Ownership is 9/10s of the lot

So I am trying to get back into the swing of things now that I am home and officially no longer on vacation. Its been a slow process, but I'm trying to worm my way into it. I have been looking for places of employment (I'm trying to avoid just looking for a "job", and employment just sounds better ;), and last night I tried to buy a car. Thats right, tried. I was out walking around the neighborhood last evening when I came across this car that I had noticed before by the side of the road. "Runs great! Cool AC! 4 Sale $750" it said in the windows. So I started looking at it. The wife of the owner came out and we started talking and I offered her $500 for it. She went back and talked to her husband and came back saying, "Well, my husband wants $750, but I told him I was going to give it to you for $500 because I think you are sweet. But you probably want to take it for a test drive before wouldn't you think." I agreed. So I took it up and around the Lark loop above my home. And I knew at this point it was a $500 car, it started shaking when pushed past 60 mph, and pulled to the right, and was putting around curves, but I thought, "If it just last me six months, that is fine." So on my way back I stopped at my house to get the money and my two sisters joined me to see my new car.
We went back to the house and gave the lady the money. Her husband came out at the that point and told me he didn't have the title there, it was at his mom's and would it be okay if I just swung by the next day to pick it up? I said that was fine. We left, filled the gas tank, and we were off in my new car. It was great. For about 4.5 miles up the road, and then, Kaboom! My sisters were laughing so hard, I could barely get them to help me push! Finally, we put my little sister in front of the wheel, (note, she doesn't have her license yet) and my and my other sister were behind pushing. The plan was to get the car rolling, and I figured we were on enough of a slope, we could coast back. So Cheryl and I gave a great big push... nothing.... finally I yelled up to my other sister, "Take your foot off the brake so we can get this thing moving!" We got the car turned around and rolling down into town and then tried to open the door to through ourselves in. The doors were locked. So Cheryl and I stood and watched the car go for about a half a mile before my sister finally braked and waited for us to catch up.
Okay, we had a better plan this time. This time we were going to keep the doors already open. So once again, we gave a great big push, and off she went. We were huffin' and puffin' after it. I made it up to the door and just threw myself sideways into the car yellin' at Cheryl, "Common' you can make it!" She was still laughing so hard, she could hardly keep up.
At this point Katelyn is freaking out. "We're going to fast!" (I had to admit, I was pretty impressed with how much speed we gained. We were doing 30,40 mph.) But I wouldn't let her brake in fear of having to get out and push again. Finally, we made it back down to the owner's house.
I went up to the door and knocked, the lady came to the door, "Umm, I know technically the transaction is over but is there any way we can undo this? This car just went kaput!" Fortunately they were really nice and gave me the money back. But you wouldn't believe the grief I am still getting from my family. "So Marie! You want a new car?! I got one for $500! It'll last a whole 20 minutes!" Gotta love having your own car again.

The tapestry of life

Well Folks, the weary traveler has reached an end of her journey, for a little while anyways. I am sorry I haven't posted anything recently. I was talking to a friend last night who chastised me for this. I told her that even though I am back in the States I haven't really considered myself "home" yet. As long as Sorina and Marian were here I still had a part of Romania very present and so I didn't have to face reality. And for some reason, writing would have intruded on that somehow.

But I suppose I can't hide any longer. Sorina and Marian left last Thursday and I am now officially home. We have a wonderful whirlwind trip. It seems like I have had more story worthy adventures in the past three weeks than I have the whole past year. Highlights include everything from a limousine ride, a hot air balloon ride, a more eating at different restaurants with various cuisines than I've thought was possible, hanging out at my parents cabin, seeing the Grand Canyon, going on the "Screamin' California" roller coaster four times in a row at Disneyland, body surfing, getting the sunburn of my life, seen "Wicked" on Broadway, seen "Les Miserables" at Tuacan in Saint George Utah, gambled in Las Vegas, (I entered a quarter in a slot machine, it counts) and last but certainly not least, shopped 'til I dropped.

With all of that, its hard to imagine that there would be room for anything. But another aspect of this whole adventure has been witnessing people around me and what they took from each of these adventures. My little sister Katelyn went with us around the States. It was amazing to see how she has grown and matured. I had no idea how much she had changed while I was gone. She was so patient and kind through everything. My mom was having as much fun as I did showing Sorina and Marian new things they had never experienced before. She would wake up as early as two hours before the rest of us, even though we had all been up late the night before, looking online and calling around to find out neat places to take us and get all the facts so we could make a well informed decision. You'd think I would know this already, but come to find out my mom can live on three hours of sleep. Of course it was great to watch Sorina and Marian on this trip. I hope they had a good time, but more than that, I hope it somehow adds to their life once they get back home. Perspective is a tricky thing, its usually gained with some distance. Poor Marian. Two weeks in a car with four females. The guy deserves a medal for surviving it.

When we took them to the airport two days ago, it was really hard to say goodbye. Not only because it meant I had to say goodbye to some dear dear friends for a really long time, but also because it meant the vacation was over.

So now what you ask? Well, I don't know. I don't have a job yet, I don't have a car. I am by all accounts a bum and a mooch. (Thank heavens for generous parents.) I'm trying to slowing work my way back into the stride of things. I'd love to see everyone. I've spent the last two days going through things I had put in storage and throwing most of it away. That was actually pretty nice. I feel like its helped me connect a little bit.

And that my dear friends is where its at. I want everyone to know that I really appreciate the support and love everyone has shown me through everything I have been through. I don't want to get to mushy here, but there have been many times in my life now where I just know I could not have made it were it not for the friends I've made. So here is a big fat universal thank you with all my love. For now, feel free to call, stop by, I'd love to see you.
-M