I drew this image last Sunday evening, after arriving at Tahoe, very much inspired by the book 'The Fox Woman' by Kij Johnson. I wasn't feeling well to begin with, but really hoped that this week would bring some much needed rest, relaxation and healing. Little did I know that reality would give us a very different experience... I hate to subscribe to a list of 'WORST VACATION EXPERIENCES' but this one will defintely be remembered as being at the top!
Without going into too many details, we delt with a car (made in Sweden, where the hills are high and the temperatures low - at least the last time I looked they were!) deciding to die of heat exhaustion (high elevation problems...) the instant we arrived at the Hotel door, and then spending the next three days in the shop.
My lung infection turning into a severe Asthma Attack, (I am 46 and have never had Asthma!) where the doctor promptly told me - the elevation was making it worse, and the sooner I could get back to 'sea-level' the better! I've been on Oral Steroids (no small drug this!) since Wednesday, and hope to be healed by next week.
Snow, yes SNOW (and the cold temperatures to go with it) on a vacation ment for swimming, hiking, bike-riding, and laying in the sun. Yes we were in the mountians, but this is June - Honestly!!! We cuddled up inside and watched lots of Videos, did 'Dramatic Reading Contests' of Harry Potter, and played Sorry, Cards, and Scrabble. Actually Husband, Daughter and her friend did these, I was in bed constantly from Monday morning on.
So it would have been very easy for us to feel sorry for ourselves and be miserable. Husband was a true savior, dealing with Car-care, Car-rentals, 12 year old Girl Activities, Shopping, Doctors, Hospitals, etc... (as well as Principal Interviews and Summer School Administration Details via phone at home) as I lay in bed coughing and feeling horrible. His smiles and optimism kept me going and sane... despite the horrible pain my body was in.
At times like this, it is so easy to go into the "Why Me???" mode rather than just dealing with it, in the best way one can and moving on... I think my 'Fox Woman' drawing showed a bit of the duality happening inside my body - which way to go, how to feel, where to turn, who am I really right now???
Its Friday, we came home yesterday - 3 days early... My lungs are better but not well yet. I am eager to move forward, and find hope and inspiration from our trips adventures... I have a class to teach tomorrow at the Castle, that I just cannot miss, I hope my students will understand my lack of energy, as I push myself to the 'Other side of Pain!'
I leave you with these two wonderful photos taken Tuesday eveing as huge snowflakes dropped outside our door, and the girls felt so gleeful and full of fun, that they danced and ran around chasing snowflakes with their tongues enjoying the strangness and oddity of it all!!!
