Simple Pleasures

I took the day off yesterday. I didn't make follow-up phone calls. I didn't update any of my interconnected "to do" lists. I didn't even do laundry!

Instead, I indulged myself with simple pleasures. I read a novel. I took a long bath. I watched my alma mater, OU, beat OSU in football.

I was interrupted only by a woman driving a PT Cruiser who stopped by my house after seeing the for sale sign. To my surprise, she attempted to buy my house from the front porch. She told me she was willing to pay way more than the asking price. I informed her the house was sold with a back up contract in place.

Meanwhile, Larry and Taylor, were stuck in Cincinatti as the New York airport was slowing all traffic in and out due to limited visibility. An experienced frequent flyer, Larry talked his way into the Delta Crown Lounge and they were cooling their heels in relative luxury with comfortable seating, private bathrooms and free food and drink.

Taylor was especially excited that Larry had been able to get him a free first class upgrade on the flight from Cincinatti to New York. Hours later, when the flight finally boarded and left, Taylor was so tired, he slept throught the entire "first class" experience. Of course, to me, being able to sleep on the plane is the ultimate travel luxury.

Larry called from New York to tell me they'd missed the one direct flight to Moscow and would be rerouting their trip through Milan. "You're going to Milan without me?" I whined.

"No, we're going to the Milan airport without you," he replied. I was delegated the task of staying up late to phone Larry's driver, Misha, in Moscow about the change in plans.

Misha's English is good but limited so I reduced communications to the basics: "This is Larry's wife. Larry and Taylor are not on Delta. They are on Alitalia. They are flying Alitalia from Milan. The flight number is 5-6-0. They arrive at 4-20 today." I repeated all of this at least twice, hoping that after 24 hours of being on the road, they wouldn't be stranded at the Moscow airport.

The Road Less Traveled

I dropped off Larry and Taylor at the airport this morning for their 7 a.m. flight. They each had two bulging suitcases with clothes they'll need for their first Russian winter.

It was a typically perfect Phoenix winter morning, crisp with just a touch of cool. On the way home, I enjoyed watching the sun come up. Everything was painted in harmonious shades of blue--the sky, the clouds, the mountains. Living in Phoenix, the sky acts as an art gallery, showcasing a seemingly impossible combination of colors. After a total of 12 years here, it's still not uncommon for Larry and I to drag each other out. "You have to see this sunset!"

I really do love Arizona. Yet I'm giving it up to go spend winters in Moscow! I explained it to Taylor by citing "The Road Less Traveled." Alec, of course, with his own innate sense of wanderlust, understands this completely.

So much for the philosophical aspects of moving. I am mired in the practical details of picking up your family and moving halfway around the world. Every time I get one major thing behind me, like getting the house on the market, there's always the next major step. After completing the negotiating process on the house (setting a new neighborhood record by $17k), I have this week to resolve a bad termite inspection, getting our recalled sprinklers inspected and replaced, selling both our cars and buying a new one for Alec.

Next week I have the movers and packers coming and must have everything I own divided into four categories: air shipment, ground shipment, storage, and undecided. The undecided items will be ground shipped if we get an unfurnished apartment and will go into storage if we get a furnished one. Oh, yes, we have no home in Moscow. That, however, is on Larry's list of things to do.