I can’t believe how fast our month in the Midwest went! As anticipated it was very busy and good. I feel like I have had the opportunity to do a lot of reflecting during our time here. Especially since we leave today for Europe. I am sure that you aren’t going to be surprised to hear how the theme “multiple things can exist at the same time” has continued to ring true. Busy, fantastic, challenging, stressful and wonderful. All the things. We had quality time with family and friends, several doctors appointments, a tenant change and sold our Civic. It was a lot and it was great. I’m already looking forward to the next time we’re home, and to having time here without so many of the other things. I look forward to just truly enjoying uninterrupted quality time with our loved ones.
I will say with how busy it has been I found myself missing Dave. The beginning of the month was so busy that It went from just us all the time to basically being two ships passing in the night for over a week. He was working while we were home and I’m so happy that he had so much time with his friends too, especially since he didn’t get much of that the eight months prior to our visit.
It was interesting to be home in May, in a way that I wasn’t expecting it to be. This is the first time in 17 years that I am not physically experiencing the stress around the end of the school year and I’m still feeling it. Typically this time of year is very chaotic. I think Dave could attest to how the end of the year feels like survival mode. The brain is interesting. It likes to stick with what it knows. It becomes ingrained and enters default mode. I think that is why unlearning is so hard.
Also, I think being in a place that I have lived the past 27 years, and not staying in our house, makes it hard to not feel all the things that have happened over the years. Obviously there has been a lot of joy along with some challenging times and I am thankful for everything that I have been through because I feel a lot of positive things and growth has come from it.
Fortunately our Air bnb was lovely. It was in a great area of Saint Paul and it was easy to walk to the Selby, Dale, Victoria and Grand Avenue areas. It was very spacious and updated. I think we may stay here again when we return.
All of that to say, I am very much looking forward to the next phase of our adventure. We’re off to Europe today! We’ll be gone for six months and have planned through August so far. We’ll have some time with my dad, sisters, and their families in Greece. After Greece we head to Albania for three weeks, then Croatia for three weeks, Prague for a week and then Ireland for five weeks. It is going to be different than when we were in the US and Canada. I had times planned when I was going to see family and friends. And now I won’t see my mom and stepdad nor the majority of my friends until November. And my sisters too once we say goodbye in Greece on the 10th. And this is all a part of it. I’m excited to go to some places I haven’t been before and reconnect with Dave after this whirlwind of a month. I’m thankful for it all and can’t wait to see what the future has in store!
Sending you love wherever you are! <3