Teacksas

As peaceful as I feel about my decision to step back from things with TS, it did leave me feeling blue because I really liked him and we had a lot going for us. On top of the normal try-not-to-call-him-have-some-integrity-don't-be-so-sad behavior that comes post-relationship, I had an entire week of canceled plans. See, I was supposed to meet his family while they were in town for his last VP concert, so I gave all my shows to my double at the theatre.
If there's one thing I don't know how to handle, it's unscheduled time.
I wanted to be positive, I wanted to "get in the blue and move forward," as Kris would say.*
So I got out all my fancy markers and stickers, pulled out a new posterboard, and plopped down on the floor in front of The Holiday so I could plan out the next month and make a big calendar for my wall.
When I was all finished, and saw that the weekend of the VP concert was nothing but big, empty white squares, I was more than a bit disheartened.

So, the next day I bought a plane ticket and before I knew it, I was on my way to the lovely state of Texas.

I saw my sister Athena. We got pedicures, made cookies, watched 17 Miracles, and saw an ultrasound of her peanut-sized baby!

I saw my cousin Crystal. We went camping, roasted s'mores, rode go-carts and scooters around a lake,  and went country dancing.

I saw my Uncle Taylor and Aunty Connie, Mom's youngest brother and sister, for the first time in years, and we talked, laughed, and snorted over TexMex for lunch.

I saw Aunt Merry Lee and we talked about her mission in Austrailia, I saw Nick and Jenny and Jenny's new baby, and then Joy and Brent, my first cousins once removed, took me to dinner one night and then to The Cracker Barrel for brunch the next day (so, so delicious).

It was warm and humid. It was perfect. And all the food was so very delicious!

*This phrase inexplicably came out of my mouth one night when, as she always does, Kris was listening to me spout about my latest crisis and theories. I was talking--well of course I was talking--very fast and carrying on and on and then I said, "So, I just need to get in the blue and move forward."

Silence.

And then we busted up laughing.

 Because what does that even mean? But she understood. And the phrase stuck.