Monday morning, early

Memorial Day. I spent 14 years marching in parades on Memorial Day. I have numerous pictures of me in Girl Scout uniform waving to people as I march in the parade. The annual snapshot review was a timelapse I was surprisingly annoyed by. We Girl Scouts weren't really welcomed by the VFW, but I could never see why that was the case v the Little League who also marched. I guess the VFW families had more kids in Little League. I got to see myself get grayer/fatter/thinner in quick succession. I wore Ferragamo heels most years(I wonder if my mother-in-law would have approved of such a use).

Before that phase of my life, my husband and I would take a long weekend and go south to camp. I have wonderful memories of the DelMarVa peninsula and Skyline Drive in Virginia in late May. The parades were always a very different celebration of the weekend. Much more appropriate to the original intentions, but no where as personally satisfying as our camping trips to me.

Holidays can be so tricky and precious. The time for unconstrained rest is very rare. This holiday does not require family, just respect for those who made our homes and safety possible. With my gardening and the need for me to be ready to leave for Beijing, there is a reasonable amount of anticipatory angst going on. Hopefully the sunny, cool day will see additional progress. My husband has been wondering about the management of things Cheswick while I am gone. I am wondering if we can communicate well enough for him to pay the bills on line. Can we keep the house running for 3 months without my presence?

Communication about the management of a house: bills and repairs. 20 years ago, I would collect the bills twice a month and pay them out in 2 chunks. Now, I try to pay them on line with selected payment dates from the drop down menus in my banking program. No stamps, addressing envelopes, or forgetting to drop the payment into the mail. I even know how to make international direct bank transfers, too, curtesy of my summer class in Beijing. I don't think I will be paying any bills in Beijing, though. That is a scary thought.

I just got the visa support documents tonight. That means that I have 2 whole weeks to get my visas in order instead of the 4 day rush I was expecting. I am so glad it is supposed to rain on Tuesday. I have the perfect excuse to go into Manhattan and get the visa process going. Yeah!!!!

After I plant out annuals tomorrow morning, I am going to go over packing goodies with my husband, BC. We are packing for Nantucket when I come back and I am packing for China. I have kept Nantucket packing lists since the kids were toddlers. Thank goodness, I don't have to get long distance cradles and cribs to Nantucket. I would be happy with some handwork and bathing suits. I think I will be tired of my Beijing clothes, so I will have a couple of pairs of shorts and hiking pants. I wonder if we will use our great bike rack to take the bikes. I hope we can rent a tandem too, even for a week. Last year I resewed a steerable kite. This year we should be able to fly it. What a nice thing to look forward to.

Old Nantucket list:

Ferry tickets for us and car
Where to stay in Hyannis
where to eat in Hyannis
CD-player
kites
weights and mat
telescope
tripod
adapters
bikes and helmets
sun screen
bug spray
beach towels
wisk
tea
knives
vanilla
spices
cameras
cables
talkabouts
beach chairs
hats
bathing suits
evening dress inc BC
Nantucket basket
surf boards
computer
books books books
frisbies
juggling
soccer balls
cones
goals
handwork
sewing machine
toiletries

I think this year- books, bikes, sewing machine, and handwork will top the list. GPS, cell phones and chargers. Maybe some wine. I wonder what will be important for BC and the kids. I hope my mom will come to Nantucket, too.