Running away

When things get beyond what I want to deal with or experience, I have been known to run away. When I was on active duty, that obviously wasn’t an option. TDY was, one could agree to go on short notice, an acceptable way of getting out on a temporary basis. Deployments came with enough other negatives that it wasn’t all that tempting.

Fast forward to Fall of 2011 (skip this if you have heard the story before) – I drop Maus off at University. I come back to Heidelberg. I wind up with three adult off spring + a dog on various reasons for a short bounce back. The DH is working in Switzerland. I have two choices – work or escape. No one was happy. I was irritated. George keep leaving for Switzerland every Monday and coming back toward the end of the week.

I ran away. Went to Ramstein. Paid something expensive like $10-20 for a Space A seat and left for the US. It was lovely. Quiet. Visited friends. Traveled around. Left me ready for another adventure when the opportunity to take the Grandeur of the Seas from Barcelona to Florida that Nov for really cheap.

Fast forward to the present. To say that the last few months have been a bit stressful would be an understatement. To pretend that I am completely coping would be a total lie. I can argue around a subject, prevaricate like mad or sign on for denial but I don’t like to lie. Not even to myself (which mostly is the easiest of all)).  I’m sharing a house with four people I dearly love, but rarely have any time completely to myself. This is also a significant change from the last 5+ years (see running away from home in para2 above).

I’ve finished the first four rounds of rubitaximab and have to be back in to see my Oncologist on the first of February to decide where & what we do next. It has been raining. All of this added up to me taking a bit of time for myself in a state far away since I couldn’t hitch a ride to another galaxy except through reading and my imagination. Trouble with that method is that it really doesn’t seem to last for very long before reality intrudes again.

So this episode in my ongoing saga of life, liberty, coffee and the pursuit of health (not to mention various fiber crafts) is coming to you from Fort Lauderdale.

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About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!
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19 Responses to Running away

  1. Janet says:

    So glad you are cruising…Just stay out of malls and airports…

  2. Cheryl says:

    Good for you! By the way, if you like bird watching, there are some excellent opportunities up here in North Alabama!

  3. Steven says:

    On running away:. I would if I could. So I. Glad that you could.

    • Holly says:

      I thought you already did that. No, wait! Training doesn’t count. It just makes things complicated

  4. Marise says:

    I hear you ….. keeping you in my prayers … all I can do. Stay strong, and enjoy ft.lauderdale)!

  5. Stu says:

    I am on the Pearl from the 25th to the 29th and the Navigator from the 29 to Feb to the 3rd if you want someone to have tea with.

    • Holly Doyne says:

      Oh, what a lovely idea. Thank you. Unfortunately – I have to be back in SF by the 30th

  6. Brad says:

    Savor. You have earned it.
    If you enjoy your own company, you are never alone.
    Hugs.

  7. Dawn says:

    Well done Holly. I’m glad that you are feeling strong enough to escape for a while.

    Enjoy yourself immensely.

  8. rg says:

    Warmth! I could go for a little Florida about now. Enjoy your escape.

  9. Isobel says:

    Who is in Fort Lauderdale?

    I’d say “come to Portsmouth” but I doubt that you’d want to deal with winter. Having said that, how about coming to Portsmouth?

  10. Ruth says:

    Yay for escapes! I am feeling ready to escape myself, though I think I will be unlikely to get away with it anytime soon.

  11. Christian says:

    Not running away, but taking a break. Taking time to think. To Relax. To Reflect. Charging up some energy. You’re not the one who’s in charge anymore, being responsible that orders are out and things are done. Don’t be so hard to yourself, but enjoy your time!

    Fort Lauderdale sounds like a cruise… J

    Please take care! (You’re the doc, so you know better than I why…)

  12. Vera says:

    Looks as my bon voyage message got lost in transit
    Enjoy!

  13. Pat says:

    Wise woman. Healing yourself. You are dear and much loved. Your stories are a treasure and a gift. As are you. I’m glad you are taking some “me”-time.

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