Congratulations, Stephanie!
And Scott, sorry about the rabbinical school bummer, but congrats (maybe?) on being jobbed.
Sounds like you guys are doing well. Keep up the good work.
Funny, but last night Tommy and Dakotah were in my dream. (All right people, don't get cheeky.) I haven't had a dream about any of you in a long time. I guess I've been missing you.
Not much else has changed for me. I am working on getting my mother's mobile home sold and have a tentative offer that will ease some of the debt I've incurred, but I don't think we're going to finish free and clear. Bit of a bummer. I keep seeing these job announcements that look pretty cool, but some are overseas and although I am still packed and could go, I am tied down here until my mother's estate is closed. That's a bit frustrating. Still, it may be for the best, forcing me to stay put and luring me with stability. (Yikes.) I am leaning towards buying a house, and in order to do that it looks like I will return to my teaching job for at least another year. I think this is one of those times when I have to make the less desirable choice now in order to make something better happen later. That hasn't always been my strong suit. Still, one of my decision making criteria is whether I will regret it down the road, and I don't see the potential for regret on this one, even though I see the potential for impatience, frustration and misery on the job. I am hoping that I will indeed find a house and that that will be where my fun challenges and fulfillment will manifest themselves. Maybe this is my mother's way of finally getting me to "settle down." Hmph.
That's more or less where my head is. I can't say that any of this is really difficult, but nor can I say that it has been easy. I'd say that it's like being stuck between a rock and a hard place, but it's not like that. It's more like trudging on through mud up to your ankles, on the beach, so all around you it's scenic and beautiful, and people are strolling by, bright and colorful, tossing frisbees, dipping their feet in the ocean, lying out under their umbrellas, reading a good book with their cold drink melting on the cooler at their elbows, and you, you are just trying to make your way to the end of the beach one, two, three heavy, dragging steps at a time. Yeah. It's a little bit like that. Masiku amathera ku chitseko. Days come and go through the door.
In any case, there are some nice beaches up here should anyone feel like venturing to Maine to see what all the fuss is about. As you know, you all have open invitations for life. You are most welcome. Bug spray is optional, as our mosquitoes, though big, can't kill you.
P.S. Ryan - I have stooped to borrowing Rachel's set of Buffy DVDs. Missing you, bud.
See ya!
Martha
