May | 2013 | The Frandrup's

What is going on? One oatmeal cookie goes down so easily. How do we stop ourselves from the pure bliss that comes from oatmeal, pecan, chocolate and a little bitter sweet dried cherry with brown sugar and pure yumminess? It is really the ultimate question of our lives. How can we get more of what we love? How can we make those blissful happy times never end? How can we just hold on to the people we love and the moments that give us the most joy? How can we only watch one episode of Game of Thrones at a time? I know I am going deep here people. Perhaps its the rain, that never seems to end here in Germany. Perhaps its the limbo that we are living, not knowing where we will be living in the next year and not knowing how much to invest here since the plug could be pulled any minute. Perhaps it is the sleep deprivation of having a three year old who yells out “Mooooomy” at midnight and 2 AM religiously every night, pulling me into the listless existence of a zombie with repeated interrupted REM cycles. It is hard to say. I just feel philosophical and a bit sad. It is a big transition time here in Germany.

So, perhaps I am gorging on oatmeal cookies because I just don’t want to think about all these amazing friends who are leaving us behind. Some of them came back into our lives after years of separation only to become more precious. They were our “family” abroad. Some just worked their way into our hearts with their smiles, generosity, and genuine friendship. Some have already left and more will follow. They spread the circumference of the globe like dandelion fluff. Or as a new friend says, like “wishers” as her son blows the white fluff from the dandelion weed. Why do I let them all in anyway; these people with their radiant smiles, friendly hearts and likeminded zeal for life? I would be better off if I just didn’t do it right? I remember when Snoopy died, my first pet, a beagle that my mother truly loved. She said she did not want another dog because the loss was too great and she could not bear to go through it again. Perhaps I should just stop opening my heart to all those snoopies out there. Damn you all for being so cute and sweet and loving me and my husband and my children. Damn you for inviting us into your hearts and into your lives! There I said it. I am mad and sad. This stinks! PCS season really, really bites!

Wow, what a whirlwind! We just returned from a 12 day cruise that was quite exhausting but full of history, laughter and tons of photo opps. CJ and I had a blast with our cameras! What’s not to love about the leaning tower of Pisa, a Greek Island, Istanbul Mosques, Pompeii, the Amalfi coast, Sorrento, Ephesus with its Pergamon, the intellectual center of Aisa Minor with the greatest libraray of antiquity… The temples of Tragan and Dionisus, the Alter of Zeus , the Asclepion ( an ancient healing center)? That did not even count Athens with the Acropolis. Throw in a beginning in Barcelona, an end in Venice and a first stop in Toulon, France for sunshine and a picnic with a lovely French wine, bread and cheese and one asks why are we so lucky? It was definitely a time of indulgence.

For the first time in our European tour we were able to leave babies in a safe loving environment and really hit the pavement, so to speak. Gloria and Liam joined us in Mykonos to feed the birds and eat Greek food. They came along to Athens and of course spent time in Barcelona and window shopping and boat riding in Venice. But during other port stops they were given the choice of staying on board with Charlie’s Child care or touring with us. The pull for snacks, face painting and other creative projects was a bigger draw than touring with Mom and Dad through some old churches, ruins and sights.

Double win for us! When returning to the boat we felt invigorated and ready for pool time, a fun dinner and evening entertainment. Every day was a fun day, even the sailing days. We exercised, played as a family in the pool, brought our walkie talkies and played hide and seek. All and all it was a great trip. When asked what our favorite sights or places were it makes for a difficult answer. I loved Greece and would go back in a minute. I felt our time in Florence, Italy was much too short and of course one cannot do Rome in a day so I was glad we had already been there and done that, so to speak. Istanbul was amazing but busy and I was happy to return to the Norwegian Spirit. Our day at Pompeii and on the Amalfi coast was superb. The people, the coast line, the food, the history- all magnificent!

So without any more chattering on I will let you take a tour through a sampling of photos. Some were taken by Liam, Gloria or CJ and a few are my pictures too. See if you can guess who took what photos?