One Year

One of my favorite movies is White Christmas. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are entertainers and old war buddies. Whenever Danny Kaye needs a favor from Bing, he always grabs his arm reminding Bing that he had saved Bing's life suffering greatly during the war. Bing always feels guilty and acquiesces to Danny's wishes.

Of course I am not Danny Kaye, but the time has come to quit using my near death experience as an excuse. I must move on. Yes, one year ago I was lying in a hospital bed with a brain hemorrhage and two strokes. I spent the summer learning to walk and getting well. But look at me now! I have no reason to complain. With the help of family, friends and prayer, I am now perfectly normal. The chances of this ever happening again are very slim. I have to take medicine which I don't like and I have double vision but other than that I am fine. This morning Maria woke up and said, "Mom, you made it through the year. You're fine. Live your life like you aren't sick." Wise words from a 16 year old and she was right. Not everyone has the chance to live again and I should embrace the gift I was given.

The memory of that time is not pleasant and when the movie in my mind plays back, I can hardly control my feelings. I don't want to forget what happened but I want to start making new memories that will last even longer than the ones from June 2007. My newest memory in my mind began today as the moving van was loaded and our belongings started their journey for Belgium. This happy adventure is just the beginning of a brand new memory.

 

June 23

There are dates you have set before you that you think will never come. For us June 23, our packing day, seemed so far away. The moving company arrived and started right in to box up everything we own. Because of Bob, we were actually ready. The packers work so fast and there are boxes everywhere. This job should take all week to get done. The container arrives tomorrow to start the big load for the 5 week boat shipment.

The next important date is July 7 when we travel to Denver and South Dakota to see Uncle Brad, Aunt Kirstian and the cousins. We will also get to see a great piece of American History, Mount Rushmore.

July 23, August 18, 22, 25, and 27 are all important dates to look forward to. Those dates seem far far away since all of the corresponding events will take place in another country. I still find it hard to imagine the Biasi Family living in Overijse, Belgium.

I will post again on June 26, a very important day for me. It will take a lot of thinking before I know what to write about that day! The words "I am thankful to be here." just don't seem appropriate.

Ode to Lonely Socks

Here is my biggest packing dilemma to date: Should I keep the box of mismatched socks? I have written a quick poem about the subject...once again I am avoiding my packing duties!


I have a basket in my laundry room

I'm sure you have one too

It's filled with socks without their match

Whatever will I do?

Throw them out or keep them

Is the age old question asked

I think I'll keep them one more year

and forget this worrisome task!

Things you don't need to take...

There are rules to moving. I now have the list of forbidden items which we cannot take with us. Most of the things they won't allow are common sense since our belongings will sit in a metal container, on a truck, then a boat, then a truck again for almost 5 weeks.

Aerosol cans are at the top of the list with propane running right behind. Add to that matches, paint, etc. These things seem obvious.

We were told medications and vitamins could cause our things to be held up at customs, so they are out too.

Candles will melt and not advised for packing. OK. I'm a teacher. Just think about all the Yankee Candles I have stored in a cabinet. At last count there 32! My mom took some of the unused ones and Good Will got a nice donation of the others. The rest came in handy when the electricity went out during the flood.

Food and dried flowers are also not allowed. Do you think it might have something to do with bugs?

Now I have made my own list of things not to bring to Belgium...

Clothes you haven't worn in at least 1 year. Throw it out!!!

The contents of the Junk Drawer. Once again, throw it out!!!

The odd computers and their parts that don't work, never worked or are outdated.

Sheets that don't fit on any bed we own. Why do I have these?

Tupperware I received as a gift when I got married...21 years ago!

Towels which never ever get used. These are the ones that are scratchy and frayed. They are used in extreme emergencies only. I don't think we need to take these with us.

Hand cream. You may think this sounds odd but remember, I am a teacher and teachers get lots of this stuff as gifts. There is absolutely no reason to take 50 bottles of hand cream, bath gel, bath beads, etc. If you are a parent and considering giving your child's teacher hand cream or a candle, please rethink your purchase. We already have enough of each to have our homes smelling Yankee Candle fresh and our hands creamy smooth for the rest of our lives. On the other hand, if your child's teacher is brand new, load her up with all that stuff. It is a right of passage as a first year teacher and she should be bombarded with teacher gifts of candles and hand cream.

I must get back to cleaning. My little helpers (see pictures at left) are so happy to be right by my side helping with any needed task. Ha Ha

We are getting excited. In one week the packers will arrive. Are we ready? Almost absolutely! I have added a picture of the school the girls will attend. The big white building houses the administrative offices. The high school, middle school and elementary are just beyond. More later!

Balance of time

Wow! We have soooooooo much to do! Clean clean clean!!!!!

I am not enjoying the "getting ready" part of moving to Belgium. All I really want to do is visit with friends and enjoy Indiana. Cleaning and applying for Visas is getting in the way of my last few weeks in the town where my family has gown and matured over the last 12 years.

When Bob and I were first married and living in Chicago, Bob said he could never live in Indiana because their license plates were so ugly. Eventually, we did end up moving to Greenwood, IN and we have never regretted it. We had one of those ugly license plates when we first moved here. Eventually the license plates changed and so did our family. The twins were born in Greenwood, Maria grew up into a lady and we all made everlasting and wonderful friends. Now we are moving to Overijse, Belgium, just outside of Brussels. This move isn't forever, just 2-3 years. Nevertheless, it is still hard to leave.

Maybe that is why I just can't finish cleaning and preparing. I know if and when I get my tasks done, it will be time to move.