almost lost

...but not quite. Today I went for a little run, after the kids were off to school. Or so I thought. We have a lovely path behind our house--it used to be a railway line, and now is used by runners, walkers and cyclists. It runs for miles, and I thought I would explore it a bit this morning. So I headed out in the direction of Ushaw College, where I will be doing some teaching this fall, which is only a couple of miles down the road. I knew I wouldn't get all the way there and back this morning (being somewhat out of practice), and I knew that the path intersected with a road that would lead me back home.

Or so I thought.

I headed up the road confidently, expecting that I would soon see the familiar sights of Broompark to reassure me. Instead, I saw a sign welcoming me (and safe drivers) to Ushaw Moor. No problem, I thought, I'll just carry on and then head back toward the path; that should get me back to the B6302 (the road that runs in front of our little neighborhood). I ran up, and up, and up, gradually realizing that I was headed away from the B6302, and from Broompark.

Perhaps at this point I ought to have turned around. Or asked for directions.

Instead, I carried on, trusting in my innate sense of direction (really, I did well running in Paris, Austin, and a random town in Ohio--just ask Kelly). Eventually another sign welcomed me to Bearpark. Now Anna has a friend from school whose family lives in Bearpark, and I had intended to visit. But not this morning. At least I knew that Bearpark's main road headed back in the general direction of Durham, and how to get back to Broompark from there. 

Only it didn't. At least not in the way I thought it would. So I took the next public footpath (these things are great, if not signposted in great detail) that looked like it headed in the right direction. By this time I had been gone about an hour, and was a little concerned that Lewis might be worried. Since I was still on the map, so to speak, and recognized place names, I wasn't worried. When I came to the crossroads-of-sorts, I had to choose a direction: toward Bishop Auckland (to the south) or Durham city centre. Since I know how to get home from the city, I thought that made sense. 

Maybe so, but the road didn't look like I expected it to. I spotted a woman pushing a baby in a stroller, and thought I would swallow my pride and ask for directions. She looked a bit (ok, maybe more than a bit) suspicious when I stopped and said, 'Excuse me.' Who could blame her? I was outfitted for a run, and would have looked a lot less out of place on the Strand in my hometown. So I cut to the chase: 'I am completely lost,' I said. Turns out that's a pretty good way to disarm a stranger. 'Right,' she said. 'Where do you want to be?' 'Broompark,' I said. She directed me to continue on, down the hill and up again, until I saw the sign for Bearpark (yes, Bearpark), and take the public footpath...

well, I did. And she was right. How was I to know that at that crossroads-of-sorts I was supposed to take the lane that looked like it should only be used by tractors?

Durham, finally

Well, here we are. Anna, Iain and I arrived last Saturday. Fortunately Amanda, our longtime babysitter, was able to accompany me across the Atlantic. Although the flight was uneventful, Friday was incredibly busy and crazy. Thanks to lots of help from friends (one of whom we met by sheer good luck just after passing through security), we made it!

Anna is settling in, and enjoying her new school. She still misses her friends from Coralwood, and mentions them daily. Thomas has been in school since the 1st of June, and has made friends. Even Iain had a wonderful first day at nursery school! This week I have meetings about my job, and we are continuing to get our house in order. We'll post pictures as soon as I can get my own computer up and running!

cheers!

...and they're off!

Lewis and Thomas, that is: this afternoon, they left for the UK. I am still waiting for my visa (and my passport) from the British consulate in Chicago. Iain and Anna are staying behind to keep me company and help with all the unfinished business here in Atlanta. There's always so much more to do than there appears to be when your departure date is still six weeks away. Fortunately, I will have help from friends--Iain and Anna will probably undo more than they will do to help.

We plan to follow next Sunday, provided my visa arrives in time. In the meantime, Lewis and Thomas will be exploring Durham, buying a car and numerous other items we'll need as we settle in; I will be here, sending a couple of stray boxes, packing light for travel with my two high-maintenance travelers, and cleaning the house thoroughly for our new tenant, who will rent the house from us for two years. 

I realize now that far more friends will be keeping up with us via the blog, I will have to be much more faithful in my posts--especially photos!! 

update

It has begun: our belongings are making their way across the Atlantic now. We will follow in a couple of weeks, provided all the documents are in order. The house is nearly empty, and will soon be occupied by our renter! We were lucky to find an interested (and reliable friend) who was looking for a new place, and thought ours would do. 

Perhaps the big news of the day, however, is Anna's 2nd place finish in the 50m at the Special Olympics today. I wish I had been able to cheer her on in person. (Unfortunately it happened to be one of the few days on which I had another obligation: giving the final for my class!) We hope that she continues to enjoy Special Olympics events once we get settled on the other side of the Atlantic, and that we have the opportunity to share in the fun!

We do have a new address now, which I will happily send upon request. Eventually, we'll get around to sending out an official 'we're moving' email, most likely when it is in the past tense! It's all happening pretty quickly now!

Thomas' 4-leaf clover

I doubted such things existed. But there he was at the back door, brimming with excitement. Finally, all that clover, which we think of as a lawn menace, makes good. Thomas was really pleased with himself, and we had fun with it.

As we plan the details of our move, moments like that aren't simply and straightforwardly delightful. I realize how much Atlanta has become 'home', even for a native Southern Californian who almost melts away in the heat and humidity. The children were all born here and have made their first friends here. Thomas has a best friend in pre-K he'll miss, and he's still set on marrying his 'girlfriend'. (A couple of days ago we had a conversation about what 'engaged'--to be married--meant. When I explained, Thomas said, "so it's like when I ask Ellie to marry me and she says yes." Pretty much.) Anna misses school every break, and even Iain has his friends in the toddler group at preschool. 

We do have a date: 24 May 2009 is our departure date. We have a moving company and will have a ship date within the next couple of days. We have rented a house in Durham. We have a renter for our house, committed to two years. Classes at Candler/Emory finish this Friday, and graduation is May 11. The kids' last day of school is May 22, and things for them are winding down. We have numerous going-away events planned, for us and for the kids. And yet, it is difficult to imagine leaving and making a home somewhere else.  

Of course the last several weeks have been busy, and the next several weeks promised to be equally so. I will try to get some pictures up soon, so don't give up! In June we plan to take a trip to the Lake District! There will be photos, I promise! In the meantime, we are anxious for the prayers of all our praying friends, and grateful for all the good wishes sent our way. 

40

yep, that's right: I have been around for four decades now. Anna chose a birthday card for me with a kitten on it, and insisted on writing inside. Lewis translated: "Mommy" and "Anna." Thomas offered a card that doubles as a crown, which reads "Birthday Queen." (See photo.) And Iain liked the card he scribbled in so much that he didn't really want to give it to me. I can't blame him: the little lion on the front was pretty cute. 

no news on the home-sale front. we have had a quiet week, with no lookers at all. I admit, though, that I do enjoy having the house clean and neat all the time, just in case. 

lapsed...

so much for my good intentions. although I have failed miserably to update the blog, we finally got the house on the market last weekend. We have had some interest, but no offers. 

Bigger news, however, is that Anna was recognized this week for outstanding progress by the Council for Exceptional Children. 

She was very pleased--I can't remember when she last cooperated with a photographer. And of course we were very proud of her. She has come a long way in her years of preschool, from hardly talking at all to offering descriptions and requests, and expressing feelings. 

I will endeavor to post more regularly; certainly when there is news about the house, I will make it known!