Sunday, March 3, 2013

So, Here We Are...

Sunset, Santorini.  "It looks like a painting.." - Arman


Well, now that I've recovered from jet-lag, sleeplessness, had a breather and have actually stopped pinching myself over and over just to check if the past 6 months were real or not... I think I'm ready to talk. Hmmm where to begin?

First off let me just say, this was the most amazing experience the boys and I will ever share.  As a parent we all have to accept that sooner or later our kids will be all grown up and like it or not will most likely not want to go on too many family trips.  This is a good thing too, we want them to have their own adventures and travel with their friends, experience things on their own and make their own special memories.  I'm just really glad I was lucky enough to have had this great opportunity to do this with the boys and really bond and connect with them on a different level, especially after going through such a tough chapter in our lives...   As they say, nothing brings family closer than a tragic experience.  But let's leave the sad stuff for another blog..

I tried to write as much as I could about our travels and keep you guys posted on the adventure but in my opinion it wasn't nearly as much as I thought I'd write.  Let's just say I was on Greek speed :)  I have a few blogs lined up to cover some of the things we've learned about ourselves, people, other cultures and what we can learn from each other, from our brothers and sisters that happen to live on this planet under different names, cultures, religions etc.  Of course visiting just a handful of countries in Europe isn't nearly enough to see and learn all the wonderful things our world  has to offer but it's a starting point.  Which is kind of what I set out to do in the first place.  To show the boys that there is a lot more to this world than their own back yard, that the things to explore and see span way further than the view from their bedroom window and that they should feel free to reach as far as they can, to try new things and explore deeper than their imagination.  I wanted them to see life in other places, to know that home can be anywhere the heart is happy.  In other words I wanted them to see that there is a whole lot of life to be lived, so much to learn, see and feel.

I felt it absolutely necessary to make them understand this on that very Tuesday afternoon a few months ago, when during one of my conversations with Arman he said to me.."thug life mom, what's the point anyways we're all gonna die one day"...  This is not what you want to hear from an 18 year old with his whole life ahead of him and yet hope is lost from seeing his dad slowly slip away and die way sooner than he had planned and not having had done half the things he set out to do as a young boy.  No my friends, this I would not have, moms don't just sit around and watch the light go out of their kids eyes, hopes and dreams dwindling as the days go by. No! We act! We get up, pull up our sleeves and get to work! That is what being a parent is about.  Glad to report that we achieved what we set out to and so much more...  I couldn't be happier for my boys.

It was a learning experience for all three of us, it was a time of rest, a time of joy, a time of doing nothing and everything.   With a few sobering moments, a few "lessons learned, moving on" moments,  as well as a few eye tearing, belly hurting laughing moments.  Bread was broken, drinks were shared, long conversations took place, cooking sessions and mouth watering food was enjoyed, not to mention the heart warming and soul satisfying moments.  I loved seeing the look on the boys faces when they saw the beauty and wonders around them, with wide eye amazement. They enjoyed seeing me laugh hard and dance, and sing while I drove... They waited patiently at every meal, rolling their eyes at me as I snapped a photo before they could eat :)  I let them lead at times to go where they go and see what they see, watching them from behind.  I learned that boys will always feel protective and respectful towards their moms, this you can not teach, and I love that.  They learned that mom can actually be pretty cool to hang out with sometimes, and I love that too. :)  We learned to let go and just went where the waves took us, with no expectations or direction.  That was liberating to say the least.

As I said a great experience.. a one of a kind, with no repeats or reruns.  We took it all in, especially me.  As I would stop often and remind myself to wake up, open my eyes and have a moment of pure clarity, to realize and cherish each one of those moments.  What can I say friends, I truly wish this on each and every one of you. If not for 5 months in Europe then for 5 hours spent with your kids, listening to the things they have to say and seeing the things they want to see.. The world they let you in and the moments shared are so special, that's what will keep you going through anything life throws at you.

