Albuquerque, NM March 20, 2011
What were we thinking?
To leave a home that has defined us for decades, to say farewell to family and friends that are so dear and beloved, to give up great work of professional accomplishment and personal satisfaction, to vacate a beautiful home and leave it to the vagaries of a lousy real estate market, to drive away from a city and state that are arguably the most beautiful and enchanting on the planet? What were we thinking?
And for what? The uncertainty of a life on the road? A Foreign Service posting that is unknown until at least 6 weeks from now? The constant, nagging thought that we might, just might, be absolutely crazy. There is no comfort in knowing that we are the only ones we know doing such a reckless thing with their lives and futures. The further insanity of the notion that we should be prepared for any of these: Iceland, Congo, Quito, Port au Prince or Papua New Guinea . . . or any of hundreds others.
After weeks of "the long goodbye," we depart in the morning. Packing for months of uncertainty is an art form. Will we be in Washington for the spring, the hot muggy summer, or for the next year? How many shoes, shirts, jackets? How to fit it into the small, square confines of the Nissan Xterra that will be our home as we cross America . . . .
Finally, how do you really say good bye? Is it "see you later"? "See you in two years?" "Wear sunscreen?" "Read our blog?"
Our route takes us through mid-America: Dalhart, Liberal, Wichita, Columbia, Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, Columbus. Bailey will insist on frequent romps through municipal green spaces, and we'll find our share of roadside attractions. Partly, it's a march through some of David's former home sites, and visits with midwestern relatives, chances to enjoy the presence of friends and family we might not see for a while.
This is not easy. None of it is. But, yet, there is a certain giddiness that we are, at this late stage in our lives, somehow managing to "chuck it all" and set out on a new career, lifestyle, and course. There's an abundance of enthusiasm about the new ways: how we will communicate electronically, what foods we will and won't eat, what "stuff" we can do without and for how long, and what this new employer will want from us.
So, departing New Mexico is the task for the next few hours. We are comforted by the fact that we will be back home soon and often, and that we can stay in contact even from a distance. We will try to keep this blog going, to keep the noise to a minimum, and to watch for and respond to your comments and questions.
Let's all enjoy the ride. Hasta la vista!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Leaving New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM March 20, 2011
What were we thinking?
To leave a home that has defined us for decades, to say farewell to family and friends that are so dear and beloved, to give up great work of professional accomplishment and personal satisfaction, to vacate a beautiful home and leave it to the vagaries of a lousy real estate market, to drive away from a city and state that are arguably the most beautiful and enchanting on the planet? What were we thinking?
And for what? The uncertainty of a life on the road? A Foreign Service posting that is unknown until at least 6 weeks from now? The constant, nagging thought that we might, just might, be absolutely crazy. There is no comfort in knowing that we are the only ones we know doing such a reckless thing with their lives and futures. The further insanity of the notion that we should be prepared for any of these: Iceland, Congo, Quito, Port au Prince or Papua New Guinea . . . or any of hundreds others.
After weeks of "the long goodbye," we depart in the morning. Packing for months of uncertainty is an art form. Will we be in Washington for the spring, the hot muggy summer, or for the next year? How many shoes, shirts, jackets? How to fit it into the small, square confines of the Nissan Xterra that will be our home as we cross America . . . .
Finally, how do you really say good bye? Is it "see you later"? "See you in two years?" "Wear sunscreen?" "Read our blog?"
Our route takes us through mid-America: Dalhart, Liberal, Wichita, Columbia, Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, Columbus. Bailey will insist on frequent romps through municipal green spaces, and we'll find our share of roadside attractions. Partly, it's a march through some of David's former home sites, and visits with midwestern relatives, chances to enjoy the presence of friends and family we might not see for a while.
This is not easy. None of it is. But, yet, there is a certain giddiness that we are, at this late stage in our lives, somehow managing to "chuck it all" and set out on a new career, lifestyle, and course. There's an abundance of enthusiasm about the new ways: how we will communicate electronically, what foods we will and won't eat, what "stuff" we can do without and for how long, and what this new employer will want from us.
So, departing New Mexico is the task for the next few hours. We are comforted by the fact that we will be back home soon and often, and that we can stay in contact even from a distance. We will try to keep this blog going, to keep the noise to a minimum, and to watch for and respond to your comments and questions.
Let's all enjoy the ride. Hasta la vista!
The Land of Ahs
Liberal, Kansas March 22, 2011.
The first night in our journey to the world involves sleeping in Dorothy and Toto's town. With strong winds all day yesterday, it wasn't hard to get into the story of Dorothy's house being flown away. Our Toto, Bailey, enjoyed romping on the Yellow Brick Road and peeing on the monument on the Land of Oz grounds. The scarecrow, tin man, and cowardly lion seemed amused by Bailey's antics.
Out here on the southwest corner of Kansas, we're experiencing America's steppes. (According to Shelly's Wikipedia research, these are not unsimilar to the steppes of Central Asia, especially Kazakhstan, where Heather is in her second week of Peace Corps training.) These steppes are wind-whipped fields of last year's crop debris, punctuated by grain elevators.
Our drive from Albuquerque took us through Tucumcari, Dalhart, Stratford, Guymon, and Hooker. Between the wheat fields and the feed lots, the area starts to look like America's dinner table. We're headed for the pantry today as we cross Kansas cornfields to the banks of the mighty Missouri. We'll have a chance to visit Aunt Jan Durrett, my mom's only sister for dinner and a quick overnight before continuing east.
We're off to see the Wizard! Just follow the Yellow Brick Road . . .
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