Left Brain left me recently. Oh, it's okay, he's back home again, he only flew back to Minneapolis to escort the kids back home. Hmmm. I'm living with a personal escort...that sounds more exciting.
Anyway, I digress. He was only gone for three days but I learned a lot about myself during that time. I never thought I'd be lonely, and this was the first time I truly experienced that feeling.
When we had the "sticks and bricks" house he would be gone for up to two months at a time and I was just fine with that. I had lots to do and friends nearby to pass the time. I also had the two cats for most of this time and then She Devil at the end. This was so different.
It was the first time in eight months that we had spent a night apart. I had no idea all the odd sounds the RV was capable of making. It wasn't that I had any fear for my personal safety or anything, this park is about as safe as you can get. It just felt so hollow, so quiet, so empty.
But I busied myself with taking preparing for our next move in the middle of the month. I figured out a new arrangement for the kitchen table to maximize space for the computers and eating. This involved many shopping trips and return visits to get rid of what didn't work, which oddly coincideded with lunch time.
I cleaned out the Arizona room, I dumped the holding tanks, swept the patio, rearranged the patio furniture and cleaned out the fridge. The recycling and trash were taken in and the RV cleaned up. Now what do I do?
Although it was nice to have complete quiet after the family left and my brain could begin to function again, it felt like something was missing. It did give me an opportunity to learn more about the TV and how to operate it. And I finally went through the instruction manual on cd for the GPS and understand it better.
But he was only gone three days and soon it was time to pick him up at the airport. Sister Mary went with me to retrieve him and that was such a good thing. In my compulsion to have everything shipshape for his return I decided last minute to haul the trash to the dumpster on the way to pick her up. Ah, all is complete and ready for his return!
We got tothe cell phone lot in Phoenix and what a marvel this was. All the cars face the large screen announcing arrivals and I had a sense of deja vu. Except for the clunky metal speaker hooked on to the window it felt very much like being at a drive in movie. I should have brought popcorn.
Oh scrap the popcorn...I should have brought my phone! I was so smug with all my preparations and I was just telling her how I made sure the phone was all charged up and ready to go when I realized my purse was missing. Huh? Oh no. It was either sitting on the couch at home or on the patio next to where the trash cans were. I have no drivers license or phone. Oh this is just wonderful.
To be in a cell phone lot with no phone is like sitting in a toilet stall with no paper.
Thank goodness she had her phone with her, but it was almost dead. After rummaging around in the car I found the phone charger and adapter and miracle of miracle it actually fit her phone. We turned the car on for a while to make sure it was charging the phone and sat back to wait. Wouldn't that be the utter insult to be able to get the call but have the car battery dead. The way things were going I wasn't taking any changes. She called and left a message for Left Brain to call her number when he arrived without going into a lot of details, bless her heart.
He arrived right on time and we headed out to pick him up. Thankfully Sister Mary has been here countless times to pick up people and knew exactly where to go. We found him quickly and scooped him up to head back home.
After we were settled in again I told him of my loneliness. To put it into perspective I advised him that if he had been gone for another day or two he would have returned to an RV with new cats. I don't think he'll leave me again.
Long Live the Lonely Queen
Anyway, I digress. He was only gone for three days but I learned a lot about myself during that time. I never thought I'd be lonely, and this was the first time I truly experienced that feeling.
When we had the "sticks and bricks" house he would be gone for up to two months at a time and I was just fine with that. I had lots to do and friends nearby to pass the time. I also had the two cats for most of this time and then She Devil at the end. This was so different.
It was the first time in eight months that we had spent a night apart. I had no idea all the odd sounds the RV was capable of making. It wasn't that I had any fear for my personal safety or anything, this park is about as safe as you can get. It just felt so hollow, so quiet, so empty.
But I busied myself with taking preparing for our next move in the middle of the month. I figured out a new arrangement for the kitchen table to maximize space for the computers and eating. This involved many shopping trips and return visits to get rid of what didn't work, which oddly coincideded with lunch time.
