Ahhh ...

I'm almost recovered. It's a long way to Alaska and back. Happy to be home and in the hot summer night, I stayed out on the beloved back deck talking until I stumbled into the bed. Then I slept ... really slept!

Getting up late I stumble into the outdoor shower and it is hot ... really hot! I love it. Throwing on running shorts and tee shirt I make my way to the Breakfast Club which opened hours ago.

"You're back already" Val exclaims when I walk in. She is pointing at me with one hand and holding up her pants with the other one.

Ignoring her I pour myself a cup of coffee, breezing passed her, breaking Helen's rule of customers not going behind the counter.

"You're an idiot" Val continues.

Ahhhhh ... it's good to be home.

Taking my stool on the other side of the counter, Ryan my red headed Step son takes the seat next to me. "Man for two days I've saying 'I hope Mike comes in today' cause there's something I need to tell him. Now for the life of me I can't remember what it is."

Ahhhh... everything is normal at home.

Philip, who is the seven foot tall master of toast, grits and garnishments at the Club turns to me and says, "Hey it's Katie's birthday and we're having a party that starts after work today and ends ... whenever, so ... y'all come by tonight. Any time's a good time."

Ahhhh ... the party theme at home that dominated July is extending into August.

I love Katie. She is like 25 but functions as a surrogate mother to me giving me advice, sending me thoughtful little messages and we play a wicked game of water basketball. Philip, her husband and I, really enjoy each other too.

Driving back home, Goddess is waiting at the bottom of the stairs as I enter. She wants her walk and the lady of the house get's what she wants. Grabbing her leash from the top of the fridge covered in pictures and Jesus magnets, her tail wags and she is full of excitement. Jumping on me, she leaves a big scratch on my leg but she's happy that its hard not to be happy with her.

She guides me ... that is generous ... she pulls me to the marsh ... around the corner to the Back River ... stops to smell some dog crap ... she's never met any that she doesn't think is interesting ... then she pulls me to the sad little holy dock so that we can listen to the choir of mussels ... then around to Art's yard where she leaves a pile for other dogs (but I pick it up) ... then back home where she chases the neighbors cats away from our yard.

Ahhhh ... the pup has already forgiven me for leaving her for the third consecutive week. (Yeah, I haven't told her about next week yet.)

Inside the house I check on my flowers which are now everywhere. In the back yard, on the back deck and in the house. Fran's thousand shades of green have grown feisty and are hanging everywhere. I've forgotten how Fran could always take the lead and make me enjoy it as I tagged along.

"Fran," I say to the trees that are growing from the neighbors yard into mine, "you're getting a hair cut soon."

She says nothing back staring at me.

Ahhhh ... Fran is so consistently Fran and I love her dearly.

Dedra has fled the island since I've been gone. The last I heard is she had become a full time roadie/groupie for the Samuel Adams Band and was in a van with Sam and Gordon heading to an Italian gig. Eventually she'll make her way back ... I suppose. She's more Tybee like than I am now.

So I'm home and am loving being home. Don't get me wrong ... Alaska was great, but home is the most fascinating and rewarding place. It is full of peace.

Ahhhh ...