I can hardly believe how fast the days till we leave the island are ticking by. I mean, yes, I have a countdown on my phone and I'm excited to be that much closer to family, but I'm starting to get graduation goggles. this week I realized how much my life and my expectation of life has changed since I've lived here on this little caribbean island. I eat different. I shop different. I drive different. and speaking of driving, we sold our trusty little blue this week to a very nice french couple on the other side of the island. it was a bittersweet goodbye and I was surprised I didn't break down into a fit of tears right there in the middle of the crowded parking lot. I think mitch was a little surprised at how emotional I was, and that's when I realized it was my own fault. see, I sort of turned my car into a puppy. I would always say things to him, like, 'little blue, you're hungry. let's go fill you up.' and 'good job, little blue!' after he hauled us up a hilly road. or 'we're just taking you to a doctor to get your oil changed. you'll be out in a jiff.' and I realize that all of this makes me certifiably insane, but you see what I mean when I said I turned my car into a puppy. I treated him like a member of the family and it made it all the more difficult to say goodbye to him. now, on to the more happy making parts of this week.
one :: the relief of selling little blue. we were both a little worried that we'd leave here before selling him and it was stressing us both out quite a bit. and it didn't really seem possible to ship him home what with winter just around the corner. he's just a little island car, after all.
two :: finishing some of the books that I've started and never finished. mind you, I still have a ways to go, but I call it progress nonetheless and I am very excited to start something new.
three :: planning a trip to utah to see those darling little nieces and nephew of mine. I wasn't planning on making another trip to the states before our final departure in august, but my sister made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
four :: picking up french again. there was a moment the other day when it seemed everyone else in the room knew french apart from myself. I was a little disappointed in myself seeing as I was trying to pick up french a year ago, but got so far as making things plural and backed out. so this week, I spent a solid couple of hours one day relearning all of the really easy things I had already learned. seriously such a humbling experience.
five :: the little green bean plant that could. about two weeks ago, I planted him in a pot that is way too small for him (retrospectively speaking) and he just kind of shot out of nowhere. my parsley on the hand...tisk tisk.
six :: a salad so appropriate for summer you'd think it was a fourth of july delicacy all it's own. take a bed of romaine and spinach, top it with nectarines, prosciutto, a soft boiled egg, and a little red wine vinaigrette and you've got yourself one filling summery salad. even mitch said he was full.
seven :: the feeling of clean carpets. our vacuum had decided to go on strike this past couple weeks and it finally occurred to me to borrow a friend's. I can't tell you how satisfying it was to see those perfect zigzags engraved into the carpeting. my ocd was very pleased.
eight :: actually sticking to my running schedule. when I work during the week, I typically come up with other things to do with my mornings other than run (like sleep), which is not so good since I'll be running my first marathon is just under 12 weeks. but this week, I actually pulled myself out of bed and walked myself all the way down to the gym for numerous miles of running.
nine :: working as much as I am. during the busier weeks, I forget that working is a privilege. and boy, am I grateful for it. it has made our lives so much easier, less stressful, and on top of all of that, it has given me something to do.
ten :: just about the best french bakery you've ever tasted whilst not actually being in france. my friend, joanna, and I sort of found it by accident after discovering our new favorite grocery store over on the french side of our island, and they happen to make the best donuts! these donuts have been haunting my dreams ever since and I don't know how any other donut will ever compare. how am I going to leave this island if it means leaving these donuts behind? I'll have to work something out where they express me the donuts once a week or something. I'd pay extra for that. they're worth it.
this weekend will most likely consist of more running, more planting, and more painting. and mitch will do a whole lot more studying seeing as one of his biggest tests ever is on monday. keep your fingers crossed for us. or I might be too depressed to write next week's 'ten simple things.' au revoir!
love, arielle
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