Chasing the sun

First off, I apologize for the extended absence. Traveling + limited internet access = very difficult to blog.  To make up for it, I will be posting a summary of my trip over the next few days. Many posts have been mentally drafted, now it's just a matter of sorting the wheat from the chaff.

There are a few things that need to be addressed, though.

First, please send my dear friend Shelley some love today. She received news yesterday that her first round of IVF didn't work. Both Grey and I are heartbroken over the news. We both "met" and spent time with Shelley and her DH during this trip and saw first hand what amazing people these two are. And we were hoping. Hoping that the tides had turned for someone we love.

Secondly, I wanted to give a brief update about the business end of our trip. The original purpose of this cross-country journey was for a wedding (which I talk about more later), but because of the close proximity to Boston, we decided to mix business with family. So, last Wednesday, I had a former interview for a potential postdoc.  As I previously wrote, this was something neither Grey or I imagined would ever happen. Hence I was nervous. Very nervous. Then I started reading your comments. And managed to get Rebecca Black stuck in my head (thanks Mo), which meant I could no longer be nervous as I had "Friday" churning through my head as well as knowing so many were cheering us on. Long story short, I was offered the position. This is contingent on securing funding, but my future advisor Helen is being amazingly proactive in helping me on that end. So, unless I managed to fuck up beyond compare and/or something unforeseen happens, we are officially relocated Summer 2013.

The news from Wednesday has literally pushed Grey and I into hyperdrive. This newfound path, though scary, has helped both of us envision the future. Grey already is making plans, looking for work. In addition, we've both decided to bite the bullet regarding our condo and to become landlords. The Pacific NW will always be our home, so it makes sense to hold on to this property. It also means that we no longer have to worry about the housing market recovering, as we are looking more long term.

Years ago, I chased the sun as I traveled from my childhood home to begin a new life in the Pacific NW. This past week, Grey and I made a similar journey, chasing the rising sun as we traveled to Boston. I don't know what the future holds, nor if this decision will lead to a happier future. But I do know one thing: there's already been a lot of change in the past week. Good change. And ever decision we've made during this time has just felt right. I'm hard-pressed to ignore that path.

Besides, if it doesn't work out, at least it will be one hell of a story.