I don't even know how to title this post...

We're back.  It feels like we never left.  That's the strange part. 

Monday we arrived.  We ate at Mod Pizza which was on our list.  We shopped at the grocery store for stuff for Emma's girls' camp and we easily could have convinced ourselves that we still live here.

It's been wonderful to stay at Geri's.  My grandma has a pillow in her house that someone gave her that says "There's no place like home except Grandma's."  That is very true.  She is spoiling us with great food and accommodations. 

Monday night I met with my writing group.  Those women!  They are the type of friends that I can pick up where I left off and no time feels like it has passed.  Those are the best type of friends.  Over dinner at Red Robin, we talked about how rotten our children are, particularly our sons.  We know our sons aren't rotten.  We know each others' sons aren't rotten.  We all collectively love these maddening sons.  What we also know is that we are not alone.  We get each other. 

Friends are so great.

We talked very little about writing, but that's OK too. 

We reconvened at Heidi's house and it felt as comfortable as my parents' living room.  I keep having these "That's right!  I have friends!" moments.  Good to remember.

Yesterday I had lunch with Janet and Stephanie.  It's akin to having lunch with my sisters.  We just talk about everything and anything and real things and silly things and how am I going to go back to Utah?

I guess I have to, because I have library books due.

The tragic occurrence in Mark's life is that nearly all his friends are at scout camp.  His big plan was to surprise them so he didn't even know they were at scout camp until we got here.  It was a sad day.  We took him over to our old neighborhood to see if Finn had stayed home from scout camp.  He brought his scooter and wanted to ride his scooter to Finn's house.  We dropped him off at the top of the hill and drove by our old house (weird!).  Then we couldn't find Mark.  Did he crash?  We drove back up the hill and no Mark.  Adam said, "Maybe he stopped at the Jorgensens?"  I didn't think that made any sense.  Why would he?  We were going to meet at Finn's.  Sure enough, there was his scooter and helmet, on their doorstep. 

Each one of my children at one time or another have sought Janet for sanctuary when the going was tough.  I get it. 

Yesterday I was helping Stephanie move furniture and organize and put her rooms back together (she painted her entire upstairs and she knows I love that kind of stuff).  Mark had been at Finn's (yay Finn for not going to scout camp!) but he came over to Stephanie's.  He wanted to give her a hug and visit Squire, the dog.  Then he visited Cabo, the bird. 

It's good to be back.