Photo by Barbara Anderson
On Wednesday, my husband and I move from Los Angeles to Seattle. I’ll miss Pasadena, Los Angeles, friends, congregations, and the San Gabriel Mountains. I’ve loved it here.
I think I will also love Seattle. When I am walking the dogs in the rain, or lamenting another gray sky, remind me of this thought: I exchanged air pollution that exacerbates my health problems and limits my activities for cleaner air with mist, rain, and a more active life. I know I breathe better in mist and rain than I do in high ozone and particulates.
This summer was filled with getting our house ready to sell in six weeks, and keeping it clean and staged for open houses. When mid-August came without an offer, we thought we would be here until the end of September. Just two weeks ago someone submitted a bid on the house with a short escrow of only twenty days. Yikes. Hooray. OMG. Everything I planned yet to do, including saying some good-byes in person won’t be done, after all.
One more thing: I developed a systemic infection that not only made me feel really crummy all summer. It also caused me to lose my balance and fall, breaking my right shoulder. Of course I am right-handed. The infection was finally diagnosed last week and I spent a few days in the hospital having it treated with IV antibiotics. I am slowly feeling better. As a friend said to me, “Why do something the easiest way, Barbara, when you can make it more complicated?”
We’re living among boxes today. Movers load the truck tomorrow. One day later we head to the green Northwest. We still need to find a house so are staying in a dog friendly vacation rental for a few weeks while we look. Both of us are venturing into unknown territory with a feeling of excitement and anticipation–and a touch of anxiety. I am eager to be near family, to breathe well, to see my husband thrive in new ministries, and to spread my own wings in new ventures.
We are changing direction and heading around another bend in the road. Onward!