May has been a flurry of activities and hard decisions. With most of our area vaccinated, and most of our family, life is almost back to its normal pace. My husband and I and the older kids have all had our shots. The two youngest girls are 1. not eligible, and 2. I admit I have some hesitancy about the teen getting it because of the information I have read - and experienced - with cycle irregularities post-vaccine. It's probably nothing to worry about, but I feel it is something that should be studied some more - in many different scenarios, not just with shots. All kinds of medical studies don't look at this variable. That said, in time, continued studies will most likely reemphasize that the covid vaccine is safe, and the girls will get caught up.
So what have we been up to? At the beginning of the month, the library had a chalk walk in conjunction with a belated Earth Day celebration. We chalked birds and flowers - not the ones shown; those were by high school art students. The school shared chalk pastels, which provided more vivid colors and thicker coverage to create beautiful works of art by the high schoolers.
We've also been going to basketball games and track meets. Football ended after they played five games and won the league game. Basketball had about 10 games, and league play begins next week. This was our son's first season ever to play because he used to play rugby in the winter. He wasn't getting much playing time in the beginning of the season and wanted to quit, but by the end, he was playing most of the games. At the banquet the coach gave him some nice compliments. The experience was a good example of how perseverance pays off. Meanwhile, the league meet for track was today after four meets, and our freshman daughter qualified for the next level of competition. She shows real promise in the 400m and in the 300m hurdles. So does our son - he doubled up and ran at a couple meets, but scratched from the league meet because tonight was prom. I wanted him to choose track, because he likely would have qualified but he wasn't interested. I didn't push the lesson in perseverance this time. So the seasons were short and sweet, but at least the kids got to do something. I found it funny that the players had to wear masks on the sidelines, but while competing, they didn't have to, even though in one scenario they are spaced out sitting, and in the other they are breathing on and touching each other. But weekly testing has prevented anyone from spreading Covid - if the tests are correct.
I am back in the classroom, as of the end of April, teaching Nature Writing. It's nice to be back, but I have a very small class - just 10 students, and some of them chose the online modality, so I have a "near-far" classroom. Unfortunately, 3 of my 10 students are failing. I don't know what is going on - they just don't turn in assignments, even though they come to class. Last term, my online students didn't seem to struggle as much to get their work turned in. Maybe students are just overwhelmed with the end of school and being back in person. Or maybe the weight of this year is catching up, and their coping methods seem to be crashing down. These students are truly suffering.
We've also traveled again - this time to the college graduation of our second son. He had a rough spring finishing his fifth year architecture final project. It's a major undertaking. He designed a school for traditional building arts - stonemasonry, brick work, wrought ironwork, woodcarving, etc. He even went to visit a similar such school in Charleston back in January to get more information about what such a school would entail. Then he had to present the final project a couple weeks ago on Zoom. And at the same time, he was still job searching. As of yesterday, he has gainful employment at a high end residential architectural firm in Boston.
Job decisions were the highlight of the month. After months of interviewing, my husband has finally decided to take a job with the University of Texas in their facilities department. This was a tough decision. A lot of sleep was lost, wrinkles and gray hairs gained. Even after making pro/con lists, praying, and talking, I still feel a bit unsettled. It's a wonderful job for him, but Texas was not at the top of my list for retirement destinations. I feel like I have no real agency in life sometimes. I'll likely love it eventually - just as I do this place. Familiarity breeds affection, But after being back in the Midwest last weekend for the graduation, I was reminded of how much I miss thick green trees, thick green grass, thick green shrubbery, and lots of flowers. I am also more than a little sad to leave California, even though my heart has never felt quite at home here. We have wonderful, wonderful friends here, a great parish, a dream lifestyle, the ocean a mile away. I love the school where I teach, and I love my classes. And there's the weather. Why are we leaving again?
I have to keep reminding myself that California was never going to be our forever home. We don't have much family out here, although our friends are like family. Although there were some job options to stay here, they weren't quite the right fit, nor were there many, if any, options elsewhere. And the median home price is $815,000 here. Texas is closer to our family in the southwest. The job is great. The schools look good. But I'm in mourning. Zillow is depressing. I'm worried about the kids, although they've always done just fine. This is the first move the seven year old will remember, since she was only one when we moved here, and she has a passel of really sweet friends to say good-bye to. After an initial burst of excitement, I'm suffering from cold feet. I'm sure we'll find a great community there, but right now I'm driving my husband crazy with my wavering and "what ifs." Moving isn't easy. And I need to keep up with my sleep, and stop trolling Zillow because that's one of the sources of my anxiety.
I hate to end with a glum note, but I need to log off. I'll share some happier photos later. I had a birthday! We have family coming for the holiday weekend! Our son's wedding is just three weeks away! And I still don't have a dress...
