As of today we’ve been living out here, in Massachusetts, for two years!
I’d say I can’t believe it, but I can.
It still doesn’t feel quite like “home” but I’ll say it now feels more like home than not.
Apart from the people we left behind, I don’t honestly think I have any major regrets left.
There have been some very hard moments in the last 12 months. We had to deal with the first death in the family (on the hus-creature’s side) and some similarly hard news on my own and that was tough.
I suspect that if and when the next immediate family baby is born I will find that equally hard but at least that will be a good thing that has happened.
It’s the hard moments that really make you realise what you did once you emigrate.
We’ve been discussing longer term options once (please oh great Flying Spaghetti Monster) our green cards are confirmed, and it’s making me a bit antsy. I’m sure it comes as no surprise to my audience that I very much would like to move out of here as soon as is comfortably feasible.
We’ve definitely decided to stay in Melrose until TT finishes school, but then might move further into Massachusetts but we shall see.
I think it’s part of trying to handle the giant cloud of uncertainty that this process leaves over your life – planning for when it no longer will.
The children are flourishing here though. #1 Son had a birthday party yesterday that was “organised fun” and despite constant orders to
Pay attention
From the party organiser…
No the hus-creature wasn’t able to take them to one side and explain, which I find myself (probably unreasonably) annoyed by…
He was able to come home with a smile on his face and tell me that he had had fun.
We also celebrated 19 years together and 12 of them married last week.
It helps that there’s only 2 days difference I will admit 🤣😂
Due to difficulties with sitter availability we split the difference and the hus-creature took me out on a wonderful romantic dinner cruise on Thursday night ❤️🥰
We spent some quality 1 on 1 time together with food, and booze and fantabulous views and it was amazing.
I was very spoiled and felt very loved.
We are over halfway through #1 Son’s summer camp and he is still coming out with a smile on his face which is such a relief.
We’ve had some minor breakthroughs with eating but are back on the ups and downs there sadly.
(He has now decided he no longer likes peas).
Got about a month and a half to go til Second Grade, and I’m still praying he gets to keep last year’s teacher as a. She is completely amazing and b. A little bit of stability will do him good.
I’m attempting a doctor-recommended diet which we are describing as “Keto aligned” as when you tell the counter staff at Burger King that, they give you this for your lunch:
Which is surprisingly non-horrible. Basically in an attempt to get a handle on my pain I’m to give up:
- All dairy 😰😰😰😰
- Enriched processed food
- All added sugar in everything (including natural sugars like honey, agave etc)
As those of you who know me in real life can probably guess, this has gone down like a lead balloon. He would also very strongly prefer that I go vegetarian, but I put my damn foot down there.
That may well be where this journey ends, but right now? No fucking way.
Tea with cashew milk is 80% tolerable I have discovered:
And one of the local sushi places does a DIY Poke Bowl for $17 which was surprisingly filling:
So all in all? I’m not at “wanting to stab things” level of anger and rage yet. Though mostly that’s down to the hus-creature who is embarking on this with me to support me. Have I mentioned how much I adore this man?
In closing? Two years has flown past.
From this:
To this:
