This week’s been a doozy, weather-wise (and otherwise): cold, drizzly, and gray. One of Kevin’s Facebook friends declared that it was not May 5th. It was, in fact, March 59th. Part of me feels gleeful that I won’t have to be wearing a down parka and winter boots to walk the dog next May. Another part of me knows that this time next year, I’ll be wishing it were cold enough to do just that. You know how I know? While being taken on a personal video tour of the house I mentioned in last week’s post, we asked to see the yard. There was a distinct pause. Turns out it was 114 degrees outside. That is not a typo.

Did I mention that I’m not a big fan of humidity and heat? I wilt like a flower (but then smell quite unlike a flower). I suppose it’s a good thing that the hottest time of year in Thailand is April and May. That will give us several months to adjust to the climate before those kinds of temps become the norm. Fortunately, most places are air-conditioned. I imagine it will be like Florida in the summer; unbearably hot and humid outdoors, but you have to carry a sweater because it’s freezing inside. One of the teachers told us that her husband lost 30 pounds the first year they moved to Bangkok. Partly because he joined the running club and partly because “the first year, you just sweat. All the time.” Eeewww! But also, Hmmmm…. losing 30 pounds? Not a bad side effect…

Back here in frigid Massachusetts, this week’s weather has left me feeling woefully unmotivated. While the weeks are ticking by at an alarming pace, our progress feels slow, which has allowed all sorts of fears and worries to bubble to the surface. The idea of the move is still appealing, but the newness of it has worn off and a starker reality is settling in. It didn’t help when we learned that the house we were considering has just been rented to someone else. We had spoken with the landlord only two days before and had attempted to negotiate the rent. We were a mere 2,000 Baht (approx. $50) apart by the end of the call and had left it with her that we would be in touch early next week. Maybe it was something we said? It seems that maybe we have more to learn about the art of negotiation with Thai people. So we’re back to square one on that front.

We’re trying to reframe it as a learning experience and are trusting that the right house for us will show up. We know that we’ll find our home away from home, whether it’s before we go or when we get there. We also know that mistakes will be made as we traverse this great sea of “all things unknown.” While we’re mightily uncomfortable with not knowing many of the details of our new life, we’re trying to embrace the bumpy waves