Home for a rest

There was a moment on New Year's Eve when myself, Dups and Mike looked at each other over glasses of Scotch and came to the conclusion that we wouldn't being doing this again anytime soon.

No, not drinking Scotch or going out at New Years. No, it was coming back to Newfoundland at Christmas. It's just too God damn exhausting. We'd run the gauntlet at that point and were fried.

This was my first time running it. In previous years I was always the one back in St. John's watching others try to cram as much Newfoundland into their brief time home as they can. Even Cathy has done it a couple of times before. This was my first. I won't say never again, but it will be a while before I go home at Christmas again if I can help it at all.

It's just too much. I arrived on the Dec. 21 and hit the ground running. I had a dentist appointment along with a meeting with a financial adviser. I had to get Christmas gifts and try to see as many family and friends as possible in a short period of time. A task I had only marginal success with as there are several friends I didn't see, or see enough of. And hell, I didn't even see most of my side of the family other than my parents, my grandparents, a couple of aunts, one uncle and a smattering of cousins. To everyone I hoped to see when home and didn't, I really am sorry. Hopefully the trip home in August will be more sane.

Oh yes, we also had to resupply on some things we needed and dozens of other small things. By Boxing Day Cathy had one of the more severe allergic reactions I've seen her have in the five years we've been together followed by a cold she still hasn't managed to shake. Naturally, I've got it now as well. I currently sound like Tom Waits after a weekend bender.

It's not that we didn't enjoy our time home or getting to see people. It's just too much. It's too crazy with too many things happening at once. You should come home from a vacation feeling somewhat relaxed. Instead we staggered through the door on Tuesday, unpacked and collapsed on the couch. And, no kidding, we flipped on the TV and Spirit of the West's "Home For A Rest" was playing on one of the stations. We're still tired and plan on doing absolutely nothing this weekend other than watch some of of the many, many DVDs we bought.

Hell, even Boo seems tired. He's been much quieter the last few days. Then again, maybe cutting off his balls has something to do with that.

Cathy's always going to be home over the summer because she has those two months off. My vacation time is more limited. I suspect there's going to be more than one year when I don't make it home at all. But from now on I think I'm going to try come back when it's warmer, there isn't a thousand things happening at once and you can actually relax. So that pretty much rules out Christmas.

I'm pretty sure I enjoyed myself. I just wish I had found the time to actually appreciate it.