I Need A Vacation Like Nobody's Business

It's hard work not working.  Well, it's hard work moving to another country, finding a new home, trying to get utilities connected, learning one's way around, assembling furniture, learning where to shop, trying to get utilities connected, buying and repotting house plants, missing family and friends, trying to get utilities connected, hanging pictures, trying to get utilities connected, and doing it all in another language.

A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN INSIDE TO GO WITH THE GREEN OUTSIDE.

Did I mention trying to get utilities connected?

It's also a complete joy to do all of the above (except trying to get utilities connected, although that was a complete joy when finally accomplished).  And I am grateful for every minute (well, ALMOST every minute, since sometimes I am an ingrate) of this great adventure we have created for ourselves.

In any case, we are now a bit run down.  We also haven't transitioned from attempting to create a new life here to actually living one.  So, we are very excited to have the opportunity to get out of town for a few days and to then actually come home.

SOME MORE GREEN.  WE STILL NEED MORE... AND LAMPS.

We have a dear friend, Jorunn, from Oslo, Norway (met through our wonderful cousin Inger) who will be in Málaga. Coincidentally, Jerry's first cousin once removed (his mother's cousin, his grandfather's niece...) — from the other side of the Norwegian family — is on holiday in Torrox, which is about a half hour further along the coast from Málaga.

Jerry only discovered this first cousin once removed (and other extended family from his grandfather's line) about 10 years ago and they've been in email correspondence ever since.  We had great plans in 2001 to go up above the Arctic Circle to meet this branch of the family, but hard times hit at the hotel and we couldn't get away.  We hope to be able to make that trip in the near future.

THE TWO OF US.  NOW SURROUNDED BY FAMILY.  (HAD WE KNOWN HOW MANY WALLS
WE'D HAVE, WE WOULD HAVE SHIPPED MORE OF THE FAMILY PHOTOS.)

So, we're taking the train down to Málaga Monday to meet up with Jorunn.  We'll spend Monday night in Málaga and then we three will head up the coast (either in a rental car or by bus) to Torrox to have lunch with First Cousin Once Removed and her nephew (Jerry's second cousin). We'll then head back to Málaga for another night and we three will then train back up to Sevilla.  Can't wait to be relaxed tourists in Málaga.  Can't wait to see Torrox.  But, I especially can't wait to see Jorunn again and to meet more of Jerry's Norwegian family.

I wonder if I should start practicing my Norwegian again.  No I don't wonder.  That's just too much for my already addled brain to contemplate.  Uff dah!