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On not taking the road less traveled by
Just so you know, we will not be moving to Australia.
Probably you are not either?
We have been keeping this exciting possibility (Australia relocation) under our hats since late July, when G was told that he was one of a few attorneys in his company being considered to head up legal for the Australian branch of the company. We didn't tell the kids (why get them all excited/nervous until we know for sure?), we didn't tell family (same reason), or local friends (it's so hard to be straddling the line between being here and leaving). I did tell a couple of people who could know from afar and give me someplace to bubble up our news when I felt like I'd overflow (thanks, gals).
But the two of us, G and I, have talked about it a lot over the last months. Most plans began with "If we're in Australia...." or "If we're still here..." I admit, I looked into real estate and schools and church congregations. I knew it wasn't a certainty but I did enjoy thinking about the possibility of starting all over in a faraway country (and continent!). Unless I was worrying about going--moving the kids to a new country and new set of friends, distance from loved ones, missing our wonderful town.
Along the way, Australia came up in the oddest places. Almost every day someone mentioned it to me: they had lived there, were from there, wanted to go there. Was it a sign?!!
No. We found out that someone else is going. Which is fine, really. We'll buy curtains finally and stay here longer. Now we know which set of advantages + blessings we keep. Plus I'm relieved for Lauren, who would have spent her junior and senior year there (is there a more impossible time to move?).
The thing is, I kind of like adventure and the road less traveled. Now I'm still just doing what I was doing before and where's the fun in that? (I know, I really do have a good situation here and it's a happy life but compared to Australia? Meh.) It was fun carrying around this little nugget of a secret.
So long, Australia. I had great hopes for us.
Also in other news: I am not pregnant. But for a while there (at least in my active imagination), I was raising a little caboose baby (12 to 17 years younger than the other kids) in Australia!
Why is hard to let go of something you never had? And be relieved at the same time?
. . .
Best of 09 day 4: Best book. Fiction: The Book Thief, a book I have been meaning to read for at least 2 years. I had started no less than 5 times before and never gotten past the first chapter. Finally I did it this fall and loved it. I finished it on a Saturday afternoon on my bed. G came in as I was weeping profusely at the end and kissed me on the forehead. Non fiction: Mindset. I love Carol Dweck and her research. This is her general nonfiction book about her work, looking into how our mindsets (fixed traits or growth) affect effort and achievement.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Reader Comments (12)
I was found weeping at the end of Book Thief as well.
It's right up there near the top of my list for '09.
CHANGE. We embrace it, we prickle at the thought of it.
It's exciting, it's frightening.
Australia WOULD be an exciting possibility...
(as would a little caboose)
So happy adventuring! Enjoy the here. And the now.
xo
Been there and been there.
We had prospects of relocating to NYC {with 5 kids, eek!} and found it exciting and terrifying at the same time. (Senior year--not a good time to move. This among many other factors influenced our decision to persue or pass.) Not Australia, I understand, but would have definitely been a growing experience for all of us.
And, I thought I was pregnant TWICE since feeling like we were done. It was a HUGE relief to find out we were not, but there was that part of me that almost mourned for a baby that never was. Someone please explain this phenomenon to me?!!
PS- totally agree on the BOOK THIEF.
Totally sobbing at the end.
sigh.
Great book.
wow, Annie! Sounds like some opportunity to ride the rollercoaster of anticipation! My sister and her family were going to move to New Zealand and then she found out she was pregnant and that was the end. They had done so many preparations, etc. that she still refers to that time period of moving to New Zealand, even though they didn't quite make it there.
Happy Holidays!
You had me all excited there for a minute! You know I'm from NZ, but I lived in Oz for 2 years before moving to the US. It is a great place to live, and your girls would have LOVED it there!!! It is definitely a fun place for teenagers, and the church is very strong there. Well if the opportunity ever comes up, you need to tell me first lol! I have family and friends over there, so they are some good connections:) And a baby - yes I can imagine the relief and wistful thinking - I thought the same thing a year ago - was quite relived I wasn't, but sad at the same time! Us women are a strange species ;)
I am still a little bit sad about it myself, as I had grand visions of myself visiting you there. Now that I know I might have been visiting you AND a baby, I'm devastated. :-)
Please console me in a trip somewhere. I need something on my horizon...
And totally need to try the Book Thief. It's one I haven't yet read. Thanks for the tip. I like me a crier ending.
LOVED "The Book Thief." That Rudy . . .
I have fantasies about Australia--everyone is good looking and funny and talks so awesome. Let's find a good blog from down under to console ourselves.
And FYI, I went back to Gwen's list and found my link. Must have missed it in the masses.
at least you're not pregnant with an australian man's baby. that would really be bad news.
I have a niece that lives in Australia. Her husband is teaching at a university. I would love to go for a visit. They moved to London shortly after they were married. I find her life terribly romantic though I'm not sure she does. It is hard to be so far from family. She just had her third child and I don't know when I will get to see the baby.
Why don't you come visit me during the bleak mid winter and we will sit by the pool and eat at Outback. We could throw some shrimp on the barby.
Why is it hard to let go of something you never even had? So lovely. I'm always a little disappointed and relieved when I find out I'm not pregnant, which can't be that often considering my track record:)
I'm sorry for your loss of Australia, even though I have to say, moving at the end of high school really is a bitter pill. My parents moved me my senior year, and I still carry a hole in my heart that cannot be filled. I have overcome and gotten over a lot of things in life, but that still draws some tears and loneliness. It's just a this empty space. Sometimes I still don't understand why that one pivotal year was so important, but the truth is, it was.
Oh, I loved The Book Thief as well. Sydney Peterson gave it to me. I think I sent one for Lauren's birthday, and thought she would be old enough to read it. Maybe I was wrong, since a friend told me that she didn't think any 15-16 year old should read it. I love all your blog entries. It has been so long since I have checked in. I didn't know Sam was that sick! Loved your Thanksgiving table and reading about the good time that was had by all. And AUSTRALIA! 'Ello!! We know about the "adventure bug", but we are also happy you will be staying stateside where we can get at you easier. I hope things are more settled down after the houseful you had. What a great group, though. You are certainly a grand hostess. The non-stop food sounded great. Aaaaa! It's December!!! I'm in shock. Can't keep up. The wind is blowing and it is bitter cold here. CD recommendation: Sting's If On A Winter's Night. Fab-u-lous! Love you dearly, Ma