New and Improved

Apologies for the radio silence. It’s been a tough month or so. But I’m here in a comfy chair with the sun streaming through the windows and birds chirping in the yard, so I think I’ll give a little update.

This experiment (me moving a month and a half before Sky & the cats) was good for me and for us. I tend to think of myself as tougher, stronger, and braver than I am, sometimes. Or at least, I expect a lot from myself often. It was a good reality check to feel lonely and to wish Sky could be here pretty much every second. It was good to feel his absence and to know that I’d be 100% more ME with him here. At the same time, I did it, and so did he, and that’s pretty rad.

I didn’t make it smoothly, though. I managed to get a nasty ulcer which was humbling. Usually in touch with my body, it took me eating something I didn’t even like (gross stale cookies in the break room) for me to realize that my stomach had been hurting for weeks and that food was the only thing that made it feel better. Woopsie. I guess sometimes your body needs to bring out the huge hammer and hit you over the head to remind you to take care of yourself. Even then, I put off going to a doctor and figured I’d take care of it when I had more time. You can probably guess this was a bad idea: one afternoon I had to go to the Emergency Room by myself which was pretty scary. There were tests and IVs and I felt all drugged out and disoriented and really, really sick.

And then, out of the mist, came Jaime who drove over the second she got my voicemail. She sat with me and asked the doctor questions and drove me home and spent the night. I remembered why moving here was something we were so keen on: our closest, oldest friends live here. The ones we can call. The ones that will hold our hands and talk to us while they take the IV out. I’m not saying I didn’t have some great friends in Seattle – I did and do. It’s more that Jaime is someone I have known for so long and been through so much with, that I would never hesitate to call her for help, ever. She’s seen me at my absolute worst and my ultimate best. And I know the same goes for her.

So now I’m here with one day left: Sky and the cats are winding their way down I-5 to join me. I’ve got three days off of work in a row, which is magnificent. I’m still getting the hang of being a boss (something I’ll write more about later, I’m sure). But I’m working with kids again, and meeting parents, and talking to school teachers and doing the things I love. I forgot how rewarding my profession can be – it’s good to be reminded.