Mini-Vacation
Jul. 21st, 2023 10:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
citrinedragonflyMy wife and I drove to Hampton Roads, VA yesterday for a weekend away/family visit. We're still here, and going home tomorrow, but it's been so worth it so far. We went to my brother's place mid-morning, and got there before my sister and her family joined us (we found out last weekend when visiting with her that we'd both be down here at the same time, so we immediately planned a sibling hang-out). This meant I got to meet my nephew and play with him for a little while on my own. My wife isn't a huge fan of littles, but my nephew's in the age range she can tolerate. He's super-cuddly, and let us each hold him multiple times. He'd crawl over and climb up into our laps, and it just made me super happy!
My sister, brother-in-law, and niece arrived about half an hour after we did, and the two kids got along really well for being about two years apart in age. She still doesn't know us well enough to come over for hugs or high-fives, but we've become worthy of being blown kisses, so that's a win for me! We all had lunch in my brother's living room (his fiancée was sadly at work today), and my sister and her fam left a little after lunch to head back to their hotel so my niece could get her nap in before heading to the beach. We stayed and talked with my brother while my nephew napped, and played with him a little more after he woke up. He has the best smile and laugh! And he takes after my brother in his ingenuity and desire to go where he shouldn't.
We went shopping for a bit after we left my brother's place. There's a witchy shop in the conservative town we lived in back when I was in high school here, which surprised all of the siblings. My wife found it when looking for places to go on her phone. So, despite not really wanting to go back there, we went to the shop and it was so awesome! The owner is a local, and kind of stealthed her way into having a witchy shop by starting as a photography business and adding a shopfront as part of that. They apparently do moon rituals twice a month, and are on good terms with the locals. I chatted with her for a while and bought a few new things for my own practice, including an undated "Writual Planner", a Fluorite palm stone, a happiness candle, and a teaspoon. There is now officially one good place in that town, and I hope she continues doing well.
Following that, we went to the giant Barnes & Noble in Hampton, as well as the Joann's there, and found some fun things. I'd forgotten how cool the Hampton Towne Center is now. It's a mall in the original intent of the word. A lot like City Center in Newport News, but I think it's bigger. It was fun. And now, we've spent a quiet evening in our hotel.
We're heading over to my brother's again tomorrow, so we can see his fiancée and catch up with her as well. It won't be as long a visit, because it's after lunch, and we have to drive home afterward. But I really want to catch up with her. We have similar vibes in the witchy, Halloween-loving, fantasy-loving way. She's more of a green witch - if she's a witch, whereas I'm more a crystal/moon witch and a Wiccan. She's got tons of gorgeous plants at their place, and a statue of a seated smiling plump earth mother, which makes me think of a green witch. I want to ask her if she practices at all, and compare notes if she does.
One of my former students/current friends, who also works with my wife, is watching our guinea pigs. She sent us a video of her telling them they were good piigs while they were monching on lettuce, which made us both happy. She graduated 12-ish years ago, and kept in touch for years before I felt comfortable enough to hang out with her, and I'm so glad we can be friends.
It's a whirlwind trip, but definitely worth it. There's something about being away from home that relaxes in a way that even a do-nothing weekend at home can't.
My sister, brother-in-law, and niece arrived about half an hour after we did, and the two kids got along really well for being about two years apart in age. She still doesn't know us well enough to come over for hugs or high-fives, but we've become worthy of being blown kisses, so that's a win for me! We all had lunch in my brother's living room (his fiancée was sadly at work today), and my sister and her fam left a little after lunch to head back to their hotel so my niece could get her nap in before heading to the beach. We stayed and talked with my brother while my nephew napped, and played with him a little more after he woke up. He has the best smile and laugh! And he takes after my brother in his ingenuity and desire to go where he shouldn't.
We went shopping for a bit after we left my brother's place. There's a witchy shop in the conservative town we lived in back when I was in high school here, which surprised all of the siblings. My wife found it when looking for places to go on her phone. So, despite not really wanting to go back there, we went to the shop and it was so awesome! The owner is a local, and kind of stealthed her way into having a witchy shop by starting as a photography business and adding a shopfront as part of that. They apparently do moon rituals twice a month, and are on good terms with the locals. I chatted with her for a while and bought a few new things for my own practice, including an undated "Writual Planner", a Fluorite palm stone, a happiness candle, and a teaspoon. There is now officially one good place in that town, and I hope she continues doing well.
Following that, we went to the giant Barnes & Noble in Hampton, as well as the Joann's there, and found some fun things. I'd forgotten how cool the Hampton Towne Center is now. It's a mall in the original intent of the word. A lot like City Center in Newport News, but I think it's bigger. It was fun. And now, we've spent a quiet evening in our hotel.
We're heading over to my brother's again tomorrow, so we can see his fiancée and catch up with her as well. It won't be as long a visit, because it's after lunch, and we have to drive home afterward. But I really want to catch up with her. We have similar vibes in the witchy, Halloween-loving, fantasy-loving way. She's more of a green witch - if she's a witch, whereas I'm more a crystal/moon witch and a Wiccan. She's got tons of gorgeous plants at their place, and a statue of a seated smiling plump earth mother, which makes me think of a green witch. I want to ask her if she practices at all, and compare notes if she does.
One of my former students/current friends, who also works with my wife, is watching our guinea pigs. She sent us a video of her telling them they were good piigs while they were monching on lettuce, which made us both happy. She graduated 12-ish years ago, and kept in touch for years before I felt comfortable enough to hang out with her, and I'm so glad we can be friends.
It's a whirlwind trip, but definitely worth it. There's something about being away from home that relaxes in a way that even a do-nothing weekend at home can't.
