Asheville to Chicago... Wait, this sounds familiar?

Believe it or not last Thursday I got up at 4:40a to catch a flight back home. It felt like I was commuting back and forth from Chicago! I also happened to be too tired to pack a suitcase, but luckily I was too lazy to unpack from my last trip, so I just zipped it up and threw it in the car! Going home this time around was much welcomed as I had a really hard week in the woods. I knew it was going to be emptier, without my siblings, but I was going to be at home and with my parents - and that was all I wanted. I'm thankful that the shift is behind me and even with it just a week in the past it already seems distant. Yesterday was the first Wednesday in 7 and a half months that I did not get up and drive to work! As I was laying in my beautiful bed at home, snuggled up with blankets and pillows, I was definitely not upset about not going to work. Knowing that I still have six more days before I head out into the woods is both really nice and kind of daunting. But for now, I'm just going to try to focus on the present.. or the past.


Following is the account of the few days I spent at home. Warning: it is a full few days!

So I got home on Thursday and then Friday morning Mom, Dad and I headed back to O'hare to hop on a plane to Boston to see my dad's brother and family. I hadn't seen them in about a year and a half and it was a long over due visit! We shared stories over meals that were eaten with forks, I played Pretty Pretty Princess with my three younger cousins and also explained how VHSs work, we shot guns at the gun club, and went to a talent show that I 'talentfully' commentated on. It was really enjoyable being around younger kids who I didn't have to monitor constantly and who weren't cussing me out. Overall it was a great visit and I'm thankful for that time to spend with them. We flew back to Chicago Sunday evening and it is fair to say that I was pretty pooped. It had been since the previous Wednesday (week and a half) that I hadn't been around people or traveling, that's a considerable amount of time for an introvert. I welcomed the silence and solitude with open arms and spent the majority of Monday alone.

But with only a few remaining days at home I still had to make the most of the time, so Monday night I headed up to Wisconsin to meet up with Marissa and go climbing. It was so good to see her without months and months in between the last visit and it was great to climb again, a routine we did every Thursday when I lived in WI last year. After climbing we went to our favorite bowling ally for a couple rounds of darts and a beer. Once again I'm thankful for her and her friendship.

Tuesday also happened to be packed with activities. Because in case you didn't know Tuesday the 15th was Christmas! At least for me it was. So like usual I hadn't bought all of my Christmas presents, so Tuesday morning I went out shopping for a couple of gifts. It didn't take too long and I had to retrain myself from buying anything from REI for myself! But I managed to get all of my presents wrapped and under the tree. The rest of the day was spent doing miscellaneous things and once again, enjoying solitude. When Dad came home we rushed off to the store and bought some things for dinner, came home, and prepared dinner. Then the three of us (Mom, Dad, and myself) ate said dinner. Wasn't that an interesting chain of events? We opened gifts. I was given: a mini machete, a led fireplace heater, gummy worms, a down blanket, a hyroflask, a car battery charger, and probably something else I'm forgetting. All in all, a good haul! Thank you Mom and Dad.

I could say the obvious: Christmas was a little different this year, but I don't think that really conveys how I feel about it. A few weeks ago one of the students in a group had a round (meaning, they propose a question and everyone goes around and gives their answer). Her question was something along the lines of: if you could go back in time to either change something or do something when would you go and why? Almost instantly when the question was asked I knew what my answer was and I don't even really know why it came to mind. But my answer was that I would want to go back to when I was younger on Christmas morning with my family before we opened presents. Not to change anything, but just to be in that moment. I can vividly see and feel these memories. Fire in the fire place behind the stockings, Christmas music in the background, coffee in Mom and Dad's hands and steam on Dad's glasses as he took a sip. The sun coming through the doors and on the tree with whatever color lights we fought over that yer. Joanna still looking a little groggy and wrapped up in a blanket, David with a cup of OJ or milk and brownies. And Casey laying in the middle of everything. So, yeah, this year was a little different. As have been many of the years since those memories. I am so grateful for my family and will truly miss not being with them this year. But I am grateful for the time I got to spend with my parents and build new memories.

Well, I'm going to hop off that sad train and continue with the blog. Wednesday, as I mentioned, I spent the morning very cheerful to not be heading into the woods and then that transferred into me being cheerful for meeting up for lunch with Laura and Amanda, two friends from Timber-lee. It was so fun to get caught up on their lives. Also fun, Laura who is recently engaged (yay!) asked me to be in her wedding next fall! I'm so happy for her and can't wait to be a part of her big day. The day ended with having dinner with Mom and Dad and relaxing.

In a few hours I'll be getting ready to head back to O'hare so a plane can take me back to Asheville. This time there is no set plan to come back, I actually really have no idea when the next time I'll be coming home will be. This thought makes me kind of sad, as I have genuinely enjoyed being at home with my parents and friends. But who knows what the future holds and what adventures await!

Until next time, may the force be with you. (in honor of StarWars)

Oh, I looked for awhile to find a picture that captures the memory of Christmas I was explaining, but I couldn't find one that some member of my family wouldn't glare at me if I put it up. So instead I will show you this one! A picture of my early hiking instructor days and my deep love for my sister.