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all at once, it became too real
Jan. 9th, 2008 04:24 amSometime during the car ride back from moving all our worldly belongings to South Florida, half asleep and more tired than the first week we began jogging around Lake Hollingsworth, I realized we're getting on a plane tomorrow evening to live in Abu Dhabi. And all of a sudden, instead of being excited for the adventure, enthralled by the city's beauty, looking forward to a more fulfilling job, and already planning our trips to China, I got very, very scared, like you do at the top of the rollercoaster at the moment the bottom drops out and it's much too late to regret your decision because there's no stopping it.
Not that I regret the decision. Just, between my mother looking at me like she'll never see me again and my father's weeks-long e-mail campaign about the hideous stories coming out of the Middle East and Muslim culture lately, I feel much less ready and able, and more in need of a hug. But we'll be OK - we've got the good news of Rock Band to spread, new software to learn, and an apartment to furnish. One step at a time I think is the best way to go about it, and then it won't feel so much like everything I've ever known is gone.
The short-because-I-don't-know-most-of-the-things list of things I'll miss:
- Family and friends, especially![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
walkingshadow. Leaving her once was like losing a limb, but this time I can't take an hourlong plane ride when the mood for pints of cider strikes. Oh, and our four dogs. <3333
- Chinese food, which I'm told is fairly scarce and underwhelming. We'd hoped to get Peking House one last time tonight, but we didn't make it back from South Florida until 10 p.m.
- Q-tips, Aridd deodorant, Aquafresh toothpaste, Always products and Ivory body wash.
- Target. Where will I buy clothes now?
- My apartment complex's courtyard. Green spaces are at a real premium there.
- Driving. I had the best time in my car today, riding with the top down and screaming along to the iPod.
- Sleeveless tops.
- Weather below 80 degrees.
- Clouds. Apparently, even the appearance of one is newsworthy there. Flip side: awesome reception on the satellite Internet.
- Fandom events. I'll make it back for DragonCon no matter what it takes, but no Vancouver and no MegaCon.
- All the Web sites blocked by Etisalat, though allegedly they've come a long way.
- Pop culture. Entertainment blogs will become my lifeline.
- Books and DVDs I didn't pack, inevitably.
That sure does make it seem like everything is gone though. [cling] Though it's worth noting that we did get to have Christmas. I'm inexpressibly glad for having been able to spend the holidays Stateside, with all the garish light displays around my neighborhood, the choir of elderly men in Santa hats singing on the street during December's First Friday and seasonal music on the radio. This time of year makes me happy to be alive - everyone seems happier. Or maybe it's just the humidity subsiding.
Not that I regret the decision. Just, between my mother looking at me like she'll never see me again and my father's weeks-long e-mail campaign about the hideous stories coming out of the Middle East and Muslim culture lately, I feel much less ready and able, and more in need of a hug. But we'll be OK - we've got the good news of Rock Band to spread, new software to learn, and an apartment to furnish. One step at a time I think is the best way to go about it, and then it won't feel so much like everything I've ever known is gone.
The short-because-I-don't-know-most-of-the-things list of things I'll miss:
- Family and friends, especially
walkingshadow. Leaving her once was like losing a limb, but this time I can't take an hourlong plane ride when the mood for pints of cider strikes. Oh, and our four dogs. <3333- Chinese food, which I'm told is fairly scarce and underwhelming. We'd hoped to get Peking House one last time tonight, but we didn't make it back from South Florida until 10 p.m.
- Q-tips, Aridd deodorant, Aquafresh toothpaste, Always products and Ivory body wash.
- Target. Where will I buy clothes now?
- My apartment complex's courtyard. Green spaces are at a real premium there.
- Driving. I had the best time in my car today, riding with the top down and screaming along to the iPod.
- Sleeveless tops.
- Weather below 80 degrees.
- Clouds. Apparently, even the appearance of one is newsworthy there. Flip side: awesome reception on the satellite Internet.
- Fandom events. I'll make it back for DragonCon no matter what it takes, but no Vancouver and no MegaCon.
- All the Web sites blocked by Etisalat, though allegedly they've come a long way.
- Pop culture. Entertainment blogs will become my lifeline.
- Books and DVDs I didn't pack, inevitably.
That sure does make it seem like everything is gone though. [cling] Though it's worth noting that we did get to have Christmas. I'm inexpressibly glad for having been able to spend the holidays Stateside, with all the garish light displays around my neighborhood, the choir of elderly men in Santa hats singing on the street during December's First Friday and seasonal music on the radio. This time of year makes me happy to be alive - everyone seems happier. Or maybe it's just the humidity subsiding.
