I am, by nature, a worrier. I chalk it up to my Irish Catholic background and chronic-worrier mother. (Something I hear regularly? “You didn’t call! For all I know, you could’ve been dead in a ditch.” Why a ditch… I have no idea.)
I am also an obsessive over-thinker. I make list after list after list. Often, my lists have sub-lists. For example, my To Do list includes “go to the grocery store” so I have to have another attached list of what to buy at the grocery store.
Combine the two traits, and you have a compulsive worst-case-scenario imagination (and insomnia).
With the boys it goes something like this:
At Cooper’s first off-leash play day, he ran further than the other dogs. He’s going to keep going. He doesn’t know to come back. It’s too windy; he can’t hear me call him. He’s going to run off and be lost forever or someone will spot him and think he’s cute and keep him and I saw a cat a few miles back on our way here and what if he finds the cat and chases it and he’ll gets hit by a car or he’ll get picked up by animal control and have I updated his microchip with our phone number and… oh, here he comes.
Does this sort of thinking affect the boys? Well, probably, but that’s a post for another day.
Bottom line: When it comes to change, I worry, obsess, lose sleep, make lists, worry some more, and then resort to wine.
All this is to say….
Big changes are coming! (Again.)
One I’m not yet allowed to share, but I will soon. Promise.
The second….
{{drumroll… as I uncork this bottle of wine…}}
We’re moving back to Bloomington!
John’s project here is coming to an end, so he’s been looking for something for a while. As luck would have it, his old boss at IU had a research scientist job open up. Starting ASAP! So, we’re working out the details. First, he needs his official start date. Second, we need to inform our tenant that we won’t be renewing his lease, though it doesn’t expire until mid-July. (While I was SO SAD we didn’t sell our house, turns out it was a blessing in disguise.) Third, John needs to figure out a hosing situation for the approximate one-month overlap. Yep, I’ll be with the herd here in Houma for a little while… Then, we need to pack up all our things and move them up north.
Meantime, the SECOND piece of news will be happening. More on that soon. I swear.
Poor Newt, too. I have to figure out a 15+ hour car ride with the dogs and her. I think it’ll be hardest on her, plus adjusting to a new house and climate.
One thing at a time, though.
So, there you have it! Whew! I better get down to my list-making and wine-drinking.
Have a great weekend!
Oh, boy. That is another big switcharoo. Sending best, calming wishes for the transition.
Congratulations, I’m so happy for you guys! I think that means you’re 15hrs closer to visit Cash, well maybe not.
Sounds like it’s going to be a great move though. Do you obsessively worry in the middle of the night? I do, and I hate it. More wine please!
Oooh, back home again in Indiana! I’m going to make it my mission that we meet someday over a bottle of the local deliciousness that is Oliver.
Exciting, big news! Hope that the move goes smoothly! Thinking about you guys.
I’m really happy and excited for you!! Indiana missed you!
Oh Maggie, I feel for you, I really do!! I often joke if you look up worrywart in the dictionary you’ll see my picture. I run those same scenarios over in my head. But I always tell myself, if I think of the worst case scenario, it’s not usually that bad. LOL It does suck though.
Congrats on the big move!
Yay! I’m so thrilled for you and John and the dogs and Newt (I’m sure she’ll adjust just fine). But yes, long car rides with cats can be, um, challenging.
Looking forward to hearing the other news.
I spent some happy years at IU, but i probably wouldn’t recognize the place now. Hope you do some campus exploring and include pictures. Or can I put that in the form of a request?
Mom worries about the same things when me and Stanley are off leash (which is not very often unless in yard or dog park).
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
I’m a worrier and a list writer too, so I totally understand that. A big change like this is going to require a lot of lists for you! It sounds like you are happy and excited about this, so even though some of it might be stressful (like moving Newt) once you are settled back in to Indiana it will all be good.
Can’t wait to hear the other part too!
Well that’s exciting! I am about an hour north of B town, and my brother and his wife and son live in Bloomington!
Woohoo! So excited to have the best neighbors ever back! Cady is going to flip out when she sees Lucas! Can’t wait to hear what the other big change is!
I missed this. Congrats! While I can’t imagine wanting to move to Bloomington on purpose (It’s a lovely town, but it’s so cold there!), I know you guys have really struggled in Louisiana. Also, I’m glad John got his employment situation sorted out. I’m sure that was really stressful.
And we’re all waiting to hear your other news, too.