twenty-something years of "what have you been up to?"

place2place

  • grammie and grandpa’s | paradise, ca

    Violets_and_pinecone_college

  • the socks

    Photo_9

  • Why I’m insane

    (Back home after a swim at the Mt. Scott pool, packing for our trip to see my parents. Grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.)

    “Look at the monster I drew. ( I look.) No. Look at it.”

    then

    “Why am I not at school today?”

    “Is there anything at school today?”

    “What is school doing then?”

    and later, after humming the song from the opening credits of the cartoon Arthur for three hours while playing trucks, in a kind of disgusted voice:

    “How can you listen to your heart?”

  • Dear Michele,

    I’ve been reading your blog of your family’s experience in Togo, which I adore, for over a year. My husband is the one who recently passed all the clearances for the Foreign Service. I think he will start orientation in May. Unless we back out. Right now our post would be in West Africa. I have moments of being okay with it, my kids go to a french school here in Portland, Oregon, so a francophone area would be a bonus, having a pool would be nice. But then I read in the paper this morning about 15 christians killed in Nigeria– by rioting mobs. Okay. Now I’m thinking, do we really want to do this?

    How SAFE do you feel?

    I remember your first few days in Togo, thinking maybe you would start a count down: one day down, 700+ days to go.

    And now I’m worried about internet connectivity. I can live without dsl, but I must have internet hook-up or I will feel so isolated. I’ve already started a blog to keep in touch with family, I have to have the internet! How is it in Togo?

    How are the anti-malarials going? I’m not a good sleeper. Not looking forward to “vivid dreams.” How are your kids tolerating the anti-malarials?

    I think you grew up in Niamey? Any thoughts for me? Did you go to ASN?

    I’m so glad you are back and healthy from London. Thank you so much for your work at globehoppers.us

    Best,

  • Watch what you wish for dept.

    November 6 I wrote:

    Well, so P. passed. I was so trying to wrap my mind around the idea that he wouldn’t pass, kind of like trying to imagine having a boy and not a girl, but I never could go there mentally. P. and I are floating on the happiness of this development and it wasn’t until this morning when he had to take kids to a friend’s house to be dropped off at o’ dark thirty, or maybe even o’ dark, so I could ride my bike to work, that I’ve even seen a hint of a bad mood.

    And he had left his suit at home, which we discovered (horror!) the morning he was flying to dc from Seattle. Many panic-y calls, and he somehow bought something on his layover in Chigaco. Even shoes. And then he passed, he friggin’ passed the Foreign Service orals. Woooooooooooooooo-hoooooooooooooooooooo. Holy Camoly. Please, please, please.

    Now I’m having a moment of fear that he won’t get past the security clearance, although I don’t see why he wouldn’t. We have paid a a few bills late and have a few crazy friends, but I don’t think it’s enough to be a security risk. God I hope. After all this, we really, really want it.

    Is it possible? This summer maybe? They said six months is average, and P. seems like an average guy, not having moved too much, or worked overseas ever. Dreams do come true?

  • Oct 30 I Wrote

    October 30 | A Sunday. C. is making a little banner out of stamped letters that says Happy Halloween, gluing it onto orange cards, to make a little banner. I love to see her working contentedly, wearing half her halloween costume of a cowgirl skirt and orange “boo” t-shirt. S. took a three hour shower and is now sitting in front of the bathroom heater, “feeling this for a while.”

    We have just been so busy. Today I’ve been picking away at the PBO November program, due Tuesday morning, but you know I won’t work on it tomorrow night with the Halloween high holiday. I made a cute airplane out of a box, and a leather pilot’s cap from an old coat for S. to be an aviator, he says a crop duster. He’s upset that he’s not an elephant, but I gave away that costume.

    I need to finish P.’s paper work for the FS interview. Is there any way he can pass? Is there any way he won’t? God it’s hard to know, and I just want it to happen and for all the speculation to be over.

    Friday we are having a little party with all the parents from C.’s class and her teachers. Just an inmate little party for thirty or so of us.

    Friday we are going to Seattle for Amuk’s party. Then P. flies to Washington. Won’t it be good to have it over? Or will the disapointment be devestating?

  • How do we look?

    I’ve been wanting to start a blog but I haven’t because I can’t think up a good enough name. I finally asked C. and she said “place to place.” So it is.