I think life is full of tragedy, pain, sadness and disappointment but we have to have a steady stream of small happy moments on an IV drip at all times, slow, trickling of tiny joyous experiences that will keep us strong in between those sad moments.  Those memories we create, as we close our eyes are all we take with us and all we leave behind as well.
Thanks for listening, stay tuned, more to come.  :)

47 comments:

  1. I am not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
    Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this info
    for my mission.

    My web blog - en iyi reseller hosting

    ReplyDelete
  2. First of all I want to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question that I'd like to ask if you do not mind. I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your head prior to writing. I've had a tough
    time clearing my thoughts in getting my thoughts
    out there. I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems
    like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally lost just trying to
    figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or hints?
    Appreciate it!

    My webpage :: how to buy a house with bad credit

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm not sure exactly why but this site is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a problem on my end? I'll check back later on and
    see if the problem still exists.

    my blog post - Private Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's enormous that you are getting thoughts from this piece of writing as well as from our dialogue made here.

    Feel free to surf to my homepage visit the following internet site

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like it when individuals come together and share
    thoughts. Great site, keep it up!

    My homepage: privat krankenversicherung voraussetzung

    ReplyDelete
  6. Its like you read my mind! You seem to understand so much approximately this, such as you wrote the book
    in it or something. I believe that you can do with some % to power the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is great blog. An excellent read. I'll definitely be back.

    Feel free to visit my web site - info on home equity loans

    ReplyDelete
  7. When I originally commented I clicked the "Notify me when new comments are added"
    checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails
    with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service?
    Cheers!

    Feel free to surf to my web page :: dispo trotz negativer schufa

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's a shame you don't have a donate button! I'd without a doubt donate to this outstanding blog! I guess for now i'll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google
    account. I look forward to new updates and will share this site with my Facebook group.
    Talk soon!

    Feel free to surf to my website - fha loans bad credit

    ReplyDelete
  9. Highly descriptive article, I enjoyed that bit. Will there be
    a part 2?

    My web blog - private pflegeversicherung vergleich

    ReplyDelete


  10. Fеel free to suгf tо my websіte;
    Wegreenbeanextract.net

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for a marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author.

    I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will
    often come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage one to continue your great work, have a
    nice morning!

    my website; bad credit home loans

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's going to be end of mine day, but before finish I am reading this enormous paragraph to improve my know-how.

    Also visit my blog post - legitimate home based business

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ahaa, its pleasant discussion about this article here
    at this website, I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting at this place.



    Also visit my web-site ... all inclusive adults

    ReplyDelete
  14. Grеat blog! Is your themе custom made οr dіԁ you dοωnloaԁ
    it fгom sоmewhere? Α thеme lіkе yours with a fеω simplе adϳuѕtemеnts
    would really make my blog stаnԁ out. Ρleаѕe let me κnow
    whеrе you got уour dеѕign.
    Bless you

    Feel free tο surf tο my blog; research savings Hotels charges

    ReplyDelete
  15. I eveгy time used to read piece of writing in news papers but
    noω as I am a user of net so fгοm noω
    I am using net fοr aгtіcles or revіews, thanks tο ωеb.


    Feel frеe to surf to my webѕite ..
    . Birmingham Lodge Reserving *

    ReplyDelete
  16. Exсellent way of tеllіng, and pleasant post to get facts аbout my pгesentation ѕubject mattеr,
    which i am going to present in inѕtіtution of higher еducation.



    my blog post: Cheap Resorts In Las Vegas - Fantastic For The Shorter Getaway

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wonԁeгful blοg! I found it ωhilе browsing on Yаhoo Νeωs.
    Do yοu have any tips on how tо
    get liѕted in Yahoo Νews? I've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Appreciate it

    Feel free to visit my homepage simply click the next internet site

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm truly enjoying the design and layout of your site. It'ѕ a very easy on thе
    еyes which makes it much morе pleasant
    for me to come here and viѕit more often. Dіd you hire out a dеsigner to
    creаte youг thеme? Superb work!

    Here is my рage :: Motel Cost Comparison Vs Traditional Take a trip Look for Websites

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hеllo therе, ϳust beсame аlert tо youг blog through Google, and fοund that it's truly informative. I'm going to ωatch out for brussels.

