Only a few days until I leave Minnesota for South Carolina.
I feel suspended in mid air
teetering on a brink
waiting to go over the edge . . .
and already missing my life here.
Oh, I'm happy to claim love and companionship I didn't expect, I'm excited about new adventures, and I have plenty to do right now --packing, sorting, planning the travel and all that. But that doesn't take away . . . all the goodbyes.
Many things have fallen easily into place: a boy thrilled to have the summer job of mowing my lawn, someone to check the house, wifi put on a "vacation rate," mail forwarded, cat carrier borrowed and tranquilizers arranged (for the cat, not the people) ( although that did cross my mind as an alternative), and so on.
| So hard to leave this |
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| This little guy had his first trip to the ER after a playground accident at school. |
I'm retired, my partner is not. He is a writer who loves his work and spends his days at the computer, on the phone, out doing interviews or research. So I've been exploring things I might want to do to stay busy and I came across something someone else might be interested in: free on-line college classes with courses in many areas of study by well-known colleges of the world. Free!
I signed up for two for the summer: England in the Time of Richard III offered by the University of Leicester and the BBC, and WWI, Trauma and Memory offered by Open University.
The classes are of short duration and require 2-4 hours of work a week. No books to purchase either -- reading is done on line and lectures are on video. Student discussion groups are formed either on social media or by sharing comments and conversation on written documents as they are being read.
Anyway, here is the link if you are interested. https://www.futurelearn.com/courses
If you sign up for either of the two classes I mentioned, let me know so you can be in my discussion group. I'm planning to sign up for a class in Creative Arts next, when there is one offered that strikes my fancy.
It's so hard to leave my family, even harder than I thought it would be.
Life will go on.
It will be good.
(I don't know what's going on with Blogsy. I've spent all afternoon doing and redoing this post, and this is as good as it gets! )
Posted with Blogsy
I know I've been away but I seem to have missed multiple chapters of the book! You really are doing a last tango in Halifax! I wish you every happiness but don't forget your blogging friends.
ReplyDeleteWishing you every happiness with your new life.
ReplyDeleteCynthia have a great time in Carolina. I am waiting for your posts. I would to sign up and I will give some info. How long are going to be in Carolina. ? Love from Poland
ReplyDeleteFirst of all - just think of all this new business as "the opening of another door".
ReplyDeleteThe tango in Minnesota is over - the "Scarlett/Rhett" version is just about to start!
Good to know that all arrangements have been made so the cat will be QUIET!
Ah c'mon! Pull the other leg. A playground encounter???? Hmmmmmmmmm!!!!
What's the other kid look like????????????
Don't concern yourself with this blog business until you are settled in South
Carolina, but an e-mail update might be nice when the time allows, eh?
Cheers and safe travelling
I have my giant US States atlas out in case of an e-mail so as to follow
your route.
Colin
I understand how you feel. I wish you enjoyment anywhere you go.
ReplyDeleteOh poor little boy with black eye, at least it wasn't serious eh?
Aw..lot going on for you right now! Sympathies to the wee one with the black eye. Ouch! I love Open University courses! I have decided to study German online this summer and just downloaded all the digital references. But I like the link that you shared. There is a course in learning to speak Dutch that intrigues me and I liked the teacher's preview video. Hmm . . . decisions. Have a safe journey!
ReplyDeleteBon voyage. Hope to hear from you soon in your new abode.xx
ReplyDeleteWow that is some shiner! Poor kid it must have hurt something terrible. Sounds like you are getting all set, I look forward to hearing about the Carolinas and what you find there. Sometimes it is good to have a man that is busy! The courses sound interesting but I already had too many irons in the fire. Travel safely! Poor Kitty will sleep all the way...maybe that is a good thing:)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if this is a short term or long term move. Enjoy your move. I should challenge myself with a course. We had free classes here until I retired! Go figure!
ReplyDeleteThese on-line course are a great opportunity. And thats a hell of a black eye! Hope the move goes well.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Enjoy your time abroad!
ReplyDeleteThat is some black eye, be gone in a week..
ReplyDeleteVacation Rate, wow I don't thin we have that.
Yes Tis hard to say goodbye to your family. We did it about 7 years ago, but they came home for good and whilst they were away we visited then each year, about a mere 2000 km away.
You must leave soon....safe journey...a time for future happiness..
Yes, that must be hard to leave all the familiar for the unknown future. But I see you are prepared very well with the study. But moving seems to be very far-reaching when you get older... Wish you much luck with all the changes.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your upcoming changes. Embrace them as a new adventure, which it looks like you are already doing. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI signed up for the Richard III class, I'm a huge fan of his. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteWow you are heading for a new adventure. I hope all goes well. Poor kid with the shiner. I use Blogger app rather than blogsy. whn travelling with iPad.
ReplyDeleteNew horizons. Good luck!.....:)
ReplyDeleteOh my, leaving those three sweet little boys would be hard. You must be so excited, so much to look forward to. Good luck! That's a terrible black eye! Poor baby.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck with your new adventure. You'll always come back to visit those sweet children. Safe travels!
ReplyDelete"When you leave the old road for the new, you know what you are leaving, but not what you will find." Italian Proverb. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your difficulties in saying goodbye. Just last fall I had to say goodbye to my six year old grandchildren who used to spend time with me every day for as long as they can remember. Then there were the friends I'd forged deep relationships with and the town itself that had been home for so long. Not a day goes by that I don't miss the people I left behind.
ReplyDeleteLittle one's eye looks really sore. Hope there was no damage to the eye itself and the injury is only superficial to the surrounding tissue.
Thanks for the link to the free ecourses. I signed up for two on nature. Just what I need do to right now is to add another thing to my schedule but I couldn't pass them up.
Have a safe trip and have fun along the way.
It's very hard to leave family. We had to leave my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter in Illinois to move back to Hawaii. However, new adventures await you and it will allow you to grow even more. The on-line classes sound fun. The little boy with the black eye reminds me of my son breaking his arm horribly on the school jungle gym. The playground can be a dangerous place. Wishing you the very best, Cynthia.
ReplyDelete