as of today we have
2 weekends
1 payday
17 days
too many hours to count before we leave.
It feels just like the last time. Sitting in church this morning I was thinking, “only 2 more Sundays before we’ll be going to church in Oman.” The most frequently asked question when people see us now is, “when are you leaving?” rather than, “how does it feel to be back?”
I’ve started wondering if we have enough luggage (we only have 1 suitcase each now) and how I’m going to fit everything we need in those bags and wondering if I need to buy more clothes before we leave which would mean buying more suitcases, but then do we really want to have to haul more stuff through an airport than we already have? The exact conversations I was having with myself back in November, only the destination has changed.
There are last appointments to make, more goodbyes to be said, many more “this is the last time we’ll _______ before going to Oman” over the next 2 1/2 weeks. More consoling to do as the kids say things like, “I’m going to miss _____” or “I’m nervous about moving.” The same goodbyes, the same worries and fears, the same unknown stretched out ahead of us, but a different spot on the map as our landing place.
And then, the same first walks around new neighborhoods, first drives down unknown roads, new friends to make, restaurants to become fast favorites, first impressions to form again. I’m experiencing Groundhog Day, 2011 style.