Ok! Last blog was in October. Let's start off with November. We took off for our Italy/Albania trip middle of the month. Got delayed at the airport by 2 hours due to a massive snow storm. Our delay of-course made us miss the connecting flights and as much as we thought that was so terrible, the alternative would have been to not have left at all since the airport in Seattle got shut down for 2 days immediately after our take of. The way Brisan handled the flight is something i will never forget. I literally thought i was going to loose my mind. He did not sleep whatsoever fighting it badly. We tried every comforting position, holding, swinging, singing, begging, pleasing and nothing helped. A good 17 hours later we made it to Italy.
After dealing with the main luggage delivered to France in error, we where welcomed from my brother Anest. It was so nice to see him after so long and after such a long trip. After another 2 hour drive we made it home to my sister's. Marta had been so anxious in anticipation. So much has gone by since the last time we had been together. Meeting my adorable nephew for the first time was so special. This distance we have makes me so sad. It's not right that it took 3 years to meet him in person. It was amazing to discover the similarities with Besa. Both, very loving but a bit jealous types. Brisan impressed everyone as always. The time change made him sleep all day and up all night. In case we forgot what it was like to have a newborn, it was a great reminder of those time i don't miss. Our time with my sister and her beautiful family went by way to fast. Between eating amazing food, a lot of sight seeing despite the snow and bad weather, and going to a lot of Parma's Castles, our time was up. We can't wait to visit again soon.
My new life's resolution. Make every effort to go and see family as often as needed. The flight to Albania was quick although we made the flight by the skin of our teeth. The flight was about to take off as we had scrambled to get passed security, which took forever, running from one end of the airport to the other while dragging along 2 kids, one not in the mood to hurry whatsoever. We made it one breath to the counter only to be told we can't go through as the plane is about to take off. I started crying and pleading with them and someone along the many phone calls made must have felt bad. They waited for us. What a relief. Missing it would have meant we would not get to leave until the next day. We finally made it to motherland. It had been 5 and 1/2 years since our last visit. I had missed it so much. The country has changed drastically. The best way to describe that change is this. Picture it like this. About 15 years ago, there was only one local phone line that served 3 towns. Now, if you don't have a facebook account, you are sort of a looser. Laptops and computers in every household. Some of the same issues however, still remain very still fresh. Lack of electricity in smaller towns and villages,bad roads, high unemployment and extremely high prices for everything is a painful reminder how much there still needs to change.
My parents seemed at home and i found that very comforting. Despite their broken hearts, they seemed at home which made me realize that the states is absolutely not the place for them long term. With my brother's memorial coming up, the house was constantly filled with visitors. Being in the house with what had happened was extremely hard for me. I really did not want to see anyone except spend time with my parents and our family. That was not bound to happen. I had this phantasy in my had that my brother's passing was just something that happened to other people and that i'd get to meet him once we got there. It simply SUCKS! I wanted to kiss, and hold him and say so many things but i never got the chance and i have only myself to blame. He never got to meet Besa or Brisan, Joni or any of his nieces. What a shame. I would give the world for one more chance. To this day, i refuse to think of Krenar as passed away. He is in my heart and thoughts everyday and will always be and shape how what i value in life the most. That very decision is what made the rest of our time in Albania better. We got to see where he rests and i know that he rests in peace.
In an effort to avoid the non stop visitors to the house, which is culturally expected and accepted, not by me really, we took a lot of day trips. Made it all the way to Saranda one day despite the windy road being tough on the kids. We ate out almost every meal as i got obsessed with the food. It was simple, local, traditional and delicious that all of us could not get enough. It became our daily adventure. Where we would eat next. The weather held up beautifully. It was middle of winter and never wore a coat until the last 2 days which we spent in Tirana. Orikum had changed so much so that it had become unrecognizable. Because of it's location so close to the water yet, minutes to the very popular national park Llogara, everyone seemed to want a piece. The place was over flooded with condos and town homes where most of the investors where outsiders. We where told that during the summer, it's gets so busy that people rent our rooms from their own residence to keep up with the demand.
My heart thought kept taking us to our village where i grew up. With the road fixed up nicely, we went there for lunch everyday to eat the restaurant run by a neighbor we grew up with. Fresh goat meat everyday. We ordered double the order each time. I can go back for a meal there again tonight. Our total time in Albania was about 2 weeks. Next time we go back, Brisan has to be at least 3 and 1/2 years old. Besa was a breeze flying on the way back. Brisan made me look like a horrible mother. I kept asking for more wine to numb down how much i wanted to scream. During the 12 hours of non stop flying he slept zero hours, fussing the entire time. The frustration of that flight is still so fresh in my mind ever 3 months later. Coming home was a relief. Back to a normal life, busy crazy but predictable life is not a bad thing. It took a month actually to catch up with kids's school, schedules, bills and all kinds of other non sense.
It is February now and we feel ready for another vacation. Even though winter for some reason feels kind of short this year and not as depressing as usual, we still crave sun this time of year hence a little one week vacation to Mexico in April. We are going with our friends that have children same age as ours which will be perfect as we will take turns in child care so Ben and I can spend some time alone and just soak up some sun uninterrupted by our lovely kids.
