Iowa update...

Since last I posted I have been to Massachusetts and back. I was hoping for some of the snow that I remembered from when I was a wee one but alas, there was only cold. I had a wonderful time with Memere and saw a few relatives. It's sad though that so many are gone. It seemed that while the conversations here in Ottumwa focus on new things, lives, relationships, etc. in MA it's who is in a nursing home, who died, who is about to die, how long its been since someone died...quite depressing stuff. But Memere is healthy and living well and that's all that really matters to me. Bryan hadn't been there since Pepere passed away 8 years ago so he was quite a surprise to everyone. (he's grown quite a bit) We went to mass at Notre Dame parish which is an amazing church. It's worth a trip to Southbridge just to see it. I believe it was originally built to be a cathedral for the bishop but then plans changed and I became a parish church with absolutely gorgeous architecture and lines...inside there are handpainted frescoes, three story high ceilings...It almost makes going to church a more holy experience! We opened presents after we came back and it was definitely Memere's Christmas with all the presents she got from everybody.

We returned to Iowa the day after Christmas to some very cold weather. I got to see Ashley that night which was great as I haven't seen her in ages. We quickly caught up on things while baking in the new hot tub.

Tonight we had our family Christmas. Presents all around and I think everyone was happy with what they got.

Only two more days until I'm back in Tucson. It's strange because it's as if time has moved at two different speed simultaneously this trip...it's moving fast because I've been with my family and friends but slow because I'm away from Rouzbeh and my Tucson friends. I guess I'm just in that all too familiar place of wishing I was in two places at once.