micheleandtom.com

Tom and I went on a little R&R excursion without the kids (don’t worry, they are being watched by responsible adults…probably more responsible than we are). While on this trip, I thought a massage might be good for my leg (yah, I know, nice excuse), so I gave it a try.

To say it was successful would be an understatement. It felt almost overwhelming to have my leg integrated with my body in a positive experience.

You see, since I had surgery on my knee last month, the only time my leg is touched is to torture me (read: physical therapy). Other than that, my entire right leg has been relegated to limb non grata. Using it sucks. My kids can’t sit on my lap. I can’t snuggle up to my husband at night (he worries he’s going to roll over and whack it…okay, I worry about that too). I am always on the lookout to fend people off so they don’t accidentally hit my leg when I’m out in public.

I didn’t really realize it until my massage, but I think my leg is feeling ticked off and left out. Bottom line, my leg misses all the good stuff. I suppose I will have to change my physical therapy routine to include more positive feedback for my leg…hmmm maybe more massages.

Tom is going to be very suspicious!

Does one really need to walk well in order to plan and implement an international move? At this point, I hope not!

I had ACL replacement surgery in June and am hoping to be up and running by the time we leave in October. By all accounts I won’t be skiing by then, but I should be fine for the trip. My biggest obstacle has been bending–or lack thereof. Tom has had to force my knee through its range of motion while I scream in pain (further endearing us to our never-had-kids, elderly, condo neighbors). This occurs several times a day and speculation is split on whether Tom enjoys or abhors torturing me.

Really, I just wanted an excuse to post a picture of my big swollen leg about one week post op!

The velvet rut is a beloved place. It is familiar and comfortable. You comb the rut, you brush it with one of those weird nubby suede brushes. It’s beautiful and you have worked hard to afford the best velvet possible…you feel compelled to maintain it in tip top shape. Over time, you upgrade the rut, the velvet gains some tassles…in fact, it’s so snazzy, it doesn’t really feel like a rut.

Only it is, a rut I mean.

(Nod to Fred Johnson who first coined this term to Tom and I and put us on permanent velvet rut alert!)

Yes, we are leaving our comfortable life in Portland. Yes, we are moving to a city we’ve never been to and a continent we’ve never visited. No, Tom and the girls don’t speak the language. No, we do not have a trust fund. Are we crazy? Absolutely.

So Why?

Well, I’m glad you asked. You see, we are trying to make a considered, thoughtful decision about what we want to do with the next four to five years of our lives. We want to start living like adults again, you know, where we plan our lives in a proactive fashion instead of being reactive. (For those of you without kids, you may not understand, but once you have wee ones, your whole life becomes reactive–feedings, diapers, preschool, applications for kindergarten–it’s ridiculous.) The funny thing is, once the kids get older and you don’t have to be reactive anymore, it’s such a habit, you do it anyway. Rope-a-dope, hands up, just trying to stay on your feet. So we are going to leave for a year, take stock, and make considered plans for the next four of five years that actually fulfill everyone’s needs.