Flying away

(THS) Our adventure has begun! Flying over Canada on our way to Frankfurt, following a toast to myself with a glass of Warsteiner, I finally find the opportunity to reflect on what we have accomplished. A dream I had the moment I entered the academy was to take a sabbatical leave and live and work in a foreign country. And I find myself somewhat amazed that this dream has been realized…at least its commencement. Owen was hooting as the engines rev’d up that this would be the last time we would be on U.S. ground for more than a year. The observation of my 8 year old son summarized today’s big event …the young narrator telling me that the transition from “normal” life in Corvallis to the “adventure” ahead was physically, symbolically, and ceremoniously marked by flying away…leaving one life behind and beginning a new one afar.

In the past week we’ve packed the house, found a home for the rabbit and the fish, sold a car (the day before we left!), bought and sold significant sums of currency for our apartment deposit and rent, celebrated three birthdays (mother-in-law, son, and wife), celebrated a wedding anniversary (okay, not much celebration unless you call checking items of our lists celebration), had a terrific farewell party thrown for us by wonderful friends (that one ended with their daughter in the ER and then the OR…appendicitis…but that is another story), and capped off the departure farewells with a wine tasting as a local wine shop last night. Whew!

Getting the house ready for renters forced us to consolidate and clean. The picture of Gina and I in the driveway is an oddity to our kids. Both cars in the garage!?! Never seen that before. Just as before when we were preparing our home in Columbus, OH for sale, we work and work at getting it ready…repairing items that long sat at the bottom of the do-it list, painting, cleaning, purging…and we realize what a wonderful home we live in. It will be wonderful to return to. But for now it is time to leave.

Everything we think we need is packed in 10 bags which we carried to the airport. Wonderful news that Lufthansa allows 2 bags per person without charging. Civilized given what the US airline industry is going through. An on time departure…another treat. And now my son sleeping with his head on my arm as I type away. I am relishing the forthcoming transition.