Nothing to Report

Spring Break has come and gone.  We didn't travel anywhere exotic and therefore, have no stunning facebook posts.  We didn't even get a day off work, as we are making up for lost snow days.  There isn't much snow left on the ground, just a few dirty piles, but no new green growth either. The wind is chilly, meaning we are still wearing our winter woolies.  The ice on the lake is hanging on and we will have to wait a few more weeks for Easter to roll around this year.
Normally our school year overseas would include a spring break and everyone would head to the airport.  In Kuwait teachers would take any plane flying just to get out of Kuwait. But it was relatively easy to get from there to Africa, Europe or the Far East.  And the simple act of taking off on that long awaited vacation made the job worthwhile.  When in Europe we didn't even have to wait for a week long break.  Three days is all you need for a quick trip to Paris or Budapest.  We would often combine trips with a quick visit to see family in London.

My Easter holidays during college were awkward times when I had to leave my dorm without having the resources to get home to Brazil.  I spent my time in someone's spare bedroom, ate creme eggs, and studied.  Traveling was out of the question then because I had no money, and the weather was still cold. 
I had hardly more money when living in Brazil, but managed to travel on a budget anyway.  My only destination... the beach where I could find a little bit of paradise, and a sailboat. Once we had the sailboat, we couldn't justify staying at home whenever we had a holiday.  This became more and more of a dilemma as the family grew.  I secretly wondered if it would be more relaxing to stay home with the boys in diapers.

I still enjoy following friends' travels on facebook.  I see them in Morocco, Nepal, China and Japan. Those images used to fill me with anticipation and a desire to make those my next destinations.  I would start planning the trip in my mind.  Now I appreciate the photography without the same longing.  They are not part of who I am at the moment. They still spark gratitude and appreciation for all the chances I have had to visit the world outside Minnesota.  I see how those visits were inspiration for my thoughts through my travel blogs.  Ironically, now that I am itching to write, I have nothing to report.

Well... here is my news. I work with students who continue to delight me every day. The weather has warmed up enough to melt most of the snow and my rhubarb is starting to poke up.  Three sons remembered to phone me on my birthday, and two of them made it home for a visit last week. One son just got back from California, and another is in Chicago for the weekend.  My mother and brother are taking a short trip to Brazil, briefly visiting my other brother who lives in Sao Paulo.  We are all starting to make plans for the summer and every day I see another sign of spring.  First it was the return of the robins, now the tips of the tulips and lilies showing up in the muddy beds.  Until the weather warms up enough to work outside, I am cleaning the inside of the house with the expectation that someone will be traveling my way for a visit some time soon.