08-21-26 There are no words
How can I possibly explain the incredible feeling I get from spending this amount of time in a place that I lived for 15 years. It honestly feels like it does not matter that 16 years have gone by since then. Everywhere I am going for these last three days someone has taught me on the shoulder, called my name and we have fallen into each other’s arms. The hugs and love just keep coming.
This morning, I realized I did not have to sit in the cottage and work. I just need to go find a place that had Wi-Fi so of course I went and parked down at gasoline alley intending to go to the new to me country café or some such. As I stepped out of my car, though, I heard the sound of pool balls clinging and was instantly drawn into The Local as the last thing I ever expected to see there was a pool table. It turns out an old friend Barrie was there and he gave me the Wi-Fi password and I sat and worked for the next several hours as friends from the past came and went. This was my Local back in the day and although it is very different now there are still many who come there that I have known well.
After I got a fair amount of work done, and it was mid afternoon, I decided to go for a walk around gasoline alley in a note of all the amazing little stores that have popped up there, including the one that has taken the place of the restaurant that I had. The owner of Heart and Bone, Tammy was super interested in the fact that the place used to be mine and wanted to pick my brain. It was hard though because that was a long time ago and cost, etc. have changed. I was grateful to be able to take a picture though and send it to Jake.
When I was done wandering around, I returned to The Local only to find Chris and Sharla there. We had such a good catch up and reminiscence and find out how everyone is doing. Chris honestly is and always will be my soulmate. We had a partying of ways and he found another person, but our inner children are still best friends. I could feel that in our catch-up today and at the end, both of us and her as well had tears in our eyes.
I suddenly realized that I had to get back to the house as Sandy was making a family dinner of Yorkshire pudding and roast beef. She had brought Lukas back on the ferry today so we had a nice dinner and then I brought Lukas downtown to see the music vibe going on as every day people was playing at the treehouse which included my old boyfriend, Dave and Tom Hooper of course. I gave Lukas a tour around and again was overcome with the number of people tapping me on the shoulder and wrapping me and hugs. I was so happy to be able to introduce Lukas as he is now basically the age Jake was when we moved away from here.
We also went for a drive up to Vesuvius and I was able to show him some of the places that I have lived and played before we came back to the house and the four of us played different car games which were so much fun. We did stop at Chris and Sharla‘s so I could show Lukas the house that Chris And I built with our buddy Dave. he was very impressed and Chris definitely wanted us to come in and visit but I didn’t want to intrude and we also wanted to get back for a game night. 
I did have some odd conversations with Greg today via text and apparently I can have access to the storage containers after 9:30 on Sunday morning and I will make sure that either one of them is with me or that Lukas films the whole thing as I do not want to ever be accused of taking anything I shouldn’t have. I do know that there is one piece of sculpture and potentially some art from the walls. Never mind my dad’s photo album that they will have to find. I’m sure in all of the unpacking. I will have to be fine with not being there to see the rest of it. 
Sorry, my use of grammar and parsing is lacking, but I have had a very long incredible day and maybe a little bit of red wine. All I can reaffirm is that I am very grateful for this family by marriage. Jim and Sandy are extraordinary hosts and are in no hurry to have us gone, as a matter fact Jim made sure to tell me that I was not to leave any gift cards for thank you on the counter or anything else. They were just happy to have me here.
I am so grateful that Lukas is here and he tried on his suit to make sure everything would be good for tomorrow. He is excited to go to the wedding as well. I am a very lucky Nana.
triumphgal 