Life at Home

On Tuesday I received a rather desperate call from David. He forgot the keys to the cottage where they're staying in California. Thankfully they won't arrive at the cottage until this weekend so I was able to ship the keys off by courier to one of the hotels where they're staying this week. Crazy kids. Way too distracted with this whole newlywed thing.

On Tuesday morning my dad went in for surgery to fix his deviated septum (similar to having a nose job) and I spent the day making huge pots of soup for dad to eat during his recovery and taking Jonathan to piano lessons and taekwando while my parents were at the hospital.

On Wednesday afternoon I visited friends at Allteck Line Contractors Inc., the office where I worked as the Contracts Assistant for a year-and-a-half before I moved to the UK. It was a strange feeling to drive the route to the office again. I got several double-takes and most people asked if I was back for good. I really enjoyed seeing everyone again; I'm so thankful to have worked at such a great office and be able to go back and enjoy seeing my former coworkers. Although a few things have changed, many things will likely never change - the girls still love chocolate (I brought some from England for them), my boss still gives me advice on men, the CEO is tough to catch when he's not on the phone, and my corner office is still cold.

On my way to Allteck, the rain falling in Surrey gradually changed to snow by the time I reached Aldergrove. The winter wonderland was beautiful and I was excited to finally enjoy the Christmas weather that seems to have avoided me this year. We ended up with a few inches of snow at home but it didn't last long enough for me to play in it today.

Suka and the bizarre toy David and Keri bought for her.
I walked through the living room and she was just sitting next to it so I grabbed a camera.

The most common question I've been asked since I returned home is, "Are you excited about going back?" and people seem shocked when I say, "Yes!" It's not that I don't like being at home - I love being with my family again! It's just that I have so many opportunities to travel and enjoy new experiences on the other side of the world so I'm excited about returning to my life there. I also know that I'll likely sob like a baby at the airport when I leave Canada and it will be a tough transition to merge back into my life in England.

It's been wonderful to be home, but also sort of strange. It's a confusing mixture of emotions to be home again; the stress and joy of the wedding last week, my parents tired and not feeling well this week, the fun of being at home, trying to run around and do all the things I want to do while I'm home, and all the while knowing I'll soon return to my life in England.