We're two hours away from a trip to North Carolina to visit Ed's parents. This morning our biggest dilemma was whether or not to pack beach towels. And what a glorious dilemma. Much different than our more common dilemmas lately - both Ed & I had applied for a few Community College faculty jobs in the Northwest- neither of us were even called for an interview at the first place, but I was called for an interview at the other one where we used to live in West Seattle. Lucky me, I already have tickets for my friend's wedding in Portland, OR, the same time they wanted me to interview.
In the middle of applying for jobs, our landlords let us know that we need to move. Seems her dad needs more care- understandable. So, we found a new place to live and put down a deposit. The next week I got the call for the interview. Currently, we are in limbo-land- not knowing where we'll be in two months- not knowing what jobs we'll have in the fall. Ed applied for sports psych job this morning in the NW. Who knows.
Needless to say, we're getting a bit
frickin' tired of the not-knowing. HOWEVER, in the middle of the height of not-knowing, Ed received an email from a good friend in Seattle-
Meza. Who, by the way, is currently moving into a new home with a 21 month old and a wife who has designed the remodeling of their new home and overseeing the construction that is occurring while they live in the house- and, oh, is about 8 months pregnant with their second child-I'm thankful for a
dustfree environment.
When we first moved to Boston, it was incredibly LONELY. Not the obvious lonely where we realized on a daily basis just how far 3,000 miles is away from friends and family, but the kind of lonely where it felt like no one really knew what we were going through- the risks and sacrifices and the significance of the choices we made to move so far and pursue a life that was far from guaranteed. This is why, when, after emailing
Meza to let him know he didn't get that original interview- just a one line "
BCC passed on me, I was
bummed," Ed and I were overwhelmed with the response:
Luva - I am amazed at how close you are. I just know that the future will work out perfectly for both of you guys. You have had great success with these stressors in the past; things will fall into place beautifully for you two. (By the way,
Luva is Ed. Why his friend from college calls him that is worth another post.)
I asked Ed to forward me this email so I could post it in my office. Hearing the same words that we tell ourselves on a daily basis from someone else is POWERFUL. Never underestimate the power of support- in any form, particularly the kind you can print out and look at right after a student walks in near tears and you have to explain, why, despite all their effort to
not turn in much work the entire semester, they are
still somehow going to fail the class. So powerful that since then, we've slowly built up faith reserves for the unknown.
If Jack naps on the plane, we're going to make four lists. The first will be "pros" for living in the Northwest" (if I get the job); the second "pros" for staying in Boston a few more years; the third "cons" for the NW; and lastly, "cons" for staying in New England. We've been listing them all and really, our choices are all win-win. Sure, there's give and take (we trade beautiful fall colors for
Safeco Field) but how incredible that we have CHOICES. Good choices.
We'll be back in a week. After our trip to the beaches of North Carolina where Jack will no doubt exclaim his new favorite word, Dammit, to the in-laws because he won't get a fourth dessert like he does at home. There will be pictures, too.
