Early on in the car, I did discover that I wasn’t truly alone. My travel companion kept me from being too lonely…I mean really, look at that cute little face! Who could be lonely with him along?
I did have to remember to put sunscreen on his nose, though, as the fastest way to a faded out spot of ink on your skin is to get too much sun on your tattoo. Even through the windshield, I spent the first couple of days fighting sunburn over most of my body, but I successfully kept him pale and pasty, like my pastel English rose of a husband. :-> Love you, Baby!!
When I arrived in Eureka, California, I got a recommendation from the hotel clerk for a nice vegetarian restaurant. I know, I know, I didn’t use the Magic 8-Ball to make that decision – but, to be fair, the night before it had sent me to a smokehouse. I went dutifully and the chef took pity on me and gave me his own meal that he had brought from home. There really was nothing on the menu for me to eat, but everyone there took great care of me. I love small towns!!
Anyway, the restaurant that came highly recommended was right down on the waterfront in an artsy-fartsy part of town. I parked and walked along the boardwalk and just spent some time alone near the water. It was a weekday in the middle of the afternoon and very few people were out and about. As I leaned over the railing, I heard a splash. A seal popped his head out of the water. My seal. Call me batshit crazy, but I know it was my seal. The one who colluded with the universe to find me the right person to share my life with. I was stunned. He kept moving closer, just bobbing along in the water looking right at me. It was as if he was checking in to make sure I had received the message from the universe and had followed the advice. Funny, for once, I had taken the hint.
I thanked him for helping, I even pulled up my sleeve and showed him my tattoo – he seemed to approve. :-> I spent the next twenty minutes talking to him. To his credit, he just hung out and listened…kinda like the husband does when he has no idea how to respond to my special brand of “nutjob.” It was a strangely emotional day. Ah, but I guess I’m a strangely emotional girl. I took this picture of him in the water. I can’t find him now…but I know he’s in there, looking up at me, knowing that his work for me is done. Thanks, little dude, really!!
An older couple wandered by and asked me to take their photo for them and offered to do the same for me. I’m sure they would have picked someone else to shoot the picture if there had been anyone there, but they got stuck with the crazy girl who talks to seals. I think they were just glad when the seal didn’t say anything back. They took this photo, and I’m not sure you can tell, but it was windy and chilly that afternoon so the restaurant was a welcome respite. One of the fantastic things about California is that vegetarian is “normal” there, so my choices were plentiful and inexpensive. (Fuel was not as inexpensive there, however. Holy Crap!! How do they afford to drive in that state?) The place I ate was an interesting fusion of Italian and Japanese cuisine. So, I had a cheese plate and some sushi. It was perfect! The love of my life was right; I was going on a cheese-hunt! And, no cheese ever stands alone for long in my world!!
So, this cheese-ful girl wandered back out to the water to chat some more with her seal. He was still there – waiting for me. I told him about the husband he had picked for me.
How my tectonic plates re-aligned when I met him.
How frissons of electricity shot through my sky the moment I laid eyes on him.
How I knew that nothing would ever be the same in my world because I had met him.
And, for those of you who think this is a bit much, see what a long term separation does to you sometime. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but it can bring many things into much sharper focus. This crazy, squishy, new-agey Earth mama needs to do a better job of telling her husband how important he is in her world, to her world.
That’s my one piece of advice for the day, people. Whether you are separated by a deployment or not, tell the people you love how much affection you have for them, damn-it! Out loud! A LOT! Don’t assume they just know. Even if they do, they deserve to hear it again. We all do.
Baby, I love you. I mailed my heart to you a long time ago. Please remember it when you’re packing up to return. Come home soon! My world is out of balance without you nearby. I need my true travel companion back, my soulmate back by my side, my lover where I can touch him. And, when you're home, nobody looks at me like I'm crazy when I'm talking to a "seal!" :->
Ah... that was nice!
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