Missing Home.

When I was in high school I was a professional couch-hopper. Always wanting to be out and about, I made it a goal to avoid my house, and I was pretty dang good at it. Between picking the most time demanding sports, hanging out with friends, and actually going to school, I usually just used my parents house for sleeping and snacking. I truly never understood when my parents would tell me that someday all I would want is to be home.
That was until now. Mind you, I love helping people, and I knew Gabe's parents needed us to be there for them, which I didn't mind at all. However, I have to give it up to my parents, they really hit it on the nose. It has been six days since I have been able to sleep in my bed, cook dinner in my kitchen, and take a shower at my house, and I absolutely miss it. Even though Gabe and I have only been living there for a little over a month, it has become our home.
So after thoroughly cleaning his parents house, I am now able to sit down and blog about my first weekend alone, which was surprisingly not very lonely. As I mentioned in my earlier post, my weekend started with a lack of sleep, breakfast with some family, and rushing to Gabe's parents so they could leave for Darren's, Gabe's step-father's, surgeon five hours away. After they left, and I was sitting in their large house alone, I was just thinking about the list of to-do's I had set-up for my weekend that would now be put off. So I grabbed the piles of laundry from my car and started in on the only housecleaning I would be able to do this weekend for myself. That night I slept in between two chihuahuas, a boxer, and a dachshund; leaving only one dog in its own bed, and a small space for me to squeeze in. With Phoebe, the boxer, snoring and taking up most of the bed, I almost felt like Gabe was still there.
The next morning, Gabe's mom, Anita, texted me to tell me her sisters are on their way from California to come stay with her in Washington while Darren was in surgery; also that they would stay the night with me that night, so I wouldn't be alone. All I could think was, "Oh god! I have to meet new people, Gabe's aunts, all by myself!" and, "She is such a mom..." When they finally arrived that night around eleven, they were quite a shock, immediately embracing me in hugs and talking up a storm. It was like seeing what people must see when my sisters and I are together; as Gabe would put it, a bomb could go off beside us, and we wouldn't hear it. After they indulged in a shot of whiskey each, we all parted and went to bed.
The next morning around four, I could hear them leaving, trying to get an early start on their long drive. I drifted back to sleep, knowing full well I'm not a morning person and I wouldn't be cheerful out of that warm bed. All of Sunday, I was sitting on pins and needles waiting for Gabe to arrive, and when he finally did, I can't explain how excited I was. He looked so dashing in his military uniform, and it's true, absence makes the heart grow fonder. He gave me a deep, caring kiss, and then we were off to McDonald's. Since then, we still haven't been able to go home, other than my quick stop by to meet my sister and her kids for a shopping trip and some closet raiding. We've been waiting for more information on Darren's emergency surgery, and how much longer they'd be staying there. Finally, the doctors figured out that he had contracted Staph from the dogs, which is common when you have a low immune system and lots of dogs, and that they would be home tonight, which means Gabe and I get to sleep in our own bed tonight. To put the cherry on top, I get to be pampered for the second night in a row and Gabe is cooking for me; last night it was steak, salad, and garlic bread, so I'm excited to see what's on the table tonight.

My Chi, Benji. Their boxer, Phoebe; Chi, Daisy; and dachshund, Cinco.