My Farewell Tour

Years ago, sitting in class, didn't you wonder why you had to learn where Mesopotamia was? Why learn about the places so far away? What was the point of knowing about some huge desert in a place it was unlikely I would ever visit. Well, now I know why. One never knows in life what sort of interesting things will come about. And my life has certainly been interesting. But, now it's time to learn about another part of the world and depart from my safe haven of New Hampshire and head out to parts unknown in a place called Abu Dhabi.
I am calling this part of my journey, before I leave, my "Farewell Tour" because haven't you ever noticed that when a cool rock band is going to change members or break up, they have a Farewell Tour that lasts about a year? Well, I began my "Farewell Tour" at the Thanksgiving dinner table last November as I sat and looked around at my family, my cousins, aunts and uncles and I asked my mother what she would think if I decided to teach overseas. My mother responded favorably and I thought, well, then, this is it. This could be my last Thanksgiving dinner with the family in New England, for a couple of years. I mentally looked around at the family as if to impress their faces and that moment on my mind. At that point, my mother was the only one who knew that I was planning such a crazy, wild journey of my heart. I applaud her for being open to such an idea. Now that I am further along in my journey, she is still so very supportive. What more can one ask from her parents?

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Anorexic Packing

I'm trying to shove my life into two suitcases, one carry on,, a laptop bag and a large canvas bag. It's not easy. I binge, I purge. I see it all come back the next day. I binge and purge some more. In the meanwhile, as my packing has turned into a marathon event, I am also working at purging my outdoor life of a few extraneous living things...my yard has been turned into a spectator sport. People stop by, drop their jaws and stare in what can only be described as abject horror, fascination or hilarity at what is going on in my yard. The backhoe is there, tugging pulling and thrashing with roots, tree stumps and large bricks and mortar. People ask my man Vincent what is going on. He responds, "Well, I think she hit the lottery" because, really it's no one's business but my own. In a way, I have hit the lottery. I am going on the trip and experience of a lifetime. The decision to tear apart my yard was borne out of a need to make the yard work very easy and accessible for my son, Jake, who is going to be my housing manager for the two years I am overseas.
I guess I have an all or nothing personality at this point. My house has been overhauled, both inside and out. Every bedroom is getting a bed, desk, bureau, bookcase and a "welcome to our home" basket with a stainless mug and a few items to help with the transition to our home. Two young men will be living with my son, when school begins on the first of September. I've been told a few horror stories from well-meaning friends, I am remembering some of the poor choices made by some members of the family who shall remain nameless. I am trusting a lot in God and in the power of his influence in this move to Abu Dhabi. I am also trusting a lot in three young men to use this time to grow safely, and enjoy a fairly stress free life in a small town in New Hampshire. My son looked up his college in the rating catalog, yesterday. "Hey, did you know that NEC is ranked higher than Colby Sawyer and Franklin Pierce College?" Of course I do...did he think I was sending him to some rinky dink New Hampshire school? As I move on to the field trip of a life time, I pray that my instincts are correct...that this is exactly what I should be doing at this point in my life.
Let the packing anorexia continue! I shall purge more, tomorrow.
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1 comment:

  1. DianaAugust 4, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    The packing part was so angst-ridden. :) I'm enjoying your writing.

    ReplyDelete

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