In which we inch a little closer to Kazakhstan.
It's been awhile since we've last spoken. We apologize! We've been busy learning the fast way that life is all about change. And one of the biggest changes when you become a parent is the speed of time.
Seasons change quickly and winter gives way to spring. Owen made these sage observations about the transition:
"Easter time is over, Daddy. Now it's time for Christmas."
"Well, honey, Easter's over but there are a lot of things before Christmas. We'll have Mother's Day and Father's Day; Fourth of July; your birthday and Momma's birthday; Grandma Gloria's birthday and Daddy's birthday; Grandma Pat's birthday and Grandpa's birthday. Then Thanksgiving and then Christmas."
"Hmmm. No, I think it should just be Christmas and then my birthday."
Behold the great negotiator.
As parents, our definition of excitement has also evolved. Ten years ago, Robin and I were still enjoying nights out at the clubs listening to bands and drinking questionable cocktails. More recently, we were thrilled when, during a quiet dinner at our favorite neighborhood restaurant, Owen shouted at the top of his lungs:
"THE POTTY IS COMING OUT!"
It marked the first time ever we'd had enough notice to get him to the men's room and onto the toilet. He celebrated by running back through the restaurant shrieking, "I DID IT! I DID IT! I DID IT! I pottied in the big-boy potty!"
It was better than bands and cocktails! (Better than most bands and some cocktails, anyway.)
We're also changing our definition of thankfulness. A few months ago you may've read that Grandma Pat was facing down lung cancer. Now, in June, she's cancer free after a comparatively smooth treatment of radiation and chemo therapy. The radiation burned her lungs pretty severely though, and she'll need oxygen from here on out. But as the doctor says: we'll trade a tube in the nose for cancer any day!
Sadly, Grandma Pat's good news did not change the specter of cancer in our lives. Good friend and long-time fan of Owen's adventures, Judge Isenhour, celebrated his birthday with the hopeful news of experimental treatments that may slow the advance of his prostate cancer. Even better, the treatments are given in Las Vegas where his grandchildren live. (The grandchildren's parents live there too; but we're learning that nobody cares about the parents.)
We stopped by the festivities to celebrate with him and give him our best. Who would've thought it would be the first time the Judge had met Owen in person? Unsurprisingly, they hit it off immediately.
Also celebrating was the Henshaw family. We went to the annual family reunion this weekend and folks had hardly changed at all. Owen met his cousin, Caitlin, though and learned to share.
THAT was a change.
In other news, after a few years of planning, Robin and I finally realized a dream when we purchased a flat in Paris! We, of course, can in no way afford this and have pinned our hopes on rental income and the huge tax write-off when we fail to cover costs. That said, we have our very own place in the city of lights and couldn't be happier.
It's in a "gentrifying" neighborhood, so we're calling it an investment. I wonder if that makes us international slum lords?
And speaking of investment, we're changing our definition of income as well. After 15 years of working for JPMorgan, I've finally been lured away to a new job. At the end of May, I started working for Fidelity Investments. It's similar work, but with a much larger client base and a whole new set of issues to tackle.
So far, so great, but the new job has led us to our last and biggest change: A new home. As sad as it's made us, we're pulling up stakes and heading east to the Boston area.
It took several blow-out going away parties to make everything sink in. We've been overwhelmed by the wonderful friends who continue to support and care for us. Aunt Val, Uncle Larry, Aunt Barbara, Miss Diane and a LOT of other pals showed us grown-ups a GREAT time at the Long Branch Saloon. (Miss Diane also hosted a follow-up "Pirates and Princesses" birthday party which was equally fun but with less karaoke.) Lisa and Tad hosted a wonderful family fest and Abuelito Paul even made a special trip in from Mexico to say "good-bye."
Making the transition to a new home involves good things and bad things. The bad news is that simply opening your eyes in Boston costs at least 50 cents. The good news is that it's an amazing city—close to the sea, to the mountains and more history than you can shake a stick at. (We walked past the graveyard where Mother Goose and Paul Revere are buried!) Moreover, we're a short 6-hour, non-stop flight from Paris.
We've been lucky to date. Our beloved (and we don't use that word lightly!) house in Kansas City sold quickly for more than we'd originally thought it would. And, in Boston, falling prices let us buy more house than we could've just a few years ago.
Everything will be closed and wrapped up by September 8. Until then, we're toughing it out as a family—I'm living in a corporate apartment and only home every other weekend. Robin and Owen are taking advantage of my absence to throw the ugly stuff away in preparation for the move.
If you get the chance, stop by and see us before we go.
You never know when things will change again.