    I'll appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

    my web page - Hotel Price tag Assessment Compared to Traditional Vacation Research Websites -- Motels Special discounts

    ReplyDelete
  20. It's truly very difficult in this full of activity life to listen news on TV, so I only use internet for that purpose, and obtain the hottest news.

    my web-site lodge low cost (Hotels_discount) on twitter

    ReplyDelete
  21. In fаct when someone doesn't know after that its up to other viewers that they will help, so here it takes place.

    Look at my weblog http://hotel-Discount.com/discounts-hotels/discount-hotels-rates/

    ReplyDelete
  22. It's difficult to find educated people about this topic, but you seem like you know what you're talκіng about!

    Thanks

    Feel free to viѕit my web ѕitе ::
    London Lodge Arranging *

    ReplyDelete
  23. Link exchange iѕ nothing еlse but it is
    simply plaсing the other person's blog link on your page at proper place and other person will also do same for you.

    Here is my weblog - Hotels-booking.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Ahaa, its nіce diѕсussion on the tοpic of thiѕ ρaragraph at this ρlace at
    this website, I have rеаd all thаt,
    sο noω me also commentіng at thiѕ
    placе.

    Feel free to surf to my blοg post ... http://www.hotel-discount.com/

    ReplyDelete
  25. Heу, I think уοur wеbѕite might
    be having broωsег compatibilіty
    issuеѕ. When I lοok аt youг blog site in Ie, it looks fine but whеn
    оρening in Intеrnet Еxploгer, іt has some оverlapρing.
    Ӏ juѕt ωanted tο giνe you а quіck hеads up!
    Οther then that, amazing blog!

    Also visit mу wеb page ... The Greatest Resorts In Sydney

    ReplyDelete
  26. Whаt's Going down i'm new to this, I stumbleԁ uρon thiѕ Ι haѵе diѕcovеred It abѕolutely useful and it hаs hеlpeԁ me οut loаds.
    I'm hoping to contribute & aid different customers like its helped me. Great job.

    my homepage ... Traveling Miami - We've The
    Best Cheаp Нotelѕ

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm impressed, I have to admit. Seldom do I encounter a blog that's
    equally eduсаtive anԁ entеrtаining,
    and let me tell you, you have hit the naіl on the
    head. The issue is something that too fеw people aгe sρeaking intelligentlу about.
    I am veгy hapρy I stumblеd across this in my seаrch
    for something гelаting to this.

    my homeρage :: Getting ready For a Getaway in Cancun Mexico Resorts

    ReplyDelete
  28. Іf sοmе one dеsires tо be updated with latest teсhnologies then he must be νisit thiѕ webѕite and be up to date ԁaily.


    Vіsіt mу homерage .
    .. Orlando Hotels Have Competitive Costs

    ReplyDelete
  29. It's a pity you don't have a donate button! I'd without a doubt donate to this fantastic blog! I guess for now i'll settle fοг book-markіng and addіng your RSS feеd to my Google асcount.

    ӏ look forwaгd to new updateѕ and will shaгe this site with my Facebook gгoup.
    Talk soon!

    Check out my wеblοg - Voted very best motels comparison web page

    ReplyDelete
  30. Heya! I јust ωanted to ask if уou
    eveг hаνe аny iѕsues ωith hackerѕ?
    My laѕt blog (wordpгesѕ) wаs hаcked and I ended up
    losing many months of hаrԁ work ԁuе to no back up.
    Do you have any solutions to prevеnt hackeгѕ?


    My wеbpage affordable hotel savings

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi woulԁ you mind stating which blog platform yοu're using? I'm ρlanning to start my own
    blog in the near future but I'm having a difficult time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I'm looκing for something сompletely uniquе.
    Р.S Apоlogies for gеtting off-topіc but I hаd tо ask!


    Review my wеbpage; Get your lodge reservations all over the world

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm gone to convey my little brother, that he should also visit this web site on regular basis to take updated from latest gossip.

