Catching Up

Things have been a little crazy lately, and I've noticed if I'm not feeling great, if something is bugging me, or if there is something happening to someone I love, the blog falls quickly to the wayside. 

So, an update.  

Being here a year has really been a cause for me to reflect on stuff.  I know I dropped the ball on that "one year" series I had planned, but it hasn't stopped me thinking.  The person who started this blog last year is certainly not the person that sits here today, tapping away at the computer.  I look back on those earlier posts and have to laugh at my wide eyes goofiness.  Now I take for granted that I regularly see men in skirts, bow when saying thank you (sometimes in chinese) ride the subway, put a dollar into the shopping cart to use it, say carpark, flat and lift instead of parking lot, apartment, and elevator.  I say "Can" and "Can not" when I mean yes and no. I hand my credit card to the cashier with 2 hands and nod and smile. I am a wife...I fold my husband's underwear, and iron his shirts.  This still throws me every now and then even though it been 18 months of wedded bliss (occasional non- bliss, but overall, very nice!)  I am rested for the first time in I don't know how long.  I don't have a sleep deficit, and I even have time to apply body lotion!  Amazing! 

I do feel out of the loop sometimes...I have missed a lot over this year...my dad retiring, my mom turing the big (significant birthday) friends and family having babies, holidays, Deb's moms struggle with cancer.  That was one of my worst fears about moving so far away...that I would miss stuff.  It's gotten a little easier, but I do still love to be caught up on stuff.  Don't forget about me over here! I still care about all of you and your lives...and miss you so, so much.

I have a Furson...one of the best decisions we made this year.  He is a furry, purring salve on my homesick heart. He follows me around ALL day and is endlessly amusing.  There isn't a cupboard or cabinet he hasn't investigated.  He takes his post on my desk, usually in front of my laptop as I write and fool around online.  He must be touching me at all times.   I only wish we would have done it sooner.  He is such a love!

I have buddies! We are an unlikely trio, a decade or two apart in age,  happily thrown together. We would have never met each other in our 'other' lives.  I have explored more parts of singapore with them than I ever did on my own.  We've gotten lost, had ice cream for lunch, giggled, cried and shared.  It is sooo good to have them.  One of the friends (Sarah) and I wonder often why in the hell it took so long to meet each other, as we both frequented the same places. We've come to the conclusion that we had to have a long, lonely year so we could appreciate each other more. I had made attempts to make friends, and a few were cooly ignored (if you think it might be you, it probably is)...so to be so welcomed and understood is super cool.  And in turn it has made me start to really love Singapore.  When asked over this past year if I liked it, or was happy, I'd always respond with a quick "yes, and, of course!"  The truth is, sometimes in down right sucked. I have to try to  be a little more honest on here.  No more rose colored glasses!   But no one wanted to hear me whine. I get it.  My dad mentioned he thought I may have been whiny at Christmas last year.  I looked at that long and hard.  Yes, I was whiny, but also thankful. I was away from my family for the first time in 35 years.  I think I was allowed a few moments of blue.  I tried to tamp down any boo-hooing, especially on the blog, because, believe me, if I had heard someone whining about living in the tropics with their love, and having the adventure of a lifetime, I'd want to throw tomatoes too. But I didn't take for granted for a minute that my big butt was sitting on a Bali beach.  I am a lot more aware of grace and being grateful too.  There are just little moments when you are thrown into a new situation such as this that just make you tingle.  A kind word in a different language, from a stranger, a smile and a nod from a construction worker.  A hug from a little neighbor and finding a wonderful caring doctor. Finding friends that just "get it".  A care package from my parents, or friends.  A real letter in the mail, not just a bill.  A snoring, gassy husband and a snoring, gassy cat. Web cam chats...if you have one, lemme know...it helps so, so much.   My veggie guy being delighted to see me.  A phone call (you can call us anytime one the vonage phone, it is free for you!!) from friends and family...we really don't care if you wake us up.  Email me if you want the number.  My pool...I love my pool.  The promise of visitors ( I am so excited I might pee!!!) I could go on, but you get the point.

I can now say, that as much as I still have homesick days (today is one, for some reason...I really miss my parents), that I do love it here.  It is truly a gift to be here.  As maddening as it is sometimes, it's still a nifty little island, with good people.  We love having a car...man has that been an eye opener.  I love getting lost in neighborhoods.  Once we were so lost looking for a restaurant a nice guy had us follow him...that wouldn't have happened in the states...at least not in Detroit.  And really, how lost can you get on a 23 mile across island?  One of our new favorite things to do is jump in the car at night and just drive.  I usually shout out cool stuff I see, and Lar concentrates on not getting us killed.  We found the 2 drive through mcdonald's on the island and will have a 60 cent ice cream cone every now and then.  I amaze Lar with my mad car dancing skills, and he amazes me with his stellar singing voice.  If only I could figure out a way to take Frank with us and not have him want to scratch the hell out of us, it would be perfect.  I also like to randomly honk at people and wave...still making my own fun here in Sing-Sing.  

I have started doing hair here...what a BLAST!  I did a hair party that was a rousing success (at least I think so!) and have a few more cuts and colors in the next few weeks. Call or email if you want to set something up.  I also had my first singapore haircut about 2 months ago...and that's what really got me thinking about doing it a little here.  He was really good, and it stirred up all my creative juices.  Larry is lucky he isn't sporting hi-lights and a faux hawk. (as far as you know)

Back to the honesty part of the blog.  I have to say that being away from Debbie when her mom died this month has blown big chunks.  I still can't wrap my head around why we are apart right now.  Some lesson is being learned, it's just about as clear as mud right now.  Flying home was an option we discussed, and Deb, in the end said she'd rather have me after the fact. So I will be home sometime soon to help wade through the hard stuff.   I just wished I could have been there to hold her hand as she has held mine so often.  I am thankful for the moments we had on the phone and im chats.  As she said at one point this year, technology has saved our asses big time.

 

So...in conclusion...haha....things are going fine here.  We are getting ready for thanksgiving and Christmas, and are pretty busy these days.  Larry is working on his masters, and now that I have buddies, I am not home nearly as much as I used to be.  Thank you for the gentle (and not so gentle) nudges to keep the blog up.  I am taking suggestions for topics....what do you want to see on here?

I miss you and love you all (or at least like you a LOT)

xoxoxo

Pam