And Poof She Was Gone!

Jackie was here. Now she is gone.
Again!
She arrived November 8 and left November 23.
No matter how long it is, it is never long enough.
I could get into the whole thing of mother love and heart tugs, but that is just a given.

To quote my mother in law, Jackie got to see the newest twig on our family tree. I love that saying. Jackie was thrilled to see her newest niece, Kelsey. I am sure that she spent one gig of a memory card just on Kelsey baby pictures. And why not she is the cutest baby around.

We all had a chance to visit with Jackie at a impromptu family get together. Thank goodness for the amenities room in our condo. Jackie gladly shared her newest endeavors on the weekly paper of the Japan Times. She shared a few stories of her life in Tokyo and Japan in general.

Jackie requested a “fake Christmas” for the immediate family. So on Saturday the 15th, we put on the carols and Christmas videos. We put the turkey in the oven and set the table with green and red. Short of our Christmas tree, it felt like Christmas. We shared our presents. We stuffed our faces with food and Jill's lovely decadent dessert and fell into a luscious post somnolence stupor of a Christmas dinner.

Jackie and I had a day of shopping. That is she shopped and I got to watch her try on hundreds of things. It reminded me of the times I sat outside of the change rooms when the kids were teenagers. Jill and Jackie would each take a room with an armful of clothes and I would sit a wait for each to come out and model their newest fashion must have. I was always a sucker for fad clothes for the girls.

Through the haze of those few weeks, Jackie and I got a chance to chat about her newest hopes and dreams. Her ever evolving plans. Her love.

Jackie lives life to the fullest and at break neck speed. Vicariously, I live the life I always said I wanted to do through her. I did not understand that distance from family would be the expense at which it came.

As Alanna told her auntie Jackie on the last visit to Calgary, I can email and see you on skype (video telephone on the computer), but it is not the same as being able to hug you in person.

Yes it is not the same. That is why the time flies as their is never enough hugs to carry you through to her next visit

It was sooooo good to see you Jackie.
We love you : )
mom
Wendy K H