My friend Nancy, aka Wacky Mommy, is one of the main reasons I have this blog. We’ve known each other since we were student writers at the college newspaper, and I was drawn to this tall redhead with the hearty laugh and the larger-than-life personality. I haven’t kept in touch with many people, but I’m really glad we’re still friends.
Last time she tagged me in a meme it was 2007. We were living in Nouakchott and I used her meme to announce that we were moving, first a year in the US, then on to Morocco.
When we moved to Morocco, I got a lot of comments asking how long we were going to stay in Morocco. This surprised me. We were moving here for real; we were going to be here for at least 6 years, probably more. The kids would finish high school here and then we’d re-evaluate, decide whether or not we’d stay, but we probably would.
This is a case of the best laid plans of mice and men ganging aft agley, as it were. Or to put it another way, I am yet another victim of the Great Global Financial Crisis. Poor me.
So, without further ado, here is the meme. 7 Things About Me.
- I am a nomad, but I don’t want to be one any more.
- I move far too often. I could use some stability in my life.
- I hate packing.
- The other day we were at the Chellah with the inlaws. I stood there under the blue sky and light winds and looked across the expanse of wildflowers and ruins and I felt angry and unhappy and completely at odds with my surroundings. I like it here a lot. I don’t want to leave. This is my hardest move—every other time, I’ve been excited, ready for something new. This time I’m not. I stood there and stared out at a silver olive tree with a spiky palm tree behind it, swaying in the breeze, and listened to the incessant cawing of the egrets and creaking sound the storks make, and I realized: If I was here on holiday, for only three weeks, I would be ecstatic. Instead I am stressed and miserable because I only have another three weeks. Live in the moment, I told myself sternly, and set myself to enjoy the golden afternoon, the pleasant sea breezes, the spiky palm and the creaking storks and the ruins that speak in an unknown tongue of ages past.
- It worked. At least for the rest of the day.
- We’re going back to Oregon.
- But I don’t know how long we’ll stay. I get itchy feet. I hope to still be a nomad.
* title of Wacky Mommy’s post. Ironic, no?
21 comments
July 12, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Kelly @ Love Well
Oh my friend.
I will pray for your heart during this transition. I know the longing for home, for a place to sink your roots for a while. And I know the pain of digging up some roots that you thought were going to have a season to get stable.
It’s hard. Even if it’s a guided path, it’s hard.
(On the plus side — if we do end up moving to the Pacific Northwest, how wonderful to have a friend in the somewhat immediate area! That part made me smile.)
July 12, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Bethany
Oh wow. I know so many people in transition these days. I do hope you’ll keep writing though???
July 12, 2010 at 4:04 pm
meredith
What? You’re not coming to France? I’m so disappointed 😦 😦 😦
July 12, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Kit
I’m so sorry that you are having to move again, just when you were getting settled in Morocco. It seems like you’ve only just got there ..!
Good luck with moving. Hope you get a chance to to get back there again, in the not too distant future.
July 12, 2010 at 5:58 pm
snacks from the cruise buffet
Oregon:
Highly exotic.
Green.
Wet and wonderful.
Green.
Cool and hip.
Green–all the time.
Great coffee.
Did I mention green?
Soon to have one of the greatest families in the world.
Makes me want to move there too.
Le vrai voyage ce n’est pas de chercher des nouveaux paysages mais un nouveau regard.
Marcel proust
July 12, 2010 at 11:02 pm
ShackelMom
Ack, that’s hard. I heard some news the other day and wondered if you’d be staying. I know it’s been so nice! I mostly lurk, but my thoughts are with you and your family. Underneath are the everlasting arms.
July 13, 2010 at 12:48 am
Nicole
Oh, I’m sorry you have to leave.
July 13, 2010 at 5:15 am
ladyfi
Sounds like the hardest decision you’ve yet had to make…
July 13, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Susan
Moving is hard, change is tough. I feel for you and yours. In my life, my experience – moves always turn out better than I thought. I will be praying for you and your family.
And please, keep blogging 🙂
July 13, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Kim
Moving is stressful, even under the best of circumstances. And the older one gets, the heavier the boxes start to feel! Hope the packing and shipping goes smoothly for you.
July 13, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Nan
Moving is stressful… and Oregon can be cold! (I’m just saying that because today is properly English-Rainy, and I am VEXED) But you will be near to a friend!!! And I know that she’s so thrilled about that! I’m really glad you guys will be neighbours.
July 14, 2010 at 4:24 am
nonlineargirl
Wow. As someone who has only known you while you have been in Morocco, you do seem very at home there.
If you are packing now, you must be returning soon. The good in that is that (as you know) now though September is the best time of the year here. Okay, through November many years.
In any case, good luck to you and let me know if you need to be reminded to keep your rain coat handy.
July 14, 2010 at 6:06 am
Linda
Well, what a surprise. Life is full of them, as I well know. Good luck with the move and I hope you will keep posting.
July 14, 2010 at 2:49 pm
LIB
I’m so sorry you have to rip up roots.
Praying that the transplanting is as smooth as possible.
On a purely selfish note–it will be wonderful to have you in the same town!
Please keep blogging; we love your writing!
July 16, 2010 at 3:21 am
Leslie Gould
So sorry. Thinking about all of you. What an adventure you are all on…
July 16, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Jennifer (ponderosa)
I’m sorry you have to leave a place you love. Losing a place is almost as bad as losing a person, I think.
If once you hit Oregon you’re longing for desert, you can always visit me! We could use a whiff of your glamorous, nomadic life hereabouts : )
July 18, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Mary Margaret
Genuinely bummed for you…you just found a place to hang Donn’s fez!
July 18, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Carrie DeHart
Ohhh, nooooo! I wondered from your kids’ FB comments about packing again, if something was up. I am so so sorry. I honestly want to cry for you! It IS one thing to leave a place because, well, you’re ready (Like RIM)–another thing entirely to feel like you must leave, when you never expected to do so.
My heart is with you all. I pray you find much joy in your remaining time there.
July 23, 2010 at 3:17 am
Wacky Mommy
Just moving across town, to another city in a different county has been culture shock enuf for me. We just discovered the bulk candy section at Haggen’s, and the swim center up the street, and somehow that’s made it all okay.
Especially fond of those little sour patch Coca-Cola bottles. I could eat them by the handful.
July 24, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Jennifer@5 Minutes for Books
Oh I missed this (I haven’t been doing much blog reading lately). I just read the other post about moving. It will be tough, but I’m sure it will be good.
I just sent you a note about the On Reading guest post.
July 26, 2010 at 2:46 am
Jen
I know exactly how you feel, we have just hit the 6 month mark being back home and it is still tough.
Hopefully there will be more adventures to come!
Thinking of you all.