Our time in Brussels was short but very sweet. First of all sweet because our hotel was next door to a chocolate store. Secondly sweet because we were treated to the best Belgian waffles in Brussels! Wow!! I love my waffle recipes but I need to dig a little deeper because I’ve now experienced the best! Wow!! I forgot to take a photo (because I was busy savoring) but I believe the name of the place was Maison Dandoy – in case you are ever in the neighborhood.

The waffle scarcely settled before we were treated to Belgian Frites – the true name of French fries. Apparently our returning WWII soldiers found it easier to say French fry than Belgian frites – but these were twice fried and quite delicious.

We toured three possible venues for the singers and our favorite was the Royal Cathedral. It is a relatively new building, completed just over 100 years ago. The other beautiful buildings were in the grand plaza – supposed to be the finest in Europe and I believe it.

Our hosts for the afternoon were Bruce and Jean Bingham and a young intern, Elijah. Everyone was very pleasant and we felt like we were with old friends. We enjoyed a dinner together at their favorite restaurant to close our evening.

We had an early morning flight to Amsterdam and I am now on the plane headed home – but it feels a bit like I am headed homeless.

It has felt homeless for awhile now – when Nina visited last month she said something like, “I’ve been to three of your houses but you’re kind of homeless.” My own words may be mixed in there…

My first home is only partially built so that doesn’t count. Before that I will be sleeping in my parents’ basement so that feels a bit homeless. When I land I will head to my empty rental house – obviously homeless feeling because Mark is gone. Even more homeless because I have been slowly moving myself out for weeks – the walls are bare, extra rooms are emptied, and my room feels a bit like a hobo camp. I switched to a queen sized bed which is just a mattress on the floor. My nightstand is a Rubbermaid tote and my dresser is a pile of avocado boxes from Costco. It sounds pathetic but I choose to be amused. (I have furniture so no worries, it is just in storage.) A few weeks ago Greg and Jackie were amused at the paper plates on the shelf and the lack of ingredients in the cupboard – but about lost it when they opened the silverware drawer to find plastic. Not quite the Mom’s house to which they are accustomed – haha, me neither.

So as I sit here on this plane I have to prepare myself to go home(less). An entry I have seen repeated over and over in my new widow/widower groups is the sadness of coming home with no one to greet you. It is somewhat dreadful… Wow. That is sounding pathetic. These past weeks have been full of mémorable places and people. My life is full of memorable places and people. FULL. I am not homeless after all.