Taking Care of Business
20 August 2012 | Charlotte, NC
It has been a long time since I posted on our blog and I've missed checking in with everyone. As you might recall, I'm in the US visiting friends and family, getting supplies we can't purchase in the Islands, going through packages we've had shipped. Luna has a supply of her favorite, vegetarian dog cookies, Ed has a pair of his favorite sunglass Croakies, I have ginger candies from The Ginger People. Oh, and Skylark will be adorned with two new lights from Alpenglow (replacing ugly florescent lights), a new AIS system and a couple of navigational charts for our computer. I have a new haircut and even splurged on some highlights to cover up my grey. I tried, I really did. A whole year without adding color to my hair gave me a glimpse of what the real me looked liked. I have to admit, the woman I saw in the mirror was not my favorite person. And 7 months without a haircut made me feel like someone you might see on the street and say to yourself, "Oh my, what is she thinking?" I know, I know. I live on a boat. Who cares about hair color and good cuts? Me! I care! It might be a year before I pay someone to add highlights again and I probably won't get another cut for a very long time. For now, I'm relieved to have at least 6 inches taken off. And it was only a few highlights here and there. Worth every penny.
Friends have asked me if it's a culture shock to be back in the states. It really hasn't been I love walking around my friend's houses and admiring their different rooms with all the rich colors, plants, artwork. I miss all that. But beyond that, I think we live a rich and full life on Skylark with everything we need for the most part. I have loved taking a long, hot bath and I spent so long in a hot shower the other morning I thought I might spend the day in there. I do miss that. But culture shock? I don't think that's something I have experienced. Well, one other thing. I've borrowed a small truck from a friend to use while I'm in town and on the Interstate yesterday I refused to drive it any faster than about 50 mph. The speed limit was 65. I just couldn't understand why I would ever drive that fast. But at least I was driving on the "right" side of the road whereas many of the Islands we've visited drive on the left.
I hope you all will be patient with my absence. I'll try to check in again soon.