Return: University Nostalgia

Matt and alcohol - check.

Field hockey alumnae game.

Beth, Jody, me, Carolyn, Kristen, Gillian and Coach Yves.

Window shopping.

Charles and Barb - my second parents.

I just made the connection that my One Little Word for 2011 is return...and return I did.  Back to my university days when hanging out with my friends, playing field hockey and visiting with the Adlers were all at the center of my existence.  This past Labour Day weekend the current McGill Field Hockey team hosted an alumnae game as a fundraiser.  So I jumped on the plane without hesitation, ready to revisit a city that was home to so many good times and big decisions.

Oh Montreal, how complicated our relationship was.  Excitement.  Freedom.  First love.  Then heartache, followed by financial struggle.  So I returned home to my family and surrounded myself with the beautiful mountains of home.  I came back to visit a few times with my sister and then my husband and son, but it wasn't until this weekend that I truly again let you into my heart.

You wooed me with the simple act of enjoyment while eating and drinking with friends at your many restaurants.  I laughed from my belly.  I shopped.  I reconnected with myself and with a dear friend.  I became friends with an old teammate.  I fell in love again with the French language.

Montreal, we opened up a new door and I cannot wait to return and strengthen our relationship.

Morning Thoughts on Balance

                                                 

So it is 6:30 a.m. and I should be waking up my son.  He needs time to slowly adjust to being up and spend some time cuddling and hanging out with me before I take him to daycare for the day.  If I don't get him up with plenty of time to spare, getting out the door becomes a battle.  But today I will let him sleep an extra 15 minutes so that I can squeeze in some time to write and reset.

This morning I am thinking that it could be impossible to balance if I am carrying to many objects at once.  But what do I drop?

This morning I am thinking that I do enjoy working full time, but I haven't figured out how to do this and still spend time with my son, get a desperately wanted and needed workout, make dinner, make lunches, go grocery shopping, fold the laundry, talk to my husband about anything beyond the necessary, and perhaps shower and have a bit of down time.

This morning I am thinking that something has to give.

This morning I am thinking that perhaps my husband and I can rotate weeks on lunches.

This morning I am thinking that I need to do some serious scheduling to get everything done if I want to stay happy and healthy.

This morning I am thinking that I miss summer and my little boy.  Perhaps I will cuddle up with him for a few minutes before awakening him, and then put on some summer clothes.