Anecdotes From A Surfergirl's Island Life: "We Don't Take The Bus, We Catch Airplanes" ๐ [Photo Story ๐ท]
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. - Eleanor Roosevelt
I can totally relate, Eleanor.
Since I left home when I was 18 years old my life's constantly been about catching airplanes.
It would be funny to know the total number of air miles I've made so far.
To me it has become normal to catch an airplane in order to see my family and friends. Of course, the time spent together then is extraordinarily intense.
They are living all over the world, but...
Distance means little when they mean so much!
@surfermarly on her way to the neighbour island
Fly me to the moon!
Actually I'm afraid of heights.
That's surely not the very best point of departure for somebody who needs to travel by airplane frequently.
However, since catching airplanes has become part of my routine, I somehow manage to forget about that detail.
After changing my home base again last year, currently I don't have any of my best friends close to me.
That's surely a considerable sacrifice, and of course there are moments when I challenge my own decision.
But sometimes we can't have it all.
The joy of being reunited is priceless ๐
@surfermarly with her buddy for life named Tommy
I've been afraid of dogs all my life since I made a bad experience at the age of 2.
Our neighbour's dog attacked me when I was very little.
It seemed that this moment was safely stored in my memory. I was unable to come close to any dog, I was full of fear.
So I kept them on a certain distance.
A couple of years ago my mom decided on having a dog. It was a strange feeling for me.
I knew that visiting my mom from now on would include having a dog around.
But then something really magical happened. Golden Retrievers are some of the most friendly dogs in the world, and I really fell in love with him from the very first moment.
Since then we're inseparable and I really enjoy being with him.
So funnily a dog is part of my inner circle now, something I wouldn't have ever imagined a couple of years back.
My mom keeps me updated on how he's doing. However, sometimes talking on the phone isn't enough. Every 2-3 months I just can't stand the yearning anymore. That's when I book another flight.
When I need to hug them, I take an airplane ๐
My very best and longest friend - since 27 years (that's the moment when I notice I'm getting old, haha)
The guy with the white shirt in the back is my best friend's husband, singer and band leader.
This was last Saturday, and that's actually my favourite way of being a groupie in the front row ๐
It was one of these wonderful summer nights. We listened to the music, talked, danced, had some beers and simply enjoyed being together again.
The concert was the high point of an already perfect day. In the morning I went shopping with my mom which is always a lot of fun, too.
You know that it's summer when you try these ๐ก๐ก
@surfermarly shopping some new sandals
I don't spend much money on shoes since I wear flip-flops almost all the time ๐
When I was living in Germany I wore high heels at the office. Weird! Because now I don't even know how to walk one meter in these, haha
The afternoon was much fun, too. I came to my best friend's house where her two-year-old son was supposed to entertain me in a special manner - like he always does.
What he taught me is that ice cream needs to be earned, haha!
First we did a great painting session - well he did and I tried to somehow control the situation (however most of the colors ended on our t-shirts ๐๐๐ - LOL).
YES we love getting dirty, haha!
Ice cream for the hard working artists mmmmmh
Family time is quality time, and I always enjoy every minute of it.
Since I don't have them close all the time, I'm like a sponge absorbing every second of our shared time and filling my memory with beautiful impressions.
Probably that makes our connections even stronger. We know how to appreciate the moments we have.
I'm grateful for every day of these 27 years of friendship.
True friendship isn't about being inseparable, it's being separated and nothing changes.
I hope you're having your besties closer than I do.
Have a great day, steemians ๐
Marly -
Original content, pictures taken with my iPhone 6.
@surfermarly I can relate with how much I've moved throughout my life. That being said, I've made so many awesome friend in all the different cities I've lived in throughout the years. The challenge now is finding time and airline tickets to catch up with both them and family.
As time has gone on, I have had two kids of my own. My daughter, the oldest, is five. Anytime life becomes a bit too serious or challenging, I am always an advocate for "five year old" therapy. Sometimes it's awesome how much children can distill the pleasure of life into the simplest of things and make a person feel like a celebrity around their biggest fan.
BTW that ice cream looks delicious.
That was such a cute comment, loved it ๐
Spending time with kids to me is always a huge pleasure. Putting ourselves into their position helps to see the world in a different way... and puts things into perspective.
Thanks for stopping by! Not sure why I haven't been following you yet since you are also one of the "older steemians" here (not age, time on the platform!! haha). I've changed that now ๐
@surfermarly I guess I am an elder both in age and time on the platform. LOL. I take no offense from that comment. Nature has been kind enough to remind me each day of the years which have already passed .
I have been a passive contributor to Steemit, until more recently. So it's possible you've not been mugged by a post of mine until more recently.
Thanks for the follow it's much appreciated.
I appreciate your sharing of this inspired outlook! Recently, and currently at times, I start to feel guilty or a loss of family and friends due to my decision to be in a different country (Belize). Raising my children here sort of fuels those thoughts. I would love to remember your story always and know that reconnecting is so sweet and powerful.
I was resentful that my cousin was doing the moving around adventure thing and would visit once a year. I was actually jealous bc I wanted that for myself. Im an explorer by nature and love the edgyness of it.My heart is constantly fond for family and friends and i plan to stay there. Thanks for sharing!
You are more than welcome. Thanks for your beautiful comment! ๐
We - the expats - will always feel like that. Giving up on an home and moving towards a new one always includes a certain "loss"... You give up the old but are given the new.
Nothing worth having comes easy...:-)
Have a great day!
"Family time is quality time, and I always enjoy every minute of it...." exactly, that why we stop everthing and start togehter to travel as a family around the world. our baby now know us both very much. growing up with both parents parts. that more worth as gold in my opinien
Friends are so valuable!
YESSSSSSSSS ๐๐๐
:) This was a great read and wonderful post. Enjoyed as always.
I'm happiest to hear that!!! Hope you're having a great day!? ๐
You know you're a beach bum when......
Flip-flops for the win!
Haha, flip-flops for president ๐๐๐
That would a step in the right direction!
๐ ๐๐คฃ
Livin the life... I know u have at least one pair of these ๐ก๐ฌ๐๐ผโโ๏ธ๐โ๏ธ
LOL - got me........๐
Great post and one I can relate to since for 30+ years have lived half a world away from most of my family, the trips home to see family and friends were truly precyand I made the most of f every moment with them
Oh yeah well then you know exactly what I'm talking about!
It's hard sometimes and you miss them like crazy but seeing each other again then pays off.
Yes indeed each visit did seem more precious that the last, I don't get back home to NZ anymore health issues mean me and flying do not get on well together, but luckily I do have my Wife and her son and family and grandkids only a couple of hour drive away so life is all good :)
Great Post Marly! Golden Retrievers sure are some really nice dogs :) Reminds me of the movie "Marley and me", a really nice and sad movie... Lucky you he shared some ice cream with you :D How often do you usually fly back to your friends and family a year? Must be really hard sometimes... When I left for 1 1/2 years it was too...
Muchas gracias ๐
Well since they are living all over the world (Munich, Philadelphia, El Paso, Las Palmas,...) I see each of them about 1-2 times a year. That's not much but we skype a lot and send us pictures and video tapes all the time. So when we finally meet it's not as if we haven't seen each other for such a long time.
Thanks to social media we're always up-to-date ๐
Which kind of distance do you have, within the same country still?
Love your phrase "Distance means little when they mean so much". So very true. Once again, a very nice and insightful post.
Thank you very much!!! I love that phrase, too. It perfectly describes my way of living ๐