There’s no place like home. Especially if you have a dog. And especially if your dog has had a back problem and has had to recover without you! I am pathetically in love with Riley and I worried about him while we were gone. One, because of his little injury, but two because he really experiences anxiety when we leave him. Anyway, he gave us a 21 gun salute welcome home, which consisted of running up and down the hall, and then purring in my arms. The flight, 11 hours in total travel time, didn’t seem quite as bad as it did on the way there. Not sure if that’s because it always seems longer when you’re going somewhere, or because we had a sliver more leg room. I did manage to watch like 100 movies. Not really, but maybe.

However, it was not without trauma. At the Barcelona airport, I had to go to the bathroom, and it was sort of far from the gate, so I ran, and when I got back to the gate, I was sweating, so I took off my FAVORITE LEATHER JACKET. Then I was hungry (Gawd, I am high maintenance) so Ally and I went to the little cafe and got a ham and cheese (because what’s a day without HAM?). When got back to our seats, Peter had packed up the cart and was in line to board, and you know what I’m going to say, so why don’t you just all say it in unison: “YOUR FAVORITE LEATHER JACKET WAS GONE.” You are so smart. Yup, someone was casing us out and they snatched that thing from the seat when I went to get my HAM sandwich. I was sort of devastated. I know that’s stupid, and it was a just a jacket but IT WAS MY FAVORITE LEATHER JACKET. Yeah, so that happened, and I cried for like 30 minutes, but it was sort of mixed crying because I also crying because I had to leave Jake. But still, I was sobbing and the flight attendants were looking at me weird, but then I fell asleep and woke up and ate the HAM sandwich and felt a little better. I am wondering if this HAM thing is a good approach to anything that ails you?

Anyway, the trip was amazing, but Jake got very, very sick on Tuesday night and so we missed two days of being able to do stuff with him, which was very upsetting, in addition to the fact that he was very sick, with a high fever and terrible backache, headache and in the category of TMI, the runs. He rallied for our Thanksgiving dinner with the American Society of Barcelona, but just for dinner. Then it was back to the bathroom. This was mucho unfortunate because we missed a great night with his host family and he missed Sagrada Familia and Tibidabo and Picasso. But these are the natural disasters we’re prisoners of. Nothing you can do about getting sick.

But Barcelona is an interesting city. There is a cornucopia of architecture (Who would have imagined I’d use the word “cornucopia” on Thanksgiving weekend, but it would not be related to Thanksgiving itself). I am big on just walking a city to get a feel for it and we put in the miles. Our hotel was perfect, although we didn’t get to experience the roof deck pool and restaurant due to the weather, but its location was prime, right off La Rambla and near La Boqueria, which really was the best market I have ever set foot in. I kept imagining how fun it would be to cook if I could go there everyday for fresh foods. Perhaps it would make even my cooking taste good. Probably not, but a girl can dream.

I think that the weather has so much to do with your impression of a place. My sister always says this and she’s right. Our weather was excellent, sunny everyday, but chillier than I had expected and hoped. I can imagine that I would have had a a whole different impression and trip if Barcelona was like 10 or 15 degrees warmer. It’s definitely a city made for sunny and warm, with hoardes of outdoor cafes, and miles of coast, which we only saw from a convertible tour bus, because it was way too cold to put our toes in the sand, or sit for hours sipping coffee street-side.

And I think that could be why I have been finding it so hard to characterize Barcelona, which has been irking me. If I’d been able to taste the outdoor cafe, and beach life, I may have gotten a sense of this city’s true character. Without it, I couldn’t really find the sizzle. Still, I found it charming, with depth and some truly breath taking sights.

But of course, if we’d gone in a better weather month, we’d have missed the dazzling array of Christmas lights. And that was really something I’ll never forget. And the whole reason we went in the first place was to see Jake. So, that’s that. And I’m grateful we were able to go, chill in the air, sick kid, missed time with host family, no beach, and stolen jacket, aside. Beause there was HAM. LOTS OF HAM. And I was like so gosh darn down with that.

But, ah, home. My bed felt delicious and even though I have a pile of work to do and ALL MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TO GET DONE, I am happy to be back. And my boy will be here in just 20 days. He’s grown up so much since he’s been gone. I am so grateful to a city that has become part of his identity. Lucky Jake. Lucky us.

