Thoughts on a Pillow

I wonder as we draw closer to the big adventure of turning our lives into one of near poverty, what we shall miss. Last week Nancy and I met with a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, recently back from Romania. He was very positive but it sure sounded as if he was alone for most of his service, alone and lonely. I wonder what we'll miss.

I'll miss our dogs, Biscuit and Walter, miss our horses, Momma and Sparky and Rita. I know that I'll miss our bathroom and my bed. Mostly though I'll miss my pillow.

It's an ancient pillow, heavy and musty, but it's mine. I wonder if I should sacrifice suitcase space and take the thing with me? There are pillows and pillows all over the world, and perhaps in Romania there's a special goosedown with my name on it, but I do get so tired to the measly little puffs of air that come with so many hotel beds. Should I risk going years without my pillow? Will it remember me? Will it die of unuse during the months of my abscense?

Silly thoughts, but an old man and his pillow, lifelong friends, the one thing that is closest to and has shared all of my dreams.

On the Beach
A morning in May -

Prior to 27 months of poverty.....

As I get use to this new medium of Blog, who knows what errors and mistakes I'll make, but the best way to proceed is to proceed.

As mentioned in the first posting, Nancy and I are headed to Peace Corps duty in Romania. We'll be expected to live like the natives do -- not poverty exactly, but no frills. Those of you who know my wife realize that she has good taste. Sometimes good taste and near poverty come in conflict. With that in mind we've decided to escape the East Coast winter for a few days with a trip to St. Maarten in the Carribbean.

While in St. Maarten we'll indulge in a life style and extravagance to carry us through 27 months of fasting. It'll be our own Mardi Gras, a feast before the 40 days of austerity, except that our forty days will last considerably longer. The picture accompanying this blog posting (I'm being optimistic) is not of St. Maarten but of Aruba taken two years ago on our last excursion.

We'll be leaving for the warmth in a couple of weeks. Hopefully I'll have some St. Maarten pictures to share. I'm planning on sitting in my beach side lounge chair with $5.00 bills taped to my chest to see what beachcombing beauties might walk by. Chances are I'll need larger bills than fives, but I do have my limits....

Tim

A morning in May, what we are leaving behind.
A morning in May -

Tim & Nancy's Adventures

Hello,

This is Tim Hulings and I'm creating this blog thingy so that my wife Nancy and I may keep anyone interested in our Adventures informed of our state of body and mind.

We have accepted an invitation to join the Peace Corps and will be leaving for initial instruction and departure on May the 23erd. Our destination in somewhere in the wilds of Romania -- Romania does still have wilds, right? We both have been tabbed to help with economic developemnt - Nancy generally, and I with Agri-business, although we've heard that the Peace Corps is legendary for changing their minds once in country.

I've never blogged before so bear with us as we try out this new form of communication. I'll be adding pictures from time to time and most glad to answer any question that you may have.... although at this point it's mostly me making up the answers to questions for I haven't a clue on most topics.

Tim