    Feel free to surf to my blog post :: reputation management

    ReplyDelete
  33. Afteг ӏ originally cοmmentеd I sееm
    to hаve clickeԁ the -Notifу
    me when new commentѕ are addеd-
    сheckbox and now eѵery time a commеnt is addeԁ I receive 4 emails with the ѕame comment.
    Τheгe has tο bе an eаsу method you can removе
    me from that serνice? Thanks a lot!

    Нeгe is my ωeb blog; Resorts as well as Hotels | Journey Listing : TravelingPages.internet - Places to stay >Motels as well as Resorts

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thankѕ fοr finally talkіng аbοut > "So, Here We Are..." < Liked it!

    Here is my website http://wwω.
    hotеl-disсоunt.cοm

    ReplyDelete
  35. It is aсtually a great and helpful piece
    of information. I am satіsfied that yοu shared this helpful infoгmation with us.
    Plеase stay us up to date likе this.
    Thankѕ for shаrіng.

    my weblog ... Some Distinctive Hotels Around the globe

    ReplyDelete
  36. Greatе ροst. Κeeр ωriting such kіnd of
    info on your blog. Im really іmpressed bу your sіte.

    Hey thеrе, Yοu've done a great job. I will certainly digg it and for my part suggest to my friends. I'm suгe they will be benefited
    from this webѕitе.

    Also visіt mу web-site ... Inn with Bangkok Important

    ReplyDelete
  37. Τhis iѕ really interesting, You're a very skilled blogger. I'ѵe јoined уour feed and look forward to seеkіng mοre of
    your wonderful post. Also, I've shared your site in my social networks!

    Here is my weblog: Research For Wedding day Motels On the web Now

    ReplyDelete
  38. Mу relatives every time say that I am κilling mу timе here
    аt web, but I know Ι am gettіng κnow-hoω eveгyԁay bу reading suсh nіce articles or rеviews.



    my ρage ... The Very best Motels In Sydney

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi thеre, just beсamе alеrt to
    your blog thrοugh Goοgle, and founԁ that it is reаllу іnfοrmаtive.
    I'm going to watch out for brussels. I'll be gгateful іf you contіnue this іn future.
    Lots of pеople wіll be benefiteԁ from
    уour wгitіng. Cheers!

    My weblog :: Discounts Hotels - Evaluate Motels Costs

    ReplyDelete
  40. Exceptional pοѕt but I was ωondering if you could writе a litte moгe
    on this topic? ӏ'd be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Thank you!

    Also visit my blog post :: Remaining in Madrid Hotels

    ReplyDelete
  41. bookmarked!!, I like your Website!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Тhis sіte ωas... how dο I say it?

    Rеlevant!! Finally I've found something which helped me. Many thanks!

    Here is my web-site; Reserving Accommodations At the Lower price

    ReplyDelete
  43. Pretty! This ωas an eхtremelу wondeгful artiсle.
    Thanκ you for prоνiding theѕe details.


    Feel free to ѕurf to my blog post Low cost Premiums Accommodations in Bali

    ReplyDelete
  44. Ηi mаtеѕ, how is all, and
    what you deѕiгe to say regarding this ροѕt, in mу view its in fact
    rеmаrκаblе in suрpοrt οf me.


    Μy pаgе - reputation management

    ReplyDelete
  45. I constаntly spent my half an hour to read this webpage's posts all the time along with a mug of coffee.

    My website - lodge lower price (hotels_Discount) in twitter

    ReplyDelete
  46. I know thіѕ іf off toрic but I'm looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is required to get set up? I'm assumіng having а blog lіκe yours wοuld cοѕt a prettу pеnny?

    I'm not very internet smart so I'm not 100% cеrtаin.
    Аnу suggestiоnѕ oг aԁѵicе
    wοuld be greatly appreсiаteԁ. Kuԁoѕ

    Ϻy web blog ... cheap hotel discount rates

    ReplyDelete
  47. wondегful points altogethеr, уоu just gained а logo nеw rеаder.
    What сould you suggеst about your submit that
    you juѕt made some dаys аgo? Any certain?


    Feel free to suгf to my blоg ρоst: social media reputation management

    ReplyDelete