it's not life that matters but the journey...

*sigh*
I'm leaving Port Angeles tomorrow. I've had just over two weeks of incredibly relaxing time with my mom, and I'm so sad it's coming to a close. But I also know that I need to get back to Japan - to my husband, my cat, and my job. That is really my life right now and I need to go back and start figuring out if my future lies there, or back here where my family and most of my friends are!

The last few week has been really quiet - just hanging out around the house with my mom watching movies and tv, talking, and doing some last-minute shopping. We were invited to dinner at our neighbors' house on Wednesday night, and that was lots of fun. Every time we get together with them we play a fun card came called Quiddler, where you make words with letters in your hand (quite similar to Scrabble, but with cards). Thursday my mom and I went out to dinner, after a day of running around and just doing some errands and shopping. Then Friday we drove out to Port Townsend to meet my cousin for lunch. My aunt Marilyn and my cousins's son Ben, who's 17, went with us. It was very nice, except that the sandwich I ate was delicious (chicken breast with sun-dried tomato pesto and avocado), but it gave me indigestion - it was really too heavy! It's getting harder and harder for me to eat heavy American food after living in Japan for so long! But despite my stomach ache, we did some browsing around the cute shops there, and I bought a few souvenirs, and a very pretty scarf for myself. Then we went to a coffee shop, but I had green tea.
This weekend I've just been reorganizing my bags, and packing a small box to send to Japan. Time has flown, even though we've really just been homebodies all weekend, and today.
I'm glad I also had a chance to see my cousin's daughter Leah, who's here visiting her grandparents, my aunt and uncle. She's in the sixth grade, and lots of fun to be around. They came by Saturday night for dessert - my mom had made berry and peach cobbler - yum! And then Sunday morning we had breakfast at the best restaurant in town - I had french toast. I've done nothing but eaten and watched movies on this trip - but those are two good things I guess.

So now I'm all packed and ready to go. But I'm really not ready to go just yet. I will miss my mom, and her new cat Nicky too! She got a new cat recently - I can't remember if I've already written about him here but he was a stray that showed up outside the house of my mom's friend. He was beaten up a bit, so my mom's friend took him to the vet and got him patched up, and checked him for any diseases. She couldn't keep him since she already had four pets, so she gave him to my mom - which is good timing since my mom's cat died about two months ago. Nicky is a Russian Blue, with a sleek gray coat and gorgeous green eyes - and he's about six years old. he's just adorable, and loving and playful, and I've already gotten attached to him. I'll be posting pictures of him later.

Anyway I should go to bed. I'm leaving here at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon and taking the van to Seattle where my sister will pick me up - I'll stay with her family tomorrow night and then fly out at 2 p.m. Wednesday. I have a few little things to do in the morning, so I should get up early!

I'll be getting back to Japan late Thursday (Japan time), and I'll be jetlagged, tired, and stressed... so I may not post for several days. hope you are all well!
see you on the other side of the ocean!