At The Beginning

Homewood Suites.  Fourth floor. Round Rock, Texas. I'm not sure I can define it as home but it will do for now. 

This is my least favorite part of the process and what I have been dreading the most. I was trying to prepare myself for the feeling of being stuck. Of knowing that this is not a fun situation or place to be.  Of wanting to go back but knowing that you can't. Of having nothing to do and no one to see. It summation, this is the part where you have no life and everyone that you know still has one.

It is the part that is lonely.  

It is also the part where you learn how to cope. No one will can help you with that, it's something you must do alone.

I have quickly learned that driving in Texas will not be enjoyable.  The roads, patterns, signals, and traffic make little sense. The drivers are terrible and I think it's because they just don't know any better. There are so many one way streets and the GPS is little to no help. It can never tell if you are on the freeway or the access road. As someone wisely told me not so long ago, "Technology just isn't where we want it yet."

Give yourself plenty of time to miss all the exits and streets so that you can arrive on time to your destination. I will try to wait to tackle the region until my car arrives, which should be tomorrow or Tuesday. I am better equipped to face the unknown in a car I know how to handle. I will show them how it is done in a professional, kind and aggressive manner. 

Preparing meals has been somewhat taxing for the first few days. Friday was the longest day of my life and yet, we still battled the grocery store for supplies and I cooked. Takeout would have been the better option.  We have one stockpot, one skillet, service for four, two burners, one microwave, and no oven.  I broke the only can opener, as soon as I closed it on the can. One last swipe was all the lifeblood it had to give and it went to its final rest. At this point it is 7pm CST and I have been up since 3am EST. I find a machete in the drawer that is quite sharp, actually, and request that my husband karate chop the can of tomatoes and kidney beans. It is harder than you might think to bust into cans. You'd think the goods would kinda ooze out through even a little space, but, no, it is nearly impossible to pry the tomatoes out.  Frustrating. This meal was frustrating, but in the end, after a long week of takeout and half meals and no eating, it felt amazing to eat something created at home. (Even though it took almost double the time to cook on the electric burner.) 

Yesterday we bought more things at the store including a mega toaster oven so we could bake and enjoy the "local" $16 cherry pie we purchased on Friday before we realized that we had no oven. Seriously, how could we make it a month without an oven? We also bought a vacuum because there is no housekeeping because of COVID.  Our newly purchased coffeepot should arrive today because all they have is a little instant one that you can't use regular coffee in. I felt like I was a little prepared from the last time we did this, but last time we definitely had more kitchen amenities. My favorite blankie, dishwasher pods, dish soap, and instapot will be arriving with my car and I packed a candle in my suitcase.  My bag got searched but they didn't steal it! It smells wonderful in here. 

You know what is not wonderful? Learning at 11:15pm that your beloved cat is chasing a cockroach around the room. Joyfully pacing to and fro and that little (actually really big) thing is chugging. I didn't even want to go to bed because I didn't know where it came from or where it was going. I didn't want the cat to bring it to bed. I didn't want to imagine more bugs in the bed, in the dark, when I could not see. I did not rest easy, but morning brings news of death and I am grateful. Should I report this? Is this just everyday news? Leave me a note in the comments. I hate bugs and I think my Texas life will be complicated.

I think today we will venture out and find an "authentic" dining experience and I shall sit by the pool and catch some rays.  I'll not quite be starting work yet, but soon. Getting the kids into school is also still a work in progress.  We have all agreed it would be so much easier if we could just move into a new house. But this timeframe is the time of testing, it separates the men from the boys, it determines your will to survive and thrive. Because if I didn't have that will? I would have given up at, "Uhh..haha....babe...I think Sam is chasing a cockroach." To lead your family through this time, to guide them amidst frustration and sadness, encourages strength and gives firm grounding for what is to come.  A good life can be built from a solid foundation. 

So.  I have a temporary oven, a new can opener, a vacuum, and a coffeepot. I have a candle. I have a dead bug that is being removed.  I have three people with me, all playing video games, and one cat that isn't quite settled yet.  I have two teenage birthdays to plan for next weekend, because birthdays don't want for better timing. 

This is the hard part, yet from the hard parts come the best stories that add to the foundation that forges bonds. Friendship. Family. All are cemented by memories, hard conversations, difficult times, and laughter.  

I was the only one not chuckling at the bug incident, but I did enjoy hearing the laughter and that everyone else was taking it in stride. 

These are my people. And we are on an adventure in the unknown parts of the world. 

We are at the beginning.