Home again, home again

Declan went to his middle school today for the first time, got his schedule and map to his classes.  Cal visited his kindergarden teacher.  It's official.  Summer is over. Reentry is complete.  Suitcases have been unpacked.  The freezer is starting to fill up again.  Juice boxes are on the shelves.  The list of things that we were planning to do once we got home can no longer be delayed. 

I have to write a blog entry that wraps up the trip.

It is impossible, really.  My impressions about the individual countries feels small compared to the experience of the past months. The overall emotion that binds the entire experience is gratitude.

I am grateful for trustworthy and clean renters who left the house clean and damage free for our arrival. They even left snacks!
I am thankful that no one got hurt, sick or even feeling oogy on the voyage.  Except for Blake, once, and that was cured almost immediately by the miracle of French pharmacuticals.
I am grateful that Round House Theatre worked so well while we were gone and yet were happy/relieved for Blake's return.
I am thankful that a tree didn't fall on our house.  It's my constant fear whenever there is a big windstorm.
I am grateful that the car started, no mice got into our clothes and the air conditioning still works.
I am thankful that we still like each other after 5 months of exclusivity: no friends, no collegues, no aquaintinces.
I am grateful for international text messaging so that friends, family and Montgomery County didn't seem so far away.
I am thankful that our credit cards worked almost everywhere we went.  Except for the purchase of French rail tickets and because it didn't work, we rode for free!!!
I am grateful for Cal's resiliency, Declan's sense of humor and Blake's confidence.
I am thankful for Nutella. It made many a breakfast treat.
But most of all I am grateful for Blake's courage to ask for and forge ahead with the idea of the sabbatical.  We couldn't have, wouldn't have, without him.  It was really nice to have him around.

Now I wanna go to Japan!  Next summer??