Holidaze

It's taken me over a week to recover from Thanksgiving. My two daughters, Erin and Jenn came to visit; one for a week and the other for three days. During that time my place was taken over including the computer, TV, kitchen area, bathroom and living space. I even shared my bed with Erin as there is only a pull out futon in the living area. I used to live in a much larger 3 bedroom house with two full bathrooms when they were growing up. Thank God for that. I didn't think I was so territorial until the square footage shrunk and we were all trying to fit into a small one bedroom house. I silently cringed each time I noticed debris piling up on the floor, liquids spilling over on the stove and dishes stacking up uncleaned in the sink. I guess I am a creature of habit, after all, and guess I get more so as time goes on; especially since I have been living solo for the past three years. Don't get me wrong; I was thrilled to see them, our feast except for the overdone roast chicken was delicious and the highlight of our visit was the stop at Ojo Caliente for an afternoon of soaking in awesome outdoor mineral pools followed by dinner in the Artesian Restaurant. And I was secretly not unhappy to see them go - hence my recovery this week of doing laundry, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom and rewashing certain pots and pans. And of course now that's it's been a week I miss them again. I also overindulgenced, a fine American tradition, and avoided the face off at the gym and the scale. So I have allowed myself a week of being out of sorts, sitting with an ambivalence about sharing my space and staying out of routines that I find nurturing and comforting.
I find it difficult to maintain my patterns: ie: meditation, working out at the gym, writing time, bedtime, etc. when I'm in relationship with others. I too often bend my routine to their preferences - only to discover that unsuspecting resentment creeps in after a time - even though they didn't ask me to change for them.... I know this is my issue and one that I notice when I am in the same living space with others.
Christmas will be easier; I'm visiting Jenn in Durango, CO; she will be working during the day, teaching skiing to those on vacation and we'll spend a few evenings together. I'm hoping that she can manuever us a discounted room at the ski resort where she works so that I can happily pass my time in the indoor pool and hot tub balanced with hot drinks sitting by the fireplace reading or knitting. My goal is to balance our selections of evening activities - allowing her a choice for one night and me the other. I'll let you know how it works out....