The Rush to Relax

What a nice weekend. Unfortunately, it was over all too soon.

I've come to the conclusion that home is where I go to regain my sense of balance, to reevaluate where I'm at in life and where I want to go. I always feel a sense of peace when I go back home, but at the same time, I couldn't live there again. It's great for visiting and remembering, but I as a person no longer "fit" with it.

Western Nebraska is different from Eastern Nebraska - as night and day, as the old saying goes. W. Nebraska is poorer, the land is not as rich, and it is sparsely populated in some areas, giving you the feeling that you are literally out in the middle of nowhere. The prairie stretches out in endless desolation in some areas, with not a tree in sight. The grass has not yet turned green and when it does, it won't stay green for long if the drought continues. My brother continually wages a war against the weather in an attempt to produce a good crop for the year. But there is hail and wind and drought to fight.

In contrast, E. Nebraska is hilly, full of trees, with lush, green grass—and people. Farming is more prosperous here and so are people's attitudes. I live in the city, but the countryside around me is truly God's country. But there is a vibrancy to the city that I simply love. I desribed it to my family as a thrum, a heartbeat, that I have come to crave. Yes, we have a lot of the same weather as in the western part - drought is always a hard thing to contend with on either end of the state - but the mentality in E. Nebraska is also different. More positive, upbeat. Not as laid back. Willing to get things done and done now. Ready to embrace change.

But there's something about sitting on my dad's front porch or my brother's deck and gazing out over the pasture, seeing the horizon, the magnificent blue sky, listening to the cow's mooing, the sound of the wind, that brings me peace. However, it's not long before I crave the thrum of the city again. I'm very glad that I can have both.

The weekend was wonderful. My daughter was enthralled with the ten baby kittens that my brother's two farm cats had, and she kept visiting them throughout the weekend. My family had lunch together on Saturday and then headed over to visit my grandfather who is in the nursing home. He was doing so well - I nearly cried while sitting there visiting with him. It's been so touch and go with him the past few years that I treasure every moment I'm able to spend with him.

My daughter and my niece colored eggs and then later that evening, my two brothers and my niece and I played a game of "knock out" on the basketball hoop outside. I definitely got my exercise! But it was so much fun just to hang out with my brothers. I don't get to do that very often!

Easter Sunday was very nice - church together as a family, a lovely dinner (and my granfather was able to come out to the farmhouse where he grew up and where my brother now lives), an Easter egg hunt for the kids, lots of good food, beautiful weather, and good conversation.

I really didn't want to come home yesterday. I felt so peaceful and relaxed - I could have used a few more days of that!

But when we got home, we had another surprise - my husband's cat had her kitties that very day - four little tiny fluff balls. They are so cute!

I'm dragging today - we got home after 11 p.m. and I know I didn't go to sleep until after midnight. There's something about driving for five hours that wears you out and also keys you up at the same time. I needed to destress a bit, and I really didn't get the chance to do that. It could be that I was actually working on my plot while riding in the car - and I got my fight scene choreographed. Yay! Now I just have to write it. :-)

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!