One last time

I am packing.  The movers come on Monday to add our boxes to a half-full truck that goes to Germany whenever it's full.  I don't think we are going to fill it up but we are certainly trying - where did all those books come from?  No, wait.  I know where they come from.  I just didn't know there were so very many.

We are leaving early.  My Dad has some health problems and I really want to be home right now.   We accelerated the move by almost two weeks and we are leaving on the 15th.  That's just a few days! Which is, not coincidentally, the day our green cards expire.  We had applied for the extensions, and those are supposedly being worked on, but I've learned my lesson and will not overstay on the promise that the new cards will be done "tomorrow".

So, Tuesday.  I still can't quite believe that we are going to leave Moldova and won't be coming back.  (I am writing out this on purpose.  I want to see whether in three months, I'll be eating my words.) 

We did a last trip to Orheiul Vecchi on the weekend. First, we gave the kids a treat by stopping at the McDonald's.  Do you know there is a new species of sparrows that specializes in French Fries?  I told the kids not to feed them since too much salt is bad for the birds but the sparrows didn't seem to think so.   They were cheeky!

At Orheiul Vecchi, we released the fish from our fountain into the wild.  The fountain will be drained for the winter, so we needed to get the fish out.  I hope they fare well in the river!

Then, we climbed the hill and went into the cave church a last time.  We lit candles for Doug's dad and for Benjamin, one last time.

We climbed out on the rock face with the sheer drop one last time.

The kids ran up and down the endless stairs one last time.

We walked up to the church one last time.

The kids posed in the courtyard with the bell, one last time.

They climbed the crumbling socialist monument behind the church, one last time.

And then we drove home.

Now we're making chocolate chip cookies to use up flour, brown sugar, and chocolate.  We're dividing the books up into piles that can go into the van, and those that have to come with us for homeschooling.  We're enjoying our last days in this giant house before we're all cramped up in our tiny (but cosy, oh so cosy) home in Fladungen again.

And we're changing plans, again.  A high ranking State Dept official is coming to Moldova next Friday and should, if at all possible, meet up with Doug.  So now maybe Doug comes only to Budapestwith us and then flies back to Chisinau on Thursday while we continue on to Germany.  It's very fluid, our life.  Always changing.  It makes planning hard sometimes.

Oh, and somewhere in there, it's my birthday.  C'est la vie.

Comments

[The New York City Math Teacher]

A speedy recovery for your father, and a safe ride home.

[Christine]

Best wishes for packing and your trip home.