 

 

(NOTE: A bunch of you have said you’re having trouble with links and I apologize for that a billion times over. It’s so frustrating. So, today I made sure they all linked and put in the web address where they did not.)

In less than 24 hours I will see my boy, not to mention Barcelona (and I’m not talking about the restaurant, Luciana!)

Those Westboro Baptist Church people are the worst. THE WORST. But their neighbors are pretty damn cool.

Scandal is a really good show. They don’t drag things out, only delivering a bang up show at finale time, they give it to you every week. Plus, Olivia has the best coats.

Wow times ten billion. Just one of these photos (http://www.boredpanda.com/must-see-powerful-photos/) would have knocked me out, but 30 nearly did me in.

It’s been 50 years since President Kennedy was shot.(http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/us/in-kennedys-death-a-turning-point-for-a-nation-already-torn.html?_r=0)bored  I was four. I was grocery shopping with my mom and the check-out woman told us and my mom started to cry right there in the store.

You’re kidding me. This dude (http://www.viralnova.com/tree-trunk-carving/) does not have A.D.D.

Love this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Xe15-Ayf4) anyway, but listen to the a capella version. Kind of awesome, right?

Man, I love Judi Dench (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/22/dame-judi-dench-on-playing-the-inspiring-philomena.html). Can’t wait to see her new movie, Philomena.

I knew Kate McKinnon was the real deal (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/21/kate-mckinnon-is-the-future-of-saturday-night-live.html) the minute she debuted. She is uber talented. There’s hope for Saturday Night Live (am I the only one still watching?)

Ok, love these girls and their style (http://seniorplanet.org/dont-dress-your-age-six-inspiring-women-say-no-to-drab/). I’m with them.

Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you meet someone who rocks your world, changes its course and makes it different in a better way. And if you’re really lucky, knowing them gives you better abs, too.

I got this kind of lucky eight years ago during one more stop on the long bus ride that is having a bad back. I met Colleen Quinn (go to her website, it’s cool and you can train with her in all sorts of different ways), a super smart, witty and warm personal trainer, with a physical therapy background. I was skeptical of her being able to do much with me and my long standing back problems, but she came recommended by another back sufferer friend, and so I thought, why not.

It’s impossible to believe eight years has passed since I began working out with Colleen, but there it is. Eight years. My daughter was just eight, barely old enough to walk to school alone. Jake was in 6th grade, and on the brink of adolescence. I didn’t even have a dog. I could still dye my hair every six weeks back then. And my sister Joni still lived here. My strength was non-existent. I power walked as exercise and dealt with back pain episodes every year or two that would force me once again into physical therapy and Advil abuse. Enter Colleen and her studio Eutopia. Little by little, as Colleen got to know my body, she was able to get me to lift weights, twist (something I feared doing for like 20 years), do yoga. At some point, I think I even won a contest for being able to hold the longest plank.

But Colleen didn’t just give me core strength, she gave me core confidence in my faulty spine. And as an added bonus, she became my friend. Together, in her studio, we’ve solved most of life’s larger issues, with spiritual plans and jokes. We’ve basked in the sun on the Vineyard and lived to tell the story of a lightning storm at Crane’s. We’ve eaten pot stickers, and toasted our birthdays. We’ve texted through The Voice, and admitted most of our darkest, saddest secrets to one another. And we’ve laughed. At nearly everything there is to laugh at, funny or not. Because we both know that’s the real key to getting through this here world. We have a mutual admiration society for dogs, ours in particular. And a love for good music (Steve Forbert, anyone? Not that either of us can sing). She has helped Jake through knee surgeries, Ally through a soccer season, and Peter through the damaging effects of his arthritis. She’s stayed in my house and taken care of my dog. She’s one part friend, one part sister.

And on Wednesday she leaves for California, to start a new adventure, to enjoy warmer weather, and all that coast has to offer. I can’t say goodbye because I just don’t have the muscle. But I can say thank you. And I can say, I will never ever forget you. And I can say how grateful I was to be in your presence for so long. Yeah, I got lucky eight years ago. Sometimes that happens. Drink water, breathe and laugh, Colleen. Remember the Lansbury’s love you, and we’re all always just a phone call away.