i am loving the new typepad.

last week's impulsive trip to macau was good for me. it was also good for the kids.

but it reminded me of dormant tess – who travelled to nepal while barely pregnant and headed off to vietnam at 34 weeks pregnant.

there are times and seasons to everything, i know that Lord, but when travelling tess comes back, i will rejoice. of course, i will also be mourning a bit inside, because other aspects in my life will have altered – my nest might be empty – or the kids might be making their own lunches.

but travelling. i miss the smell of indian rupee, the wet smell of the dollars, i miss exiting an airport and leaving behind air conditioning and being greeted with faces offering you various modes of transportation, the scent of flowers, new pollution, and the feel of damp heat on my face. i miss seeing "coke" written in other languages. i miss hearing a beep of a horn in a different tone, and gasping as a traffic accident is mysteriously averted. i miss many things.

i love unpacking my suitcase and pulling out my sweater and knowing whenever i get a bit surprised that my life seems so mediocre, i can put on the jumper and be reminded that we were together somewhere fantastic.

macau was a good trip.