A PIECE OF MY HEART

This past Wednesday was a day I've been waiting for and counting down on my chalkboard for the past 30 days.

Finally, after nearly a year in Belgium, my daughter and her husband returned to Canada!

Now my daughter has been a world traveller for the past 3 years (Japan, England and Belgium) so I should be used to being away for great lengths of time. 

But I'm not. She is a piece of my heart. That is the only way I can justify my behaviour when we meet them at the airport.

I can see their plane, flying in from Iceland, has landed. The plane  right before theirs is flying in from Jamaica. I'm watching as the sliding doors open and the people trudge through with all their luggage. They are definitely leaning towards the Jamaican caucasian. I'm looking for more along the line of pale and blond. I'm especially looking for that face I know so well. That piece of my heart. There are a lot of people coming through the doors and I'm starting to get anxious. So I tell myself "She's in the same building as you RIGHT now."

Finally the doors slide open and there she is, her and Dan. I follow down the ramp to meet her as she walks down the other side. My husband knows the deal so he takes over her luggage pile and I take her in my arms.

And sob. Convulsively. For a long time. I just cling to her as a piece of my heart is re-attached. Surgery is completed and I try to get a hold of myself. 

Like good Canadian parents, we take them to Tim Hortons for sustenance.

So now we start a new transition. They have barely been married a year and they both need jobs and a place to live. For now, they are hanging at our house, getting their bearings and figuring out what their next adventure will be. 

I don't mind. 

It is good to see her, this piece of my heart. It is also good to see her with an amazing husband and her own heart so full. You can't ask for much more than that. 

CRUIZIN

It's hot....really hot. The pets don't saunter in and lie down on the floor, they waddle in and flop with a satisfying thud on their sides and stay there. Our central air is almost as old as me so we don't often turn it on - I can handle the heat the the rest of the fam puts up with it. 

Today I had to take a quick trip to pick up some pictures for work and new towels. So I hopped into my sweet ride (1999 CRV Honda) and headed out. 

Here she is - ain't she a beauty?

The air is hot and thick with a strong breeze. There is no air conditioning in the CRV so I have the windows down in an attempt to catch some air. It flings my hair into my face and over my sunglasses. My tank top is sticking to my back and my one sandal sticks to my foot. The hot sun beats down on my bare legs and one arm. I crank up the tunes and pass by all the cars with their windows well sealed as they are coccooned in their air conditioned interiors. They can't hear the wind in the trees, or me rocking to "Play that Funky Music" or smell the hot pavement or gas.

That's when I realize they are just going from A to B but me, I'm cruizin! Windows down, tunes cranked, the smell of gas and the rumble of engines. All you air-conditioned cocooners are missing out. Yeah it's hot. So what? Six months from now, believe me hot it will not. 

Peace. Out.

TAKE ME TO THAT CHOCOLATE RIVER

Did you know that July 7 was World Chocolate Day? Yup, we chocaholics keep track of these things. I looked up a few funky chocolate facts for you:

In Mayan times the coca bean was used as currency (worth more than gold dust).

The chocolate chip cookie was an accident. I was an accident too, so just saying, some accidents are good things.

You can die if you eat too much chocolate. Apparently it has a powerful stimulant called "theobromine" which can cause heart failure, seizures, acute kidney damage and dehydration. Death by Chocolate!

There really was a chocolate river in the original 1971 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory movie. It was made with 15,000 gallons of water mixed with chocolate and cream. 

My good friend Tom, calls it "Ovarian Nutrition." I promised Tom I would give him props for that one. Good one Tom!

Now my personal chocolate history is a long and winding one. All my life my old chocolate friend/lover has been by my side, through good times and bad. In fact, on July 7 a mere 27 years ago, I spent the entire day in labour. Coincidence? I think not.

I've danced with a number of chocolate bars in my day but the first one I remember hitting the #1 spot on my chocolate list was Crispy Crunch when I was about 9. I would beg for one if we went to the movies, which was hardly ever as that one not something in our family budget.

At the age of 11, Mars bar had taken over. At 12, it was Smarties. My girlfriend and I would have "Smartie Parties" which involved separating all the colours, keeping the deformed ones for like, ever, and always eating the red ones last. These two held the top of the chart for quite a while until I was about 15 and Mr. Big showed up and stole my heart. To be honest it really hit the spot when I had the munchies, if you get my drift.
Between 15 and 18 Snickers sniggered in. Then I moved onto Kit Kat and Twix. I think I was digging a cookie crunch/chocolate mix thing. Still do. 

I'm also a nibbler so I nibble off the top and bottom end of a chocolate bar, then nibble down the sides, one at a time and finally finish the job. Exasperating to watch, I'm sure. 

I'm all grown up now and have moved on to dark chocolate though I would not turn down Smarties or a KitKat if handed to me. I'm no chocolate snob!

I have a chocolate drawer at work to help provide ovarian nutrition to all those in need. 

So, here's to Chocolate and World Chocolate day! I love the stuff. I really do. In fact I may need to be rebaptized. Take me to that Chocolate River!