June 19, 2008
The Germans are Coming!
The much anticipated, can’t wait to hug them family tour of my German friends, Arno & Susanne, starts next Sunday, June 29th for two weeks. They are bringing their children Luca and Leah who I haven’t seen in seven years. Susanne was pregnant for Luca when they stayed with me in Tuscany. I am super delighted that they are coming and like I said can’t wait to hug them. So why am I having some dread? I fear my life is being torn upside down.
Fear 1 - My job has exploded. We got a new care contract and a competitive radiation therapy unit closed. In the past two weeks we have seen a 25% increase in our patient population. Yikes…plus these new patients are not as well monitored by the medical oncologists so that puts more responsibility on me and my docs. Grease up the roller blades, Laurie’s back to real nursing.
The doctors have asked me to switch my schedule so I will be working on Mondays and off on Fridays. This upsets my routine of how I usually spend my days off. I’m sure it will be okay, but for the moment I don’t like the concept of the change. I’m trying to see the good that not working Fridays will make it easier to schedule my pampered pooch spa treatments like mani/pedi and facials. A girl on the go has got to look good, you know.
Fear 2 - What am I going to do with these kids? I’ve decided the kids are not going to have anything to “do” at my house. I don’t have a Play Station, Wii. pool table nor ping pong. I was delighted to find out from Susi that they don’t have that stuff either. I have a dog, awesome home and me. I hope that is enough. Plus I have all the thrills, beaches and parks of Southern California. I’m sure we will be fine.
Fear 3 - What am I going to feed them? The kids are going to want to eat things that I no longer have in my house. Cookies, cakes, peanut butter, ice cream and pizza is that going to become the daily routine? Can I cope? Of course I can…I deal with this stuff every day at work without much difficulty these days. I have had peanut butter in the house and left it alone when another friend brought it home a couple of months ago. I remember eating breakfast in Germany. Yogurt, fruit, cheese, ham, bread and butter, jam all things that are fine on my food plan. I know I will be okay. Just got to write this out loud. Plus as you know I’m a great cook. It will be fine.
Fear 4 - How am I going to maintain my daily meditation? I’ve been getting up at 5 a.m. to start my day. I can’t be getting up this early with a house full of people. Can I? Thanks Kate for relieving that fear. She reminded me that I have a door off my bedroom that leads to the back 40 (square feet) of yard. I can go sit there and do my meditation in the early morning sunshine.
I’ve decided an early morning bike ride to local coffee shop, Portfolio, would be a perfect spot to do my morning journaling and reading. Phew another obstacle overcome. I can have 1-2 hours of Laurie time before I need to face the day.
Fear 5 - Alison & Peter (son) are coming from New York City the first weekend. In the feast or famine way of the world. My good friend Alison is coming out for a convention in Anaheim, CA the first weekend the Germans are staying with me. I can’t wait to see Alison and hopefully bring her out to the house. Plus, Peter is 1/2 German and speaks German. I’m hoping to get all the kids together for a fun filled day of rides at Disneyland or something. I’m just a natural born entertainer and planner, but it causes me angst.
So all and all it should be a great time. I’m sure I will be fine. Like I keep saying I’m really happy to have the guests. I asked them to come and we will have fun. I think I just need to have a little panic before they arrive so that I will be better prepared for their arrival. Auf Wiedersehen!
Laurie everything will be fine. These are seasoned travelers. Don’t worry about entertainment. People don’t show up and say “We’re bored.” They’ll be more self sufficient than you think. And a dog, a high energy dog at that, will keep them entertained far longer than you think. Also, they know what they want to eat. You may make a run to the grocery with them once they get there but don’t try to plan all meals and stock up on everything before they are there. You think about one meal a day, and ask them what they need for the other meals and snacks.
wow…thanks Janice you sound wise. How did you know that I was planning on stocking the crap-shit with tons of food? I know it will be fine. We love each other and spending tme together, as you can tell it is the kids that are causing the fly in mental ointment. I just have to get my feelings out to the blogverse. Thanks for reading it helps to know I have been heard. Love hearing from you on a regular basis.
That was nice of Janice to say that you don’t need to worry about entertainment. I know she didn’t. All we did at her place was walk around the park, go out to lunch, tour the Louisville Slugger factory, take in the horse races and catch a baseball game … and that was just one day.
Two words for your guests: Huntington Beach. The kids will love it and never forget it. For a real treat, if the parents allow it, stop at the In-n-Out Burger on the way home.
Hey Thanks Mark - It’s great to have you back. I’m really much better now that I’ve had my blog meltdown. Besides went to Royal Health Spa for Korean Style Body Scrub. No angst left in this body. Huntington Beach is a definite, thanks for the tip.