I cleaned out the Arizona room, I dumped the holding tanks, swept the patio, rearranged the patio furniture and cleaned out the fridge. The recycling and trash were taken in and the RV cleaned up. Now what do I do?
Although it was nice to have complete quiet after the family left and my brain could begin to function again, it felt like something was missing. It did give me an opportunity to learn more about the TV and how to operate it. And I finally went through the instruction manual on cd for the GPS and understand it better.
But he was only gone three days and soon it was time to pick him up at the airport. Sister Mary went with me to retrieve him and that was such a good thing. In my compulsion to have everything shipshape for his return I decided last minute to haul the trash to the dumpster on the way to pick her up. Ah, all is complete and ready for his return!
We got tothe cell phone lot in Phoenix and what a marvel this was. All the cars face the large screen announcing arrivals and I had a sense of deja vu. Except for the clunky metal speaker hooked on to the window it felt very much like being at a drive in movie. I should have brought popcorn.
Oh scrap the popcorn...I should have brought my phone! I was so smug with all my preparations and I was just telling her how I made sure the phone was all charged up and ready to go when I realized my purse was missing. Huh? Oh no. It was either sitting on the couch at home or on the patio next to where the trash cans were. I have no drivers license or phone. Oh this is just wonderful.
To be in a cell phone lot with no phone is like sitting in a toilet stall with no paper.
Thank goodness she had her phone with her, but it was almost dead. After rummaging around in the car I found the phone charger and adapter and miracle of miracle it actually fit her phone. We turned the car on for a while to make sure it was charging the phone and sat back to wait. Wouldn't that be the utter insult to be able to get the call but have the car battery dead. The way things were going I wasn't taking any changes. She called and left a message for Left Brain to call her number when he arrived without going into a lot of details, bless her heart.
He arrived right on time and we headed out to pick him up. Thankfully Sister Mary has been here countless times to pick up people and knew exactly where to go. We found him quickly and scooped him up to head back home.
After we were settled in again I told him of my loneliness. To put it into perspective I advised him that if he had been gone for another day or two he would have returned to an RV with new cats. I don't think he'll leave me again.
Long Live the Lonely Queen
I have walked a mile in your "left my phone at home" shoes ... I LOL when I read your story. I wasn't laughing, though, that you were lonely, because that is not a comfortable feeling. I have walked in those shoes as well and heard the same myriad of sounds that I had never heard when my Hubby was home.
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful way with words. You can tell a story and make me laugh and make me cry. Somehow I think our lives are so connected, so the same in many ways and yet different (your husband is left brained and mine is right ... and I have cats:) . Other than that, though we clearly have come from different places, we have ended up much the same. I think you have come from hard work and growth and I had something of a free ride ... not all of it, but mostly. Good for you Queen of Everything ...
Andrea @ From The Sol
I get rude every time I write a comment, push Publish and that thing comes up that I have to complete before you will see what I wrote. Is there not some way of disposing of it? There have been times when it took me up to six tries to get it right ... I think I am either blind or stupid. It is all right if you leave it there as long as you understand that I am cursing the whole time I am trying to solve it :) Since I am generally a nice person ... that's on you :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea
funny story, it made me laugh. keep the stories coming.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, you have done it again, touched hearts, made us laugh. And yes, it's difficult not having a cuddly cat, and when it is time, some day, you can have one or two or more felines, again...meanwhile, hang in there, and thanks so much for taking time to make all our lives more interesting, by sharing yours. pond lois in la crosse
ReplyDeleteI, too, have gone off somewhere and left my phone at home. Isn't it weird how vulnerable one feels without access to that cellphone? It's sort of like that when you take my car away. As long as it is parked right outside my door, I feel free.
ReplyDeleteI think being alone somewhere in an RV, as opposed to being alone in a familiar "house" in a familiar neighborhood, would definitely make one more aware of being lonely. I would have definitely had a hard time with that one. You're a very brave Queen. Now I think I'll curl up on the sofa and watch "Chopped". You have a great night, hugs, Edna B.
Ahh, new experiences. Enjoy the return of your "escort" Well put!
ReplyDelete