It Started Last November

Confession:  When my husband first mentioned the possibility of moving to Australia last November, I could not have told you its capital city.  Nor did I much care. 

Within twenty-four hours of him dropping the bombshell, I lay prostrate on the couch, having finally succumbed to the stomach bug that had been plaguing our children for the past ten days.  Australia?  Absolutely not.  I knew he had been dreaming about another international stint for quite some time, so I was prepared to perhaps consider a European location.  Perhaps.  But definitely not Australia.  It took me about two seconds to discover that I had never even had the slightest desire to visit, let alone live, there.

Six months later I find myself wandering around the house trying to figure out which items should be included in the fifteen or so boxes I was told would fit into our air shipment container.  My bookshelves alone could easily fill up all the space.  After my family members and friends, books will be the hardest to part with, even though I know the parting is temporary and that there is a big library within walking distance of our house.

Apparently our eldest feels the same way.  I gave her two boxes to fill with her most desired possessions, and she has chosen mainly books.  "You can get those identical books at the library," I protested, secretly feeling sympathetic.  "But look how many I left behind," came her response. 

We now know that Canberra is the capital of Australia, and despite a few initial tears and protests, are looking forward to the next two years.  Thanks in part  to Bill Bryson  and his lovely, hilarious book "In a Sunburned Land," I even feel excited about it most of the time.  The middle two children have resigned themselves to saying goodbye to friends, and the youngest mainly wants to be reunited with his beloved daddy in "Hysteria." 

Comments

[Shanda]

Christie: I am looking forward to reading your blog as you go on this adventure. Thanks for the Bill Bryson book recommendation.
A library within walking distance??? What a blessing, I'm sure you will spend lots of time there.
"Hysteria"? SO funny!