Sunday, May 23, 2010

Vacation, week one

I went home to see the family for a few days. My parents (and sisters, and Logyn) recently moved out of the 720 square foot home where we grew up into a 3,200 square foot condo. Their friends are all downsizing. Convinced that my sisters aren't going anywhere any time soon, they've done just the opposite. "We couldn't do it anymore," my mom said. "I mean, I know in many countries, several families live in a space smaller than that...but those are better people than we are. We were all ready to kill each other."


It was rather close quarters. The girls and the baby shared a small room. When I visited, I slept on the couch in a semi-finished room in the basement that also served as my dad's home office. There was only one bathroom.

The condo is huge by comparison. It has three bathrooms. Three. The girls have their own bedrooms. ("Now, we'll really never get them out of here," my mom says.) There's still no real privacy. Logyn is two, after all...

Logyn: "You go potty, TT?"

Me: "Yes, I'm going potty."

Logyn: "Can I come?"

My sister: "You can say no."

Me: "I was planning on it."

But, even with the occasional unsolicited assistance in the bathroom, it is a much easier place to stay.

Logyn loves her new house. That's what she calls it. Her new house. When my sister told her I was coming a few weeks ago, she ran around unlocking doors..."So TT can come to my new house."

The morning I left, she wrapped her little arms around my neck, and with tears in her eyes, said, "TT, you come back to my new house pretty soon?"

"Yes," I said, "I'll come back to your new house pretty soon." And then, I was the first person ever to cry her way through a flight from Ohio to the beach.

5 comments:

Eric said...

I'm glad you had a good visit and a safe trip.
That is odd, crying in that direction, but I can sure understand why.

Susanlee said...

Awwww!!!

Gitz 'n Jo said...

There was nothing more pitiful or enduring to me than when my nephew (who was 3 at the time) clung to my neck saying, "But I love YOU. I want to go to college with YOU."

He's still pretty cool now that he's 18, but he's going to college all on his own... ;)

MmeBenaut said...

They do tug on the heart strings don't they? TT I hope you enjoy your vacation at the beach. I'm certain that you deserve the break. xx

Maria said...

God, once they have their hooks in you, it is just the end of being mostly dry eyed.