I am an Island.... Girl

It is Saturday...
It is SATURDAY... already?
Time is a wondrous idea.... the days have gone by quickly
while time has seemingly stood still

Adventure to Delma Island on Monday, last Monday,
with a return on Wednesday.
Two days that felt like forever
and still seem to me as a dream.

It is a beautiful island...
with much growth about to occur.

The water is inviting and I could have stayed in it all day,
if I had a hat... (hat is purchased, a new one for the water)
The company of two other teachers that will be there, was great.
The transportation might be interesting to figure out...
if only there were golf carts there... or a Segway or a Vespa...
we will see.

As we have been told, asked, and experienced..
there is little to do there other than spend time at the beach.
Not many shops,
only one grocery store,
a women's gym, that we did not see except from afar,
a beautiful park, but it was much too hot to spend anytime outside
without being in the water.

We were there during EID which is the end celebration of Ramadan
Nothing was open except during the evening
and the first night we explored the Co-op grocery store
and the second night it was closed,
but the ice cream shop was open.
On Wednesday morning I was very ready to be back in Abu Dhabi.

So in the three days I have been at my hotel in Abu Dhabi
I contemplated my choice of the island when asked if anyone wanted to go there...
It is certainly clear to me why others did not choose it
and why I did choose it.
I can't wait to be there now...
and at the moment
I am playing the Patience Game
Wait, wait, wait, and when you think you can't stand it any more
Wait some more....
I am not antsy, or nervous, or freaking out...
I am just excited about
meeting the locals on the Island
Teaching the children
sitting on the beach
floating on the water
practicing my darts
working out
and
having the time of my life...
because

I am an Island Girl... through and through

Easy as Pie

Chocolate Icebox Pie from the Tip Top Cafe in San Antonio

Having never lived outside of Texas, much less the United States, you might think I would be nervous, or scared, or even a bit looney.

When in fact, it has been quite easy (after jumping through all the proverbial hoops) to prepare for and look forward to. Saying goodbye hasn't even been difficult, because I feel like I will communicate with everyone easily enough once I am in Abu Dhabi.
It has been a whirlwind-ish two weeks, filled with time with friends, meals at favorite restaurants and attention to the details of having "it" all together and ready to go.

Now, some darn good meals, some much more expensive than others have passed my lips of late.
However, the tastiest was the tried and true Tip Top Cafe. My friend, RJ, introduced me to the (or one of the) oldest and best restaurants I know, so it was only fitting that we go there as our last outing before I leave the country. Onion rings to start, as usual, tough decision on the dinner but we both ordered the chopped steak (best anywhere) with brown gravy and grilled onions. But nothing beats their chocolate ice box pie. I order mine as soon as I sit down, because they tend to sell out sometimes, and I missed it one time.... learned my lesson then. It is so loved and ordered often that you can't even buy a whole pie, and they limit how many pieces one person can order to eat in, or carry out.

As each delicious morsel melted in my mouth, thoughts of Ya (my mother) came to mind and how she enjoyed her cream pies right up until the end. A tear started to form, and then RJ and I discussed regular business of the day and my sentimental thoughts dissipated.

A few days later, while enjoying a decadent meal with another old friend, he shared how his mother's doctor, who is German, gave her advise to move towards quality of life and not quantity of life, as she is in her 80's. It was so heartwarming to hear a Dr. thought what my mom and I thought after we found out her days were numbered and her pleasures few.

When my days are numbered, please do not deny me pie or other decadence. I am here for the quality of life, not quantity.

Now, as I board a plane tomorrow, keep in mind, I love all my friends, my boys, and those who have truly touched my life and are now gone from it, for whatever reason. My choice to leave, whether you agree with it or not, is MY choice. Because I choose quality of life and adventure of seeing new places, meeting new people and learning new things, preparing for it and looking forward to it was as easy as pie and just as sweet.

Late Night Ramble

Everyday
everyday I think of things
I want to write about
in 500 words or so
and when I sit down at the computer
they are gone
sometimes I think about them for days
and finally get them out of my head
and on the screen,
but not to the extent of my other blogs
where there are some days
of two or three posts...
or there were
a few years ago...

In three days
 I leave for Abu Dhabi
in the Middle East
where I am told
I am as safe as I am in the US
as long as I follow the rule
"when in Rome..."

Many thoughts resurface
of big changes I have experienced
in the not so distant past
that didn't turn out the way I wanted
or even resembling anything "good"

at least
not at the time

and then I am reminded
that to become stronger
we must face adversity...
well I know I haven't seen as much adversity
as many people
but I think I have seen enough
to feel like an amazon
strong enough
to take anything on...

This move is for many reasons

The first is to
satisfy my adventurous spirit
of seeing the world
and having the opportunity to do it

The second is
 to have a chance to continue teaching

It became abundantly clear
in the last 8 months

as I searched
 to find myself
regain:
myself,
my inner strength,
my life,
my sanity

that there are many things
I CAN do
and I might enjoy doing
but the one thing
I truly WANT to do
is teach
and to teach very young children

and that just wasn't going to happen
in Texas
any time soon,

The third is the opportunity to save
over half of my salary
pay no taxes on it
have housing provided
and still be able to travel
to anywhere I want
with reasonable costs

the short list
of travel destinations?

Italy
Germany
France
Greece
Australia
New Zealand

So, three great reasons to work overseas
plus, children are grown
no grandchildren in the next several (please) years
parents are both dead
Unattached with no plans to be
anything else again...
It truly is
a great time to have
The adventure of a lifetime

and then return to the states
when I have saved enough to retire
and start a whole new adventure
living off grid
with no bills


that is the plan...

Let's Roll

Time for Adventure

An adventure of my dreams.
The road awaits. Which road? Route 66
The original dream of driving Route 66 was to start in Chicago and drive all the way to Santa Monica Pier. So, the next best thing will be to start in Amarillo on the infamous 6th street, historic Rte 66, and former home of a business I owned and ran for 3 years in my younger days.

The reason for the adventure at this time?
A Bigger Adventure
which requires me to leave my vehicle with my oldest son, for I will have no need for it and no place to park it for at least two years.
So, to Seattle I trek, via Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway with stops in between.
Tomorrow I travel to Lubbock to see friends and drop off some items for safe keeping.
Hopefully I will leave very early and arrive around lunch time.
With two weeks to get there and another week before I fly back, much fun and excitement will ensue.