Life back at the home front – Ryan went home on Wednesday. Kayanna and me went to dinner with Wayne that night. She was beyond cute. She wanted to wear heels…she’d found a pair at Vickie’s that fit her and her fascination with them had always been huge because her mom is a shoe freak so Kayanna comes by it naturally. Of course Vickie wasn’t willing to part with her heels so we went shopping in Vegas. We found the dress and the heels to go with it and because she’s a girl, she refused to admit the heels hurt her feet. I prodded and queried about how her feet were doing but to no avail. She was going to wear them come hell or high water.

Even though she was hobbling around the Las Vegas Hilton like a crab that had lost a claw, she held up like a trooper. I told her to just take them off and carry them for awhile, even went so far as to explain that a lot of women did that with their heels. She went for it for a bit but jumped immediately back into them. K-e-e-e-rist! What women force themselves to go through for the sake of fashion…or is it insanity. She insisted on wearing them on the flight home…she couldn’t wait to see her mom’s face when she got off the plane in heels. So…she wore a pair of slings to the point where we checked her bag and then did the ‘heel’ transfer. The slings were kewl too. They had ‘disco lights’ in the acrylic heels. Sure…I bought them for her too.

And don’t let me forget to mention that she tried all the desserts in the buffet and thought Wayne was pretty neat but I’m sure her opinion of him jumped up about a 100% when he brought her more chocolate covered strawberries. “Umn-n-n-h-h-h! These are fabulous!”

On Thursday we took the beautifully energetic child, Riot, home for the night. He has his own accommodations at my house, crib included.

Friday found us taking a souvenir trip to the Strip. Goods in hand, we stopped by the store and came home to start our farewell dinner. She helped me prepare ‘outside potatoes’ (baked potatoes on the BBQ), a salad, and an overly incredible Rib Steak. We dined outside, in the serenity of my awesome, newly finished yard. Great meal and great company. Somewhere around 11ish we went to Vivienne’s for a late night swim. And then back to my backyard for more SMORES! I cranked up the chimenea and Vivienne and Kayanna both downloaded Smores. Finally…time to sleep.

Saturday morning and it was time to pack her suitcase and get ready to depart for the airport. We both vowed we wouldn’t cry. We made it! She was ready to go home and as much as I love her and enjoy her company, I was ready to have my life back. She gave me a hug and kiss, and strutted after the flight attendant, disappearing with a wave. She’s growing up. Damn it!

My Saturday night card-playing buddies were over and after they went home for the night, I had a brain tearing thought, “When did I become unconscious?”

Time never slows down for anyone and seems to speed up for me. Or is it because I just feel that way? I’ve been running a marathon on the Time Treadmill. I lost my touch with being able to relax somewhere in the insanity I created for myself. The last few weeks opened the doorway again – back to the world of the conscious.

If I can’t get it done today, it will still be there next year. Just like the campground…