I am just hoping that no unpaid bills have slipped through the cracks. The day was grey, but warmer since the winds have stopped. I drove everyone to the aquarium in Lake Jackson and then we went to the library and then onto Jean and Franks house for some pastries and tea. Marcus had called while we were at the library. Actually I called him after I read his email, since I do not have a phone. I have been disconnected from the internet for the past week since we were staying in the Bat Cave of West Columbia. We do not have a cell phone or a home phone. My attention was distracted throughout the day. I spoke with Mason and he is off to China soon. Everyone kept going for walks outside. My new black shoes that were not 500 reais gave me a blister. I was able to reach Jerry and Jackie and possibly set something up for seeing Iso. I called on Dad-Dad’s phone when I thought he had unlimited minutes. Ooops!

Tuesday, 4 March 2014 DAY 682 339 MOON 24 WAXING 19%

We went to the planetarium today, part of the birthday package. We had gone out to eat earlier with Jean and Frank at El Toro. The planetarium had a scary show about black holes, but it is the thought that counts. I guess the show could have been about scary aliens. The day was still cold. At least yesterday there was enough sunshine in the afternoon, but today was all grey. Viena put together her Lego beach house all by herself. She really enjoyed the Lego gift and Granma even brought out her recently acquired collection of Lego’s.

Monday, 3 March 2014 DAY 681 338 MOON 24 WAXING 12%

Happy Birthday Viena. When Viena heard the weather was going to be wet, cold, and rainy on her birthday … she was so excited. And sure enough, as we blew out the candles, as she blew out the candles – all 8 of them – we gazed out the sliding glass door onto the grey golf course and watched the moss swinging back and forth from the wind – a cold wind. The temperature here in Texas is the same as the temperature in Alaska, where we will celebrate Ezra’s 5th birthday. But today is Viena’s day and she received her present from Mother Nature in the form of a cold wet grey day. We have not had a day like this since Cordova. I had to borrow some of Dad-Dad’s socks since I have been traveling the world in the Tropics of flip-flops. Ezra asked today while we were playing a memory game, “What are the Tropics?”, “a place where you only need flip-flops!” Viena received a lego set of a beach house and a small battery-operated dog. Her gifts were wrapped in dragonflies and old ancient global maps. I am so happy to be here in West Columbia at Granma and Dad-Dad’s and to give Viena this gift of a home and familiarity and family. Viena received the cold wet windy day she wanted. Joyce, Jean and Frank Britt, and Sandy all came over for dinner.

DAY 338 HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIENA

Sunday, 2 March 2014 DAY 680 337 MOON 24 NEW 0%

All is well. The rental car has been returned. We are in West Columbia waiting for Viena to turn 8. I went for a run past the oil fields in my new running shoes. The path was nice flat peaceful unused country roads. However, I am used to having a omnibus to take me back home after a long run. Not the case here. I was missing the public transportation option. I ran about 2 miles too far on the outbound, but I wanted to reach highway 36. I ended up walking on the way home past a field of big tall feathery birds. This was my first run in a week after a week of sitting. I think I have gained 10 pounds in the last week. 3 days of travel out of South America. 3 days in a car to arrive in Texas. We went to a local auction/luncheon at the local KC Hall. We were able to see Sandy, Joyce, Greg and Lucy. Interestingly enough, the Greg and Lucy have traveled to many of the places we traveled. At home, we had an Oscar Party. Granma’s knee was hurting her.

DAY 337 HOMETOWN AUCTION

Saturday, 1 March 2014 DAY 679 336 MOON 23 WANING 1%

DAY 336 THE REAL HOMETOWN CELEBRATION

We arrived in West Columbia Texas after 23 hours of driving. The highways on this Mardii Gras weekend were dark and empty. Dwana watched 3 Red-Box movies and I needed 3 more to keep her awake. Viena woke up at 4am and Ezra arrived just moments before we arrived at Granma and Dad-Dad’s. They were both so excited. After a quick hug to Granma I passed out for 5 hours with my airplane eye-patch. Viena and Ezra stayed awake and played with all the new toys and books. I only had a 5 hour rest because I needed to return the car in Pearland by noon. Granma and Ezra and Viena went to see a cattle Stampede parade through downtown Brazoria celebrating Texas Independence Day. This would also serve as our ticker-tape parade for traveling safely around the world. We returned around 5pm and of course I went right back to bed. Texas Sweet Home!