Sad monkey?

So, as I mentioned in this post, a very wonderful friend of mine has headed off to Japan for a few months and then back "home" to work and re-group.

But not before spending a week with me. A WHOLE WEEK! In my apartment, enjoying my life with me. And you know what? I really enjoyed having someone around. It was nice to feel like a part of a whole, y’know?

We had some great chats and spent a lot more time than I would have expected, in the mall of all places.

We enjoyed massages at the spa and good meals at home and a few drinks on Friday night. A few too many, I should say...(that's another story.)

I was absolutely okay as we drove to the airport.

I was absolutely okay as we checked him in and sorted out his bags.

I was absolutely okay as we walked to security.

I was moderately okay as he kissed me goodbye and headed to his gate.

I was less-than-moderately okay throughout the day as I got text updates from him before he left North America.

I was definitely not okay when the workday closed and I realized I was going home to an empty apartment.

I was less-than-definitely-not-okay as I got in the car.

(I cried. A lot. All the way home! I can admit it!)

And I was sad when I got home.

I couldn’t eat.

I had a beer, but it didn’t help.

I talked on the phone, twice, with my best friend (who happens to be his very dearest friend as well).

I toddled off to bed around 8PM after contemplating writing sad, emo poetry.

I fell asleep instantly.
I am sure that this had to do with the fact that I hadn’t slept well the night before and was up at 5am.

I let myself be sad on Tuesday. I let myself feel the weight of his absence and grieve the loss of having someone to hang out with.  I let myself feel sorry for myself and I let myself sit on the couch in sweatpants watching trashy MTV Reality shows.

On Wednesday, I pulled it together. I got up early, I made breakfast, I styled my hair and I put on a cute outfit (I promise I’ll start doing outfit pics reallyreallyreallysoon) and I went to work. And I smiled. I checked the time in Tokyo three or four times, wondered if he’d made it all okay and whether or not he was safe. I texted with my best friend and we had some laughs. I teared up a few times during the day and my nose had that prickly-I’m-gonna-cry feeling twice. But I didn’t cry.

This is a really exciting adventure for him and a truly wonderful opportunity for me to refocus and re-centre myself for the year ahead.

But I was a bit of a sad monkey.

And that, friends, is okay.

Elsie P

PS – How do you deal with being sad?

Thankful Thursday

It's baaaaa-aaack!

After a brief hiatus, Thankful Thursday has once again returned to grace the pages of Real Life.

And I will endeavor to do this EVERY Thursday going forward. 

Yaaay! 

So, what am I thankful for today? 

Well, I have a very (new) dear friend of mine here to visit.

He is making his way to the far east to embark on a journey of epic proportions. 

Well, I don't know if you would think it's epic, but I sure do!

He's headed here:

To study this:

In case your geography is a little rusty, that would be Kyoto, Japan...which isn't exactly where he's headed...Japan yes. Kyoto, not really. 

And the sport pictured is Kendo The Japanese Art of Sword fighting. 

Cool, huh?

And! He bought me a Christmas present (which was totally unnecessary, btw) and it's beautiful.

It's a Swarovski crystal that is designed to reflect negative energy away.

So, I am thankful for this guy today.

Thankful that he would stop in and visit before he disappears for an indeterminate amount of time. 

See, our friend group resides in another province roughly 2600kms away from me. 

So he's said all his goodbyes to the rest of our group but I was unable to attend his going away ceremony. Graciously, he tacked on an extra few days to his journey and stopped in here, leaving family and friends behind, to spend his final days in Canada with me!

So don't I feel special!!

Elsie P

PS - What are you thankful for today?