Here we are nearing the last week of April already. April has come and (almost) gone so quickly I can hardly believe it. I suppose it goes without saying (allow me to say it anyway)... we approach another month closer to to our new beginnings. The month of April isn't the only thing ending for us. Matt is now within days of finishing his classes and I've recently wrapped up a successful photo shoot season and craft show.
As we wrap-up our obligations here, we are overall increasing our planning strategies for the near future. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying my time home with Naomi and new-found freedom (from obligations) as much as possible, and looking forward to Matt joining me in the near future before the "stir-crazy" sets in. It's a nice feeling for sure!
So, with nothing super exciting to report in my daily life, I suppose I will talk about some of these "plans" we have in motion. First and foremost, we are doing super exciting (insert sarcasm) lists to prepare for the movers. We are taking inventory of our things and deciding what will go in which shipment so that the transition can go as smoothly and stress-free as possible.
Part of planning comes dreaming. We are checking craigslist and various other websites for updated lists on vehicles, places to live and jobs. So, as you can see there isn't much going on lately. Between drooling over used SUVs, and wishing we were closer to our time to start applying for this job or that, we are just waiting. Waiting. Planning. Waiting. Planning- repeat.
Hopefully next time I update you on the happenings of the LaClairs, there is actually something more substantive and exciting to report. Meanwhile, I figured it was necessary to update everyone with an obligatory post to assure you all that nothing truly monumental is actually happening.
Monday, April 25, 2016
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
WHITE WALLS AND TEARS FROM THE SKY
I can almost hear it, their heavy metal door slams hard- one last time. This time it echos louder than ever. Once filled with many of their worldly possessions, their place now remains only a shell; a dark copy like the ones around it.
Saturday mornings brought the familiar comforting smell of bacon. The sounds of cartoons bounced off the television while tired little eyes soaked in it's rays. Distant in a back room he sleeps in a fog, fighting exhaustion from a shift change. In the kitchen the clinking of dishes rings out under the flow of a faucet as she works to defeat the pile of various plates, sippy cups, and bowls accumulated over a long work week. The door is sucked shut ever so hard behind me before I can grasp it to quiet it's thunderous slam. As usual, it announces my presence, as I never do. "Sorry, I've got the window's open" she calls out from the kitchen. Tiny eyes peer up from the couch to observe me. "Menna!" a little voice calls out, "Where's Noni?!?!"
Evidence of their growing family is everywhere. The walls are adorned with photographs of their youthful faces throughout the years, as well as ones of their children at various stages of life. She's hung meaningful art on the walls to make it feel like home. Behind the portraits and art lies brush strokes of color. This color breathes life to the room, creating an illusion that this isn't just another assigned housing unit- it's someone's home. A home they have spent four years in.
And then, it happened one day. He brought home papers that gave them permission to pack up and leave this place. This unit now needed to be returned; it would no longer be their home. And time that once stood still began to fast forward. She struggled to hold onto the days as they spun by. The children played blissfully and unaware on the day the movers came and packed it all away. They spent their last weekend together taking away the remaining evidence of their presence, all but erasing the memories. Coats of white paint concealed the color of life beneath taking with them tiny hand prints. And when it was all done; a bittersweet sigh was released. This chapter is closing for them now. And so the door was closed, or rather slammed shut from the vacuum of air created by the open windows one last time. All that remains are white walls.
Today we all woke up to tears from the sky. Damp clouds blanket the sky and rain falls. There will be no sun this day. Today is the day we all say "goodbye". We like to take comfort in saying it's only temporary, just "Bye for now". We remind ourselves of the fact that we can stay connected via phone calls and modern conveniences like social media and daily texts. While we will indeed do all that we need to do to preserve our friendship, we will truly miss these days together.
And so, to my very best friend here at Yokota I would like to say the following:
Channa,
I will truly miss you. I will miss everything we share in our daily lives from our stupid inside jokes,
to our warm hugs. My heart hurts knowing you will no longer be a few blocks away. And yet, I promise I will do my best to answer your calls, respond to your messages, and make every effort to connect with you from my end.
