August 23

Well, we're home again... and it all seems so different now!

We got here late last night, and after stumbling out of the trailer we all took turns having hot showers, rather than cold. Thorin and I shared our shower, of course, since we hadn't been able to since we left (the shower in the trailer being so tiny, after all), and Frodo was giddy that he got to have a bubble bath for the first time in months! After that was done we piled up all our dirty clothes in the laundry room; and, really, I feel so spoiled now, having a washer and dryer all my own.

Then we went and threw a couple frozen pizzas in the oven, because none of us felt like cooking. I was almost shocked to find that the refrigerator in the house actually kept food cold, after making do for so long with one that would occasionally keep food cold. In fact, Bombur restocked it (and the freezer, and the pantry) before our return. And by restocked, I mean truly restoked. As in, every last can, box, and package was a new one – so he must also have emptied it, as well. I will need to see if some place up here sells Sriracha noodles, though, because I am beginning to miss them already!

Unfortunately, I didn't come up with any new recipes while we were away, but I suppose I can do that before we go on our next trailer journey (and there will be another one – though better-planned to be sure!). But it will certainly be nice to be able to use an oven again, and not need to worry about using up the propane or overheating the house when I need to cook something on the stove. Also, I have placed my pet potato-rock on the back of the sink for inspiration.

The dog and cat seem to be having a hard time adjusting to being in a house, which I suppose is at least to be expected for Hershey, since she may well never have lived in one. Certainly the animals are going to miss each other, since they have become friends, and have even gotten into the habit of sleeping together on the floor at the foot of our bed every night.

Bombur and his family are staying on for tonight to help us unload and clean the trailer; and since Dís will be here to get Fíli and Kíli tomorrow, and Gloin will come for Gimli the day after, there is quite a crowd here! But even with all those people in the house, it seems uncannily empty. I can't describe it really, but it feels lonely somehow. Too big and with too many rooms, like a palace rather than the cozy home I have always thought of it as. The kids felt it, too; and Frodo, especially, had a hard time settling in for the night.

Gimli seemed rather solemn when he was gathering his Marvel stuff from the trailer, and it seemed to make him a bit sad to be going back to the city. So I gave him the walking-stick I had made, and though it was a little big for him, I assured him that he would "grow into it" soon. Also, Fíli and Kíli told him that he could come and visit them in Petersham – and since Dís said we could store the trailer on her property up there, they might all end up sleeping in it when he does come by for a visit.

So, after everything was taken care of last night, Thorin and I went to our own (too-soft-and-too-big) bed; and we found that we needed to cuddle up together under a blanket to stay warm. We'd become so used to going without such a strong air conditioner for so long, that it was actually chilly in the room! But after we got comfortable, I felt Thorin shift, then he sighed and I opened my eyes to see him staring at me, and it seemed that he wanted to say something.

I didn't press him about what it was, though, and instead I just smiled and asked him, "Are we there yet?"

And he laughed and kissed me on the forehead, then said against my skin, "Yes, I think we are."

~THE END~

Notes:

As I am quite a music-oriented person, I made a playlist on my iPhone to go along with this story. I've listed the songs below, but if you feel like hunting me down on Tumblr (under the user name "kindly-whisper-tolkien", and the tag "whisper norbury writes") you can find links to these songs on YouTube.

FLEETWOOD playlist:
Heart Of The Day (Carbon Leaf), I Hope You Dance (Lee Ann Womack), Little Wonders (Rob Thomas), Lullaby For A Stormy Night (Vienna Teng), Movin' Right Along (from "The Muppet Movie"), My Wish (Rascal Flatts), On A Roll (Carbon Leaf), On My Way (Phil Collins), On The Road Again (Willie Nelson), Rainbow Connection (Kenny Loggins), Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Israel Kamakawiwo'ole), Walking In The Sun (Carbon Leaf), Welcome To Paradise (Plain White T's), Wind In My Hair (Mandy Moore)

Anyway, thank you all for sharing this trip with me! Indeed, my own family's travel trailer "adventure" has not yet come to an end; so (for us, at least) the Road goes ever on and on!