December 27th - Family

December 27th – Family

They have landed upon me!
After being on my own, relying on myself since October 28th, it is shocking to be constantly surrounded by people, my family. We are 6 people at the moment in small a 2-bedroom apartment in the center of Antwerp.
My space is invaded, the organized fashion with which I ran my life, gone, the sleeping when I wanted, sounds when I wanted, activities when I wanted, gone gone gone……….
Now, my mind is cluttered with shopping, cooking and touristy things to do.
And I love it .
Welcome it.
I feel like a different person, enriched, fuller, irritated and joyful.

What a learning. In spite of the complications of having grown kids who do not need you anymore, we love being around each other. I felt filled with love for them, for what they are trying out in their lives and felt honored that they choose to be with me/us.
It made me realize that at the moment I do not want to be on a different continent from them, even though my stepdaughter and family is unfortunatelyhere in Europe.
These bi-continental decisions will never happen without loss, I simply will have to be in both places

Our Christmas was great with doing nothing but eat delicious food and hang out.
During the day I share lots of pretty places (cafes and good coffee!) and at night we are playing games, read , talk. The TV has conked out over a week ago, so no
escape there, although truth be told, I miss it: BBC, French, German, Holland, Arabic, Italian, Spanish, 37 channels in 9 languages!Delightful.

Antwerp is showing off its best looks. Lights everywhere, shops open, festivals, gluewein(warm wine), fireplaces and lamps on the outdoor terraces, and a big skating rink, smack in the center of town. Today the kids wanted to go skating, but it was so jampacked, we decided against it. Tomorrow should be better….