8 week countdown

8 weeks today I hope to be on a plane home. Its before the end of the school year here but my cousin Andrew is getting married and I really want to be there. He is a good cousin after all and he danced his feet off at my first wedding, as did his brothers so I would like to do the same. Im really really REALLY looking forward to seeing my family and this was re-inforced by spending easter dinner here with my Bulgarian family.

As I mentioned I was invited by Avas mom to their home for Easter dinner. Easter here was this past Sunday, so I went over with a cake. I meant to bake cookies but somehow that never happened, and I purchased a nice fruit cake instead.

Well the meal was great, naturally, topped off by the most delicious veal I have tasted yet. I really devoured that, as it was sooooooooo tender and delicious. But over and above the delicious food, fine wine and powerful Vodka, the company reminded me of what we expats miss being away from home. I miss laughing with my family and as Armenias say "Gelkhis talen" (non translatable) am returning for just that. I am going to get totally and completely hammered with my uncle Leo like we used to do at Christmas dinner and laugh and laugh and laugh....

So Sunday night, I adopted Avas uncle as my own, and I think he didnt object (not that I gave him any choice) and decided to replicate my family experience. The only drawback was that the process was slowed down by constant translation by Ava and her cousin Christine, to the point where Ava lost her voice towards the end of the evening (sorry Ava and Christine. That must not have been too much fun for you) but otherwise it was great fun and a warm fuzzy feeling followed me home, including a good wine buzz.

The next morning I offered to take a family portrait of them all in the park and Oscar was the honarary member in almost all the family shots. I hadnt done anything like that in a while but like riding a bike, it all came back in a flash and I think I got some truly beautiful shots of them which I hope to process tonight.

On another note, my friend Vanya who I met on the Celta course came Saturday evening. She is a sweet young thing (I feel so old- KIDDING!!!) and we had a great time together. She came at a good time becasue on Friday Oscar and I had a meeting with a not so friendly dog and I was nervous to take him out after that. But Sunday V , O and I went up Tsaravets, which took about 4 hours in total. Oscar enjoyed the hike but expired like a burnt-out light bulb after the walk. We had a great meal last night at EGO, and I put her on the bus today back to Niche Serbia. I am due to visit there in the next 8 weeks.

In fact 4 of the next 8 weeks are taken up already by trips, and that suits me just fine. It dulls the pain of being away from my love for almost ten weeks total. I MISS YOU MY LOVE!

I am looking forward to three things most: Putting my arms around my mom and sister and kissing them (minchev meronneret tanem- also non translatable), making a gourmet meal with Franco and spending an evening eating, drinking and watching some dunb film, and dancing with my love at Andrews wedding. I cant put those in any order becasue I just cant wait to do any of them.

SOOOOOOON, VERRRRY SOOOOOON