End of Summer Blues

Alright, I've got another metaphor for you.  Unfortunately, it isn't as gory as my scabs metaphor (I'm sure you are all experiencing similar feelings).  However, I'm sure it will instill the same quirky bittersweet feelings, as it does me. (:

Also, before I dive right in, let me just add how I've been meaning to write this post for a week or so, but due to a week of glorious weather (70's and sunny!!!) as well as my new-found obsession with a series called Once Upon a Time, this post has been postponed. << My apologies for the obnoxious run-on!

Oooookay! Now for the good stuff!  You remember how when you were a kid, or maybe are/were a parent with children, and you would get the end of summer blues?  I'm not sure if this is the 'official' label for it, but it's what I am deeming it!  But you all know what I'm talking about.. Getting so excited for summer to be over, because you are starting to get bored (gasp. I know!).  But at the same time, you are thinking... 'This is crazy! Why am I excited for summer to be over, when I know I'll be ready for it again in three weeks?!'  Maybe it was the fresh, new school supplies, or getting to see friends again, or having a purpose in life besides playing outside..or, more likely, all of the above!  Whatever it was, there was always that growing anticipation for summer to end.

Well...I've got my own case of the 'Summer Blues' here.  I can tell the end of my time here is slowly RAPIDLY, way-too-quickly, approaching.  It's not that I'm ready to go, but I'm also counting down the days until I go home. It's like my head is saying, 'No, I'm not ready,' but my heart is saying, 'yes, it's time.'

It kills me to say that I'm ready to go home though, because the day I set foot on Bradford soil/pavement/whatever, a little piece of my heart became a part of Bradford.  No... I take that back, a piece of my heart didn't break off..  A new piece was added.  The love I've developed during my time here has become a part of my heart, a part of me.  Instead of leaving a piece of me behind, my heart just grows bigger.  Obviously this is rather bittersweet, because on 9 July, I will be taking all of this developed love with me, while leaving the source of it behind.  I can't tell whether I'm more sad or excited to leave.  Every day, minute, second, it changes.  I guess simply because Bradford has become home.  So I'm not just going home when I go back to America, but I'm also leaving home.  And this time when I leave home, I don't get to simply come back in 10 months. And quite honestly, that breaks my heart, and kinda freaks me out...

Nonetheless, the end of my 'summer' is drawing nearer.  My heart is looking towards the new adventures that are swiftly approaching.  I pray that these feelings are just temporary though.  Because I want to embrace my remaining time here.  After all, this is just one small, itty-bitty part of this crazy gift called life.  So I plan on enjoying every last bit of it!

....(insert: Side Note) >> And in embracing my remaining time, it seems as though I've become open to the idea of going in to school extra days!  I never ever thought I would find myself doing that!  But either in sensing my rapidly approaching end, or because of it being a fun-filled special events week at school, I found myself volunteering to help my teacher on Thursday and Friday in addition to our normal Mon-Wed schedule.  I must be coming down with something...but I'm kinda' looking forward to it!..(maybe..yes!)

Picking off Scabs

So... I've come to the decision that certain visitors should not be allowed to come.  These visitors shall remain anonymous, but they know who they are, (and a lot of you know who they are) and they will be appearing in some following pictures. (;

These visitors came in all their beauty and happiness, and you know what?  We had a fantastic time!  We laughed, we cried, we played, we talked.  I got to show them a smallish piece of my life.  We ate out at Prashad (a famous curry house)  I also got to take them to London and show them the sights like the pro-London traveler I've come to be.  We saw it all!  Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, House of Parliament, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the British Museum, Trafalgar Square, and even perused the National Gallery for a little bit!

Now,  don't be tricked.  I know this all seems lovely and happy, and fun...but take heed...it gets worse.

You know when you were little and you would pick off those pesky scabs before they were ready?  Maybe I'm the only one who's ever done this, but I'm going to compare this visit as a scab...being picked off before it was completely  ready.

My fall.. resulting in the booboo (hence the scab) was saying goodbye in Dulles Airport that August day, so many months ago.  Sure it hurt, but I had distractions from the pain..new journeys awaiting, so I hopped up and eagerly went on in my adventure.  My booboo healed, the pain went away, and I went on with life.  But remember, I still had that scab.. I started picking it off the moment I looked towards platform 2 at Bradford Interchange and saw them walking towards me.  That first hug, the countless hugs and kisses following, the hours spent together, the looks we shared across the living room, the cuddles on the couch, the late-night goodnight hugs, the hand-holding, the walking arm-in-arm, the hugs shared in H&M, the tears held back, the whispers murmured, the single tear in the museum while sitting together waiting for someone to come out of the bathroom, the giggles, the shared hotel room... all the little edge bits of my scab.. coming off little by little.  I was enjoying myself immensely.  But then, the big one, that one piece of the scab you KNOW you should leave alone because its definitely not ready to come off.  But unfortunately, I had no choice, I picked it off.  I gave one last hug each, and sent them on their way back to America, while I wandered back up the stairs to our hotel room.

And my scab bled.. not right away though.  I didn't realize it was bleeding until I got back home to Bradford.  I walked in the house, and it just felt...weird.  You see, my scab wasn't ready to come off.  I was ready to see them again, but I was NOT ready to say goodbye.  I didn't have the distractions this time around.. just my day-to-day life.  It felt weird that they were going home, and I was here for however many months left.  And now I had those hugs, those kisses, those looks shared, the walking arm-in-arm, fresh in my memory, only to be taken away again.  And it hurt.  It still does.  But I know my scab will heal again, and in time I will once again get to see them.

Now don't think I'm not happy that they came.  Maybe it would have hurt less if they didn't come, but I am infinitely happy that they did.  I had an incredible time with them.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I'm simply saying that this is what I feel post-scab picking.  No remorse, just thoughts.

Now...for the fun pictures!  :)

I LOVE YOU BOTH!!!

All my love.