It's been like that ... and with New Zealand looming up in front of me, I'm kind of lost in these days.
There are things I want to do to wrap up the time spent with 4 incredible women on the photography workshop in Genova, Italy.
And there are things I must do before arriving in New Zealand next week.
And then there are the things to do Now ... between returning from Italy and leaving for the 'uttermost ends of the earth'. (An inscription I remember reading on a world war one memorial to New Zealand soldiers who died in Turkey ... they came from the uttermost ends of the earth.)
New Zealand is 12 hours ahead of Belgium and it's summer there ... meanwhile Antwerp is disappearing into the fog and freezing of November.
I am digging out summer clothes even as I have winter clothes repaired and readied for my return in January.
I am so deeply deeply saddened by the deaths of so many Palestinians but that is my facebook self and not for here, in this politically-free zone.
We have someone to take care of our house. And all is organised in terms of travel bookings.
I have some of the best people I've ever known waiting for us to arrive in New Zealand. I'll see my sister for the first time in 8 years. My dad too. One of my brothers, and my beloved Auntie Coral. I will take that Belgian bloke on a road trip round the South Island so that he knows me in the context of the place I was born ... so different to where I am now. I love that 2000km drive, past so many different beaches, stopping to visit with Hunter and Clare in Fiordland, with Rozanna and David in Marlborough, catching up with Dave and Jude, Corryl, with Abe, with my nieces who are 8 years older. With my ex-mother-in-law, the one that I kept and who stayed with us a summer or two ago. With my sister-in-law, Sue, whom I adore. I will see nieces, old friends, and people I have loved since forever.
Fiona ... she is the friend of myth and legend. Surely the best kind of friend you could dream of finding in a lifetime, friends since we were 13 ... she and her kiwi bloke have found us a car.
I can't wait to see all that has changed and revisit those things that have remained the same ... but I will, as there's 23 hours in the air before I get to see them all.
Peter and Christine ... how do I write of what good people they are ... they're waiting to meet us in Auckland and wanted to drive us through the North Island to their home in Wellington.
My cup overflows.
Can you tell?
These days are extreme. Just a few more then I fly to the country pictured below. David Wall took this photograph. I love his work, so much and this ... it's New Zealand. I'm looking forward to going home. It's been far too long.
