The life you have led doesn't need to be the only life you have.
Anna Quindlen
We are moving to Kailua, Oahu next month for one year.
When change writ large lies ahead, I'm more list-maker than content-creator.
Here's how it went down:
Pay keen attention when fiancé mentions casually that he's "always" wanted to write a book about high school football on Oahu.
"What's that you say? Friday Night Lights Oahu?"*
Alrighty then!
Research schools.
Register my two youngest kids (9th and 11th graders this fall) for the SSAT.
Take them to the city to take the test four days later.
Submit their school applications, teacher recommendations, transcripts, etc. while on "vacation."
Hire / enlist gifted friend to help with long-overdue home improvements.
Head back to mediation with ex to work through his new job situation and our new life situation.
Negotiate home exchange with friends of friends.
Ditto office sublet agreement.
Jump through twelve hoops to get the dog to the island without quarantine.
Arrange dates and deets for college roommate, Cadden, and her son to visit—the same college roommate who IS Carla from Bad Moms. They arrive three days after we arrive. One of my best friends / former writing partner lives in Kailua; we've lived together several times including the fateful summer of 1989 in Virginia Beach, VA. Our third roomie that highly memorable summer was Cadden.
Be elated that the three of us will have two weeks together. And that I will be back in my BFF's orbit for a year. The possibilities are endless and FUN to ponder! She's thinking podcast; I'm thinking elder concierge or property management or ...
finish the damn screenplay.
#bandbacktogether
Make short list of things we can't live without, which includes road bikes but not surfboards ... they have the latter in the 808.
Purge closets, documents, photos, kitchen while rejoicing at the palpable upside. #catharsis
Drive loads of things we can't sell or give away to Salvation Army or the dump every third day for two months.
Be amazed that we really don't need 70% of our crap.
Give notice at city job after two+ years of reporting to someone two days a week who takes three-hour lunches at the Olympic Club.
Say goodbye to best paralegal I've ever had, making aforementioned inconvenience, supra, worth it.
Imagine having one job instead of three, two kids at home instead of three (my oldest will be a freshman in college),
and no arguments (at least in person) with co-parent.
Dream three nights in a row about losing my luggage.
Google dream meaning of lost luggage to learn: "Luggage indicates karma – baggage you are carrying from something in your past. ... Losing your luggage or items from your luggage is actually a good symbol in a dream. It is a request to let go of baggage or past issues that you are carrying around. It doesn't matter in the dream what is in the bags."
Return to long-term writing project for the first time in ... too long.
Buy several one-way tickets to paradise found.
* Here's a taste. These players—steeped in culture, spirit, tradition and pride—are the real deal:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP6xHZYC8mQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bjt8TyxW7s
The fans in Texas have nothing on these folks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ePTOl9W88
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