Holiday’s End

We drove home from San Diego, a whirlwind trip

(a little TOO whirlwind when I ended up getting a speeding ticket; everyone in the car agrees that there were MANY cars going faster than I was, but we had the tell-tale luggage on the hood of our car.  Plus, I was speeding.)

Odd how something like a speeding ticket can plunge one into a dark, dark place.

Or maybe it was being away from home for 2 weeks? Or the sea-sickness? (which continued to haunt me in the car; for the first time in my life I actually got car-sick on the way home…) Or maybe it was the general post-holiday blues?

For whatever reason, I had a hell of a hard few days. The kind of days where everything stupid you’ve every done in your life gets all dressed up and comes over to visit. Rough. It’s moving on, which is a wonderful thing, but I’m still feeling shaky on my feet. It’s not unlike the after-sea-sickness feeling when I wasn’t ill any more, but felt very unsteady.

I’m sure there’s a name for it, ‘post-depression-nausea’ or something like that. And, for what it’s worth, as I grow older it seems periods of sadness like this are fewer and farther between, and don’t last as long.  But they’re just as deep, which is always scary.

Depression is absolutely terrifying at times.

In the middle of my sadness I tweeted:

and the lovely response I got was incredibly helpful.

I felt guilty for going public like that, essentially asking, “Tell me I’m okay!  Tell me I’m loved!” but I was gratified by the kindness that came back to me.  Thank you, everyone.

I know that we all need some kindness every now and then, I’m very grateful to my friends for sending me cyber thumbs up.

Depression affects so many of us, and it makes some of us ashamed (which I know is silly) but it’s true. I hope that by writing honestly when I have my own down periods, I can help someone else feel less alone, less ashamed, less isolated than they might.

LAST DAYS IN SAN DIEGO

I hadn’t blogged about our last few days in SD, mostly because I was crazed with finishing some crocheted swatches and sketches for submission, packing, getting the house fit for the return of the owners, etc.

We had a magnificent time on the West Coast, and we couldn’t help but daydream about living in such beautiful surroundings.  This, obviously, is not going to happen (ch-CHING!) but visiting beautiful La Jolla and seeing so much of our HUGE country on the way there and back is something I don’t think any of us will forget.  It was my first time in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah (except for airports) and driving through the states is something that everyone should have a chance to do.

Just be sure to take your Dramamine.

Below are photographs we took in our last few days, around the house, out at Coronado Island, and at the Point Loma Lighthouse.  The weather was off-and-on rainy, but that just made for more dramatic pictures!