As a former fearful flyer (to put it mildly) I always appreciate any information from the pilot that explains something out of the ordinary. When flying out of Orange County, CA airport (AKA John Wayne), to reduce noise over the bazillion dollar homes below, planes take off and climb straight into the air — engines screaming, pressed back in your seat, rocket ship into space feeling. And then, just as suddenly, silence. It’s as if the engines have been completely cut or stalled out and you’re floating under no power, about to fall out of the air.
God bless the pilot who explained it the first time I flew out of there. There’s not always a pre-flight warning as evidenced by articles like this and even when you know it’s normal, there’s something disconcerting about going from full speed to what feels like zero speed in a heartbeat.
This move has felt a lot like that take-off. We joke that we are well practiced, aggressive movers, the type that jump in and have everything unpacked, photos on the wall and a garden planted in less than 7 days (Monterey holds that honor) and this one hasn’t been much different. We’ve been hurtling though space with a non-stop family party. A revolving door of houseguests that added up to only 3 days without visitors at Casa Chartier in the first 7 weeks (and those 3 days we spent moving 5 yards of dirt into my garden plots). On top of that we bought two cars (including one the day we landed), imported 3 animals, found a church, a gym, started another kid in college, and we were about to volunteer to host a home group when I realized it was time to cut the engines.
It’s been a great time of catching up with family, jumping in to our new lives, figuring out Texas and America and trying to do it all . . . but my brain is full. I realized it’s time to coast for a bit. On Wednesday nights instead of going to church and forcing ourselves to make friends and making Camille go to youth group through her tears (which we did for a few weeks), I decided it’s OK to take it easy, stay home, and figure out how to be a new family of 3, in this new house, in this new city, in a new country. We have time on our side here. For the first time ever we don’t have an inevitable departure date.
Slowly, slowly we’ll ease back up to speed, but with our shipment arriving tomorrow (finally!) and 17 rugs that I don’t have floor space for, I’ll have plenty to occupy my brain and my time over the next few weeks.
So much fun, so much family. I didn’t get photos of everyone — too busy exploring and eating our way through Texas! If you have any, send them my way so I can add them.
I missed your writing. You create great word pictures! What a summer you have had, really it’s been a full few years! I’m so glad you can finally settle in and hopefully rest. And that you are closer. Willing to brave the John Wayne takeoffs to come see you anytime.
Agreed! I was so excited to read this today! I love your stories and your transparency and your zeal for doing life to the fullest! Praise the Lord for all of it!!