Travelogue #6 (5/17 – 5/ 18)

Okay, this is my last entry from my trip, so if you’ve been trying to keep up, there’s no more after this. There’s also a quick personal update at the bottom.

17 May 2011

8:20 AM EDT

Waterbury, CT

I’m at Lisa’s house and, having taken a shower, am doing a quick load of laundry so that I can pack my suitcase properly. I did bring a bit more than I needed and with the souvenirs added it’s a bit of a tight fit.

Yesterday Grammy took me to the rental place, so I now have my own wheels. We then drove around Norwalk a bit, looking at houses that her grandfather had built. I never knew he was an architect, let alone that he still had houses in around in Norwalk. Grammy says that she ought to write these things down. She’ll never get to it of course. I’m just hoping that she labels all the photos so we know who’s who.

After the "grand tour," I started up to Waterbury. Zach had just gotten home and Kurt had the day off. I visited with them awhile, though separately because Kurt was downstairs watching TV and Zach was upstairs watching TV and playing on his phone.

Zach felt compelled to call his grandfather while he and I were in the kitchen. I told him that he didn’t know I was here and not to tell him. So of course Zach felt the need to talk to talk to me while he was on the phone and Bill wanted to know who he was talking to. Idiot.

I’m clearly the earliest riser in the house at the moment. Understandable since Kurt works 24 hours shifts and Zach is… Zach. Lisa was up and out around 5 or so, I think.

Zach is up now, probably disturbed by all my noise. He has the day off so I’m planning to pester him most of the morning. At least until I go meet Lisette for lunch. I must remember her drawings this time! After that I’m going down to Trumbull to visit Bright Horizons and all my kids, then come back here for dinner. It is a good plan.

Luckily I don’t have to rush in the morning because my plane doesn’t leave until almost 1 PM. I’ll have time to figure out my packing arrangements and to shower and eat breakfast. I’m glad Bradley isn’t such a huge airport. If I leave here at 10, I’ll more than enough time to get there, drop off the car, check in, and go through security. No biggie. And it’s the middle of the day on Wednesday. I doubt the place will be overrun.

It’s almost 9 and I’m starving now, so I think I’ll get some toast.

~Lizzie

18 May 2011

11:20 AM EDT

Bradley Int’l Airport, Windsor Locks, CT

Airline travel makes for some long days. I got up at about 7:45 this morning and was the only person in the house. Kurt left about 7:15 for work, Lisa left about 6:15, and Zach left around 4:00 AM(!). Not having a car is a pain in the neck. I told him to wake me up to say goodbye, but he didn’t, the jerk. He blows so hot and cold sometimes. If he’s like that with other girls, it’s no wonder none of them stick around very long. It’s the only reason I can think of since he’s good-looking and funny and intelligent.

Now, as to the way I spent my Tuesday. I woke up around 7:00 and took a shower, had breakfast, wrote in this journal.

I pestered Zach a bit, but he was being sullen and not talking much. I also checked my email and started to catch up a bit on OD. I left a little before noon and met Lisette at a diner near her work. It’s always good to hear all the gossip and I remembered her drawings this time. I did suggest that she ask Zach if she wanted a better execution. He’s an amazing artist and he’s been practicing his tattooing skills. Maybe when I come back next I’ll let him do me — interesting choice of words, eh?

Thinking about tattoos, I’m struck by Bright Horizons rather lenient policies on piercings, odd-colored hair, and visible tattoos. I’m glad they seem to realize that none of those things preclude a person from being an excellent caregiver.

After lunch I drove down to Southern. It was raining and I wasn’t going to stop, but there happened to be a couple spaces open at the student center. As that never happens, I took it as a sign. I even steeled my nerves and walked around Engleman. It was during Rosso’s office hours, but his door was shut. Well, it is finals time so hours would probably change.

I then went on to Bright Horizons in Trumbull and spent a good two and a half hours visiting with my former coworkers there. A few kids remembered me. Bryce certainly did, even though he was the youngest in my class. Mia did after a while. Abby not so much, and Elizabeth had the look of "I think I know you, but I’m not sure." Brynn and Ava, Cory, Henry, Lilliana, Reagan, and Sarah have all moved to preschool now.

Ava and Brynn took a while to remember me, but Cory knew who I was right away. She would, of course. I stayed long enough to talk to all of my parents so I didn’t leave until about 6:00. It was good to see everyone though.

I got back to Waterbury just as Lisa was pulling into the driveway with dinner. Perfect timing. After dinner, one of Lisa’s friends came by to sew and we Skyped with Kerry and Peter about some craft projects.

I do wish I’d gotten to say goodbye to Kurt and Zach, but such is life. I’ll see Kurt when he and Lisa come out in July.  I don’t know when I’ll see Zach again. I’ll have to pester him by text instead.

~Lizzie

Zach did text me to apologize about not saying goodbye. He said he woke up late and was in a mad rush to get to work on time. He doesn’t have a car, so he either walks or gets a ride from a friend. The day I got there we hung out quite a bit, but I think he was upset that I went to his mom’s knitting group instead of chilling with him, because he was quieter the next day. Less flirty.  Like I said, if he’s like that with other girls, it’s no wonder they don’t stick around long.

It’s strangely good to be back at over 6,000 ft. Almost the whole time I was in Bermuda and Connecticut, I would get this strange sensation in my head. It wasn’t pain, but pressure. And it didn’t go away until I was in the plane, airborne, on the way to Atlanta. And I haven’t experienced it since I’ve been back home. I’m a little light-headed, but I guess my body is very comfortable at higher elevations now because I’m not feeling at all like I did when we first moved out here. Supposedly it takes just a few days to adjust to sea-level again, but I never really did get used to it. I suspect that my body just doesn’t like change. It’s happy in the mountains now. Although being so close to the water aboard ship and unable to physically touch it was almost painful. The pool on board took its water from the Atlantic, but it wasn’t the same as being in the Atlantic.

Being around Zach and taking the chance on running into Tony Rosso again has added spice to my desire to work out. I need to get back into it as soon as possible. Alan is going out to the field for a few day starting this afternoon, so I’ll have the car. I have some cash too, so I may very well go to Zumba tomorrow.

I was a bit choosy in the pictures I posted here, but I’m putting them all up on my Facebook page, should you want to see them. If I’m not friends with you already, just let me know. Or search for me and add me. I assure you that I’m the only Liz Slinsky on there.

~Liz