The Adventures of Jane, Marley and Cat

It’s Saturday. I am in travel recovery, slightly puffy around the edges. My hair is in a slicked-back pony tail. I am not wearing make-up. I have on an unflattering shirt, and my chin hairs are showing.

The worst thing that could have happened was to have had a TV station video me for the 6:00 news.

However, this was only the second worst thing.

As John and I walked out of the Orem Library we were approached by a nice looking man. I thought he was taking a survey, and that he was nuts because it was only 25 degrees. But no. Not a survey exactly.

“Hi. I’m Caleb Warnock from the Daily Herald. I’m asking people about their New Year’s Resolutions.”

Well, I’m a sucker for telling a stranger about my private thoughts (i.e. read my blog) so I say, “Well, I’m not really making resolutions. I’m making intentions.”

So we chatted for a moment and then he said the dreaded words, “OK, let me just snap your photo.”

Photo?

Can you see what I look like?

I say, “No.” No photo.

He says, “Sure. I’m a professional photographer.” I thought, “If you can photoshop someone else’s less puffy face on to mine, then we can talk.”

Yet I allowed him to take my picture.

When he looked at the results and said, “Oh, maybe one more…” that is when I should have said “STOP!”

But I didn’t.

When the dreaded results are published I will pass my humilation on to everyone.

This is our Christmas photo from Hawaii. It was a brief moment of sunshine on an otherwise very rainy trip. This was taken in my Dad’s pool and the people in the photo from left to right are: Dad, Bryson (Wes’ son), Lani (step-sister), Serena (Wes’ daughter), Westerly (my step-sister), Nina (Wicked Step-Mother), Cole (Wes’ son), Robbie, Kjarsti, me, Julia, and John.

We had a long day on the plane yesterday but were all thrilled to walk through the door of our home and sleep in our own beds.

I learned some things about myself and my family in this trip:

• My dad can indeed be my champion
• My step-sisters are very different from one another, but I love them both
• I can allow my children to be bored without it bumming me out
• I will never do a long trip like this with all my kids; shorter is better
• I love Hawaii. But I don’t need to go back for a while
• John is a fantastic cook
• Julia is hilarious
• Kjarsti is a good sport
• Robbie is always kind and sweet
• We quoted this video all day yesterday
• ATA is a ghetto airline
• My hair is frightening in Hawaii
• I have vivid dreams in Hawaii

And so we approach the end of 2007.  I can’t say I am sad to see it go.  I am really looking forward to big shifts in 2008 and lots and lots of fun and love.  No resolutions this year.  Too damn old for that.

1. It is raining.  There is no lying about on the beach.
2. The parents are elderly.  And they talk loudly.  And interrupt.
3. The children are bored.  See #1.
4. A 5 day vacation is too short.  A 10 day vacation is too long.  I have to remember this.
5. My parents begin their drinking/smoking every afternoon at 3:00.  After that, there is no sensible conversation.
6. I tried to teach them Canasta.  See #5.
7. Moving this many people around is exhausting.  See #1 and #5.
8. My sisters are delightful.  They are my favorite part of the trip.
9. My children, in spite of being bored, are also delightful.  Their humor has been refined to a new high.
10. Merry Christmas.