There's a tremor in my life. I know where the fault lies, and I can see the friction caused by things moving. Things have been still for the last few years, but the time is ripe for another episode of subduction....
When we moved to Vermont, it was the latest in a long string of moves- 16 in 9 years, with no more than 12 months at any one address. It was... well, it wasn't very fun. We were very glad to be settled and I had a promise that we wouldn't move again for at least five years, which seemed like an eternity. That was 4½ years ago.
Q is on leave from the college next year: a sabbatical for research, writing, producing, and preparing before tenure review two years later. We will likely be gone for that year- probably not overseas, but far enough to feel like far away.
So now, behind everything I do, everywhere I go, and everything I look at in my house, there is an unsettling murmur which gets a little louder each day. It began in the fall, when I knew I wouldn't see these trees again next year. Of course, there were days in the winter when I was a little glad I wouldn't see the temperature drop so low for a while. But much of it is bitter, not sweet. I see my children playing in the backyard and I know that the boys will not really remember this. When we return it will all be like new to them. And tearing the girls away from their friends and activities- even temporarily- will be painful. At least it is temporary... that's what makes it tolerable to move away from our home.
The upheaval is coming. I can see the signs and feel the pressure mounting, slowly. Sometimes the movement has created mountains in my life, sometimes volcanoes, sometimes altogether new territory, sometimes parts disappeared underground: it creates and it destroys. This time I predict it will be a good old-fashioned earthquake, and not a small one.
More to follow at a later date....
P.S. I'm not ready to discuss it in public (i.e. at church) yet.
5 comments:
That would be so tough! I am NOT good with change. We have moved three times since we have been married and one move was only 2 miles away.
Shae had an opportunity to go to Germany for 3 years and I couldn't do it.
Hang in there. That would be so hard!
I can totally relate Maren...I've been there all too many times and it never gets any easier. In fact, it gets harder as the kids get older and more established with friends and the community. But one thing I can say for certain is that I'm glad we have had the opportunity to live all over the country and experience different people and cultures within the same country. It's also nice knowing that I have so many friends all over the place!
You guys are in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us posted!
All I can say is that Quinn is very lucky to have a wife who is both adventurous and adaptable. You always amaze me.
Best of luck Maren. We only did 6 moves in our first 7 years, but move number 7 was the toughest. We'd been in Michigan for 5 1/2 years, and Braden (#2) was 2 1/2 when we moved there. We've moved again to Florida, and he still has a really hard time and misses Michigan tons. I hope it will really help you and your children that you will be going back. Moving really stinks....
Coincidentally I just ran across http://sabbaticalhomes.com/ in an unrelated context, but maybe it can be of help to you. -D
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