I will never forget the memories we built together. I've watched you and your family grow here. I will never forget sharing our first nights together over bottles of wine talking about music, pasts, and our crazy dreams for the future.
I will never forget sharing our pregnancies together- the tears we shared over stretchmarks and the deep, deep smiles we got feeling each other's little girls kick. From the first time we found Naomi's heartbeat to the first glance I got of Karlee the day she was born.
The support we gave each other when our husbands were gone. ALL the support we constantly gave each other from lending an ear about stress at work to fulfilling childcare needs.
We have spent birthdays, holidays, and various sacred days together with our families. We have shared these times, and I hold them near and dear to my heart. I could go on and on and on, but girlfriend there isn't enough damn tissue in this house! So, today as we say our tearful "Goodbye for now", know that I wish you a happy, healthy, and safe journey onto your next chapter.
With so much love,
-Anna
Saturday mornings brought the familiar comforting smell of bacon. The sounds of cartoons bounced off the television while tired little eyes soaked in it's rays. Distant in a back room he sleeps in a fog, fighting exhaustion from a shift change. In the kitchen the clinking of dishes rings out under the flow of a faucet as she works to defeat the pile of various plates, sippy cups, and bowls accumulated over a long work week. The door is sucked shut ever so hard behind me before I can grasp it to quiet it's thunderous slam. As usual, it announces my presence, as I never do. "Sorry, I've got the window's open" she calls out from the kitchen. Tiny eyes peer up from the couch to observe me. "Menna!" a little voice calls out, "Where's Noni?!?!"
Evidence of their growing family is everywhere. The walls are adorned with photographs of their youthful faces throughout the years, as well as ones of their children at various stages of life. She's hung meaningful art on the walls to make it feel like home. Behind the portraits and art lies brush strokes of color. This color breathes life to the room, creating an illusion that this isn't just another assigned housing unit- it's someone's home. A home they have spent four years in.
And then, it happened one day. He brought home papers that gave them permission to pack up and leave this place. This unit now needed to be returned; it would no longer be their home. And time that once stood still began to fast forward. She struggled to hold onto the days as they spun by. The children played blissfully and unaware on the day the movers came and packed it all away. They spent their last weekend together taking away the remaining evidence of their presence, all but erasing the memories. Coats of white paint concealed the color of life beneath taking with them tiny hand prints. And when it was all done; a bittersweet sigh was released. This chapter is closing for them now. And so the door was closed, or rather slammed shut from the vacuum of air created by the open windows one last time. All that remains are white walls.
Today we all woke up to tears from the sky. Damp clouds blanket the sky and rain falls. There will be no sun this day. Today is the day we all say "goodbye". We like to take comfort in saying it's only temporary, just "Bye for now". We remind ourselves of the fact that we can stay connected via phone calls and modern conveniences like social media and daily texts. While we will indeed do all that we need to do to preserve our friendship, we will truly miss these days together.
And so, to my very best friend here at Yokota I would like to say the following:
Channa,
I will truly miss you. I will miss everything we share in our daily lives from our stupid inside jokes,
to our warm hugs. My heart hurts knowing you will no longer be a few blocks away. And yet, I promise I will do my best to answer your calls, respond to your messages, and make every effort to connect with you from my end.
I will never forget the memories we built together. I've watched you and your family grow here. I will never forget sharing our first nights together over bottles of wine talking about music, pasts, and our crazy dreams for the future.I will never forget sharing our pregnancies together- the tears we shared over stretchmarks and the deep, deep smiles we got feeling each other's little girls kick. From the first time we found Naomi's heartbeat to the first glance I got of Karlee the day she was born.
The support we gave each other when our husbands were gone. ALL the support we constantly gave each other from lending an ear about stress at work to fulfilling childcare needs.
We have spent birthdays, holidays, and various sacred days together with our families. We have shared these times, and I hold them near and dear to my heart. I could go on and on and on, but girlfriend there isn't enough damn tissue in this house! So, today as we say our tearful "Goodbye for now", know that I wish you a happy, healthy, and safe journey onto your next chapter.
With so much love,
-Anna
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)