Life Lines of L: About Time and Flights and Love and Work and Living

Strange how fast time passes.
Today I was supposed to board the flight back to Chicago.
You know me, I fly a lot.
I'm not proud of that at all, but it's rather unavoidable at the moment.
I'm not on a plane back to Chicago.
I won't be for a while.
And as much as I miss giving Binti a hug and seeing friends and family, that puts such a big smile on my face and makes my heart so happy.
It gives me just a bit more time to live here, to love here, to work here, to explore here, and Berlin has become such a home that that feels so right!

I haven't written a blog post in the past two months, which for me very much reinforces that I'm no longer just visiting here. I'm caught both in the routine of day-to-day living, as well as enjoying the moments as moments of life.

Here is a long, long list of things from the past two months that I want to share with you, some more important than others:
1. I bike half way to work every morning to start the day with a bit of outside time and exercise
2. I bring a hammock to work for the kids now that it's warm enough to spend time outside
3. I signed up for classes that start in the fall
4. I went dancing quite a few times, even by myself***
5. I consider my coworkers my friends***
6. I do yoga with the kids on a regular basis
7. I hurt my wrist climbing and haven't been able to climb for the past 2 months because it's still not healed properly :(
8. I went to visit Nana in Stuttgart and we had such a beautiful time
9. Pia came to visit and we have seen each other so much compared to how little we saw each other before...
10. I love Fabi. And I fight with Fabi. We fight. But we have managed to make up again. And when things are good, they are really good, and I love him and I'm grateful for this time we have together. And we use it well! We have done so many things...

Explored the nature outside of Berlin
Picked each other up from work
Cooked so many dinners
Went to the movies together with friends
Had game nights with friends
Watched sunsets at the lake
Sat in our hammock at the lake
Built a ladder
Went to sauna together
Meet each others extended families
Celebrated his birthday together
So many more beautiful things
Mostly we spend many evenings together because one of us usually works the next day or during the day. I guess that's normal life?

11. I'm not as caught up in work anymore, I don't get home and feel I have no energy left for anything. I have energy and do things!!

12. I am starting to get to know Berlin better and better... :D I even got on the train at the right spot to then take the right stairs up the other day!! This is extraordinary

13. I really do love drinking a beer outside in the sun on a weekend or after work

14. ASPERGUS.

15. I have nightmares

16. I have panic attacks

17. I have not been to therapy in 3 Months

18. Mom was here and we spent mother's day together and it was such a beautiful day

19. Pia G. and I watch Tatort together sometimes

20. I saw Anna, my cousin for the first time in several years. It was good to talk and reconnect.

21. I voted in the EU elections, voted in person for the first time in Germany

22. Received my diploma in the mail after way too many months

23. Had the flu a second time but actually really felt rejuvenated after staying home a few days.

24. Spent a day learning about first aid specific to children and talking to co-workers, one who has been working for about 40 years and who had impressive stories to tell.
25. Occasionally I rescue food, especially from bakeries where the bread rolls would otherwise be thrown away at the end of the day
26. I love eating breakfast outside
27. I lost my favorite scarf
28. I got a pay raise**
29. I found a guitar to play on
30. I played the chicken-game with my kids on Friday and it was so much fun and made them so happy.
31. I desire harmony in my relationship and am so much happier when things are going well and I'm going to Prague with Fabi on Thursday and I'm so excited

I miss you all a lot. Feel hugged and loved! <3