At Last...

It's funny how a few days pass and you have so much to share that you postpone even longer. It always takes me a week or so after a trip to get back to my normal self. But...I have procrastinated long enough and I really do have tons to share. My family had decided to wait til I got home to celebrate my birthday, and they didn't disappoint. The night I got home, my dad had a chocolate strawberry cheesecake with 29 candles all prepared.I had brought my vintage cake toppers, which I must say, treated us with endless entertainment. Mumsy was especially taken with them, as we found out at breakfast.
I feel like, in order for you to realize why this trip was so special to me, I should fill you in a little. Over the past several years, "home" has not always been a place that was easy for me to go to. The last few years I lived there are flashes of illness, heartache, tragedy and confusion. When I was almost seventeen, a very dear friend of mine who suffered from severe depression, took his own life. Though this was not the cause of what would become my future path, it was a catalyst that opened up years of self doubt, anxiety and in some cases anger. I began to put the blame for my friends death onto myself; an umbrella of guilt that has only recently began to heal. After his death I developed an eating disorder, which to me, felt like the only control I had in my chaotic life. After I graduated high school, I never moved home again. I think it was just too stark a reminder of all the moments that felt so unbearable, somehow adding to my guilt. I know it was hard for my family. It wasn't them I was avoiding, but those memories. Only in the past few years, a time of immense personal growth, have I been able to go home and not have those old memories plague me. This trip was the longest period of time I have stayed at my parents since I left. Also, instead of feeling obligated to do a million things, and see a million people, I spent that time really getting to know my family...and enjoying it. So to me, every second of this trip was special.
We did have a few wonderful outings while I was there, but will save those since I have some other stuff to get to first. Like...my art swap piece from Cath at Big Cat's Emporium arrived yesterday! Woo Hoo! It is so springy and fun. I need to find a special place in my office to put it, but until then it honors the bookcase in the living room. Thanks so much Cath, I love it!
And in parting, here is a shot of what I managed to fit in my luggage. Three more packages of mostly fabric arrived yesterday from my mom, including most of the giveaway items, so that is coming real soon. Keep a look out. Also, I finished 2 more Dear Jane blocks last night, but couldn't get good pics, so as soon as I can get outside in the sun I will post those. Have a great Day everyone!