So it’s weird. I’m sitting here as my house gets packed up. I have nothing to do; the four men from VIP Transport are upstairs doing everything for me—packing the goods and labeling what room they are in. (Granted, I’m going to have to do some shifting when I get to STL. What is in the rooms now isn’t going into the same rooms in the STL house, but I’ll deal with that next week.) It’s weird after weeks of organizing and prepping, I don’t have to do anything on the packing days except escort them onto base, keep the dogs out of their way, and answer a few questions here and there. I’ve spent my morning checking out train fares for my Europe trip, catching up on the news via the internet since I have no TV, and surfing the net mindlessly. I could be grading exam essays, but I’m saving that for this weekend.
It’s hard to believe the days I have wanted to come so badly are finally here. It seems almost anti-climactic, too. As I hear the sound of tape being pulled off the roll again and again and I look to my computer for entertainment, I am able to reminisce about how lucky I was to work at Seton. My last day was very special. Many cards from girls, many students wanting hugs at the end of my last class, and a very memorable and simple prayer service send-off from a few of my close co-workers. At the end of the day, I’ll remember two things my principal said to me.
1) I listened to God’s call. My coming to Seton was in response to a call. My working in retreats was in response to a call. My move to STL is in response to a call. I’m not sure what God has in store for me in STL. As I learn of more and more people getting pregnant, my hope is that I am there so I can be less stressed and so that the doctors at Barnes can finally help me to get pregnant. (And I’m hoping people are supportive of this. I’m not going to lie; I’m sure that I have more than a few friends and family members that won’t “approve” of getting pregnant through IUIs or IVF is we have to go that route when Mark gets home. And to be honest, I don’t care what these people think. We want a family. We’re having a family. The end of the conversation. I don’t remotely care what the Catholic Church thinks about it.)
2) I was amazed to hear that in just three years I became part of the fabric of the school. I had never thought of it that way. And I don’t know why…but I was just amazed to hear that they thought that.
I really didn’t want to get emotional at the prayer service. I hate crying in front of people. But I cried. This past academic year wasn’t an easy year. It was the hardest year I have ever had on the personal front, but as I told my co-workers, it was one of the easiest years I have had on the school front. I had people who were there to support me and help me through every trial. I was allowed to cancel meetings, reschedule events, be absent time and time again, to delegate my work to others. And my students this year were incredibly patient. They handled my absences and my altering of assignments and meetings with so much maturity and compassion.
I have a weekend in store of saying goodbyes, but maybe I should try to adopt the motto a good Air Force friend told me: no goodbyes…just see you later. Tonight, I am getting all dressed up and going to my friend Deb’s for dinner and then making an appearance at prom with her. Tomorrow I get to hang out with Lisa. On Sunday, I get to hang out with our old neighbors who live down the street. Monday at lunch I’m going to Chipotle with some of my favorite students. Tuesday night my current neighbors are having me over for dinner. So even though my house is packed up completely, I’m being taken care of and won’t have to spend money eating out too much. I’m planning on taking lots of walks this weekend, and maybe even a bit of running. I figure no better time than the present to get my body into shape.
And with any luck, I’ll be running around my new house at this time next week while they deliver and unload my household goods, and I won’t have to drink my wine out of a plastic cup. I’ll be able to drink my favorite Schlafly Hef beer out of a glass.
