Gaylord, Michigan.

So my two month sabbatical is actually coming to a close; I'm heading back to the other side of the world on Tuesday.

My first month back in the States was mostly just anxiety-filled running around; from New York, to war with the French Embassy in Chicago, to trying to spend a tiny bit of quality time with all the people I love. My second month was spent in Gaylord Michigan, where there is no anxiety because it has all been killed by frostbite and buried in the snow.

What does one do, in Gaylord Michigan in the dead of winter, you might ask?

First, you stay inside because it's been two years since you've been on the same side of the world as winter, and it is COLD.

Then, after you start to get cabin fever from staying inside, you try to venture out. That's when you either get a giant, ice-covered tree to fall on top of your car (which Sue did on her way to work), or you get your car stuck in the snow a quarter of a mile away from the house and have to wave down passers-by to help push you out again. 

(This is not actually my car because I was too freaked out to be taking pictures while we were stuck, but this was the general idea.)

After that, you accept that you will stay inside the house for the remainder of your time in Gaylord. That's when you start watching every Harry Potter movie. Twice.

After that, you do "projects." Like reorganizing your storage bins, scrapbooking your photos from the past fifteen years, or you team up with your Dad for the Ultimate Official Photo Project! We went through tons of old boxes and attempted to organized pictures and things saved from generations and generations of Damps. 

Great Grandpa and his buds in 1906

Great Grandma and her church choir friends

Great Grandpa Damp

Regular Grandpa!

Probably one of the most interesting finds was someones old gold teeth. 

One afternoon, Sue and I had a genius plot to go cash in these gold teeth and then use the money to buy Chinese food. Unfortunately, once we got to the car, we realized we did not have the right keys to the car. Or the keys to get back inside the house. Or a cell phone. Thankfully, Dad was getting off work in about a half hour (or so we thought) so we could wait. We went for a walk. We huddled in the barn, which turned out to be colder than outside, as it was an abnormally sunny day. We tried to move fallen trees from the path. An hour later, my toes were numb and it was COLD. We decided to make a fire.

Somehow, it did not work.

Dad strolled up a half hour after that. We spent the rest of the evening under our covers.

Another thing to do if you're up North is to go to Bronner's, which is the biggest Christmas store in the world. If you really want to mix things up, you should hang out in the "Around the World" section. You never know who you might meet. Sue and I went there to find a Christmas ornament from Belgium, since that's where her ancestors are from. While we were searching, some lady next to us asks "Oh, you have family from Belgium? That's random, I have a foreign exchange 'son' with me right here, from Belgium!" Since French is one of their official languages, I asked him a question, and suddenly we're having a conversation in French about Reunion Island and his studies in Michigan. Oh, the Places You'll Go....

Also I put on some snowpants and tried to build a snowman! 

Sadly, the snow was powder so instead I wrestled with the dogs.

And finally, I've had a looooot of time to think. Being back home and having these wonderful moments with my parents has made this whole moving to a far away Island thing a little more heartbreaking. Which is kind of ironic, because I kind of credit all this island stuff for the great relationship we have now. We've spent more time together since I've moved out of the country than we have during the 5 years I lived in Texas.

There's a quote that says something like "there are two gifts we should give to our children; one is roots and the other is wings." I feel really lucky that I have parents who support me in any choice I make for my life, (even one to move to the other side of the world) and have never once uttered a negative or judgmental comment about anything...even when I've messed up big. And no matter what happens, I am still welcomed with open arms any time life brings me back to Gaylord Michigan.

I've definitely gotten lost in my head a couple times, worrying about what the future looks like and what I want for it. It gets scary when you think in absolutes, like "this is what it will be like FOREVERRRRR!" Dude, who knows what the future could bring? I barely know what the next six months will look like, let alone five years from now. All I can say is that right now, I do really want to try this life out on Reunion Island with Richard. This might be "another mistake to add to my list," as my eloquent Great-Aunt recently told me in a hate mail. But honestly, that's life, and I like to take my chances. I'm okay with that. And so are the people who matter.

On an EVEN SADDER note, I can't bring Charlie with me!!!!!! I will have to leave him here until Richard can help me with him when we come visit in August.

This photo was taken just after I told Charlie that Santa isn't real.

So here's to a new year, a new chapter, and to loving, positive relationships in our lives.

Oh, and new hair. Also to new hair. Had to go back natural, hair dye is expensive on islands!!