So Sad!

Hi All:

You are stuck with me now to author the blog. Betty and Maren left yesterday morning and I am all alone for the next six weeks! Well not quite really. Let me explain.

Yesterday morning, after having gotten up at 3:30 a.m. because I couldn't sleep thinking about how I am going to not have company eating dinner (the worst part of being away from home alone for me), I took Betty and Maren at 6:00 a.m. to the airport via two taxis (couldn't possibly go in one with all the luggage needed to take back all the things they bought). We been bragging about how kind and caring the people of Taiwan have been to us in previous blogs and how everything about our three month stay has gone so smoothly, but Betty leaves and that perception is out the window. First, after having no problems checking three bags when we come to Taiwan in February, we are told the policy has been changed on the May return flight and we can only check two bags per person free. Well with all that was purchased, that is an impossibility, so Betty and Maren each has to cough up at little over $100 for their third bag. Boy was Betty miffed! Unfortunately, I am likely to do no better when I return June 21st.

We three then enter the lone restaurant in the airport to have breakfast before they are off on their mid-morning flight. I quickly decide that orange juice will have to do until I get home so I can drown my loneliness in my cheerios. No fried squid for breakfast for me.

After sending my two compatriots on their way, I immediately go into my "let's get organized" mode. On the subway home (yes dear, I went in the right direction!), I plan my day. Shop for milk, orange juice, and bread on the way home. Stop in my office to respond to emails and print off stuff I have to edit. Get haircut. Home. Stretch. Breakfast. Chinese tape lessons that I haven't touched for weeks because we have been so busy. Pay bills. Work on joint paper for Taiwan journal Betty, I, and a colleague are writing. Clean. Ocean swim. Glass of wine to watch sunset. Dinner. That should keep me busy for the day so I don't have to think about Betty being gone.

Implementation of great plan starts well. On way to office, chance meeting with one of my students on campus, a tall (over 6 feet) stunning women from the Czech Republic. Expresses sympathy that Betty has departed. Things are looking up.

During haircut phase, get double teamed by the two female Taiwanese beauticians. Things looking up twice. The first washes my hair and gives me a scalp and shoulder massage and the second cuts my hair, all for $9.73 (yes, my anally retentive side keeps a meticulous expense record for tax purposes). Unfortunately, you sometimes get what you paid for, especially when you can't communicate that you want the side tapered and blow drying my hair so it stands up European style is not my look (see self portrait photo holding camera at arms length; not recommended if you have any sense of dignity!).

I stay on track for my plan for the rest of the day with little deviation. Well, I did have a little nap, but I did get up at 3:30. As a reward, I walk down the hill at 5:30 for a swim at our local beach. Surf sucks so wimpy body surfing, but the water is delightfully warm. Ran into four of my Italian students on the beach and exchanged stories about our respective trips to the Philippines and Thailand. They ran into a typhoon! Again, things start to look up.

Up the hill after the swim just in time to have a glass of wine while watching a gorgeous 6:30 sun set from our villa veranda. Because we look directly west over the Formosa Strait, the sunset reminded me of the many sunsets I had the privilege to view from my parent's home in San Diego that overlooks the ocean.

Speaking of Mom, although obliquely, she is now in her home where I grew up, having spent the last four months in rehab learning how to walk again. Although upbeat as ever, even she says she can't do all the things she used to be able to do. After Betty' visit the last two weeks in May, we will have to reassess the care Mom will need. Betty's willingness to help Mom make such a transition in my absence, is just one more reason why I love her.

I decided for dinner that I would get up enough courage to eat out alone, even though I hate that, but maybe I hate cooking dinner more! I went next door to the student cafeteria and for $1.98 had a pork and rice dish that was reasonably tasty. I'm full and I can't cook for that price.

After dinner, I watch the news and then fall asleep at 9:00. Just like Boothbay bedtime hours.

Thanks for reading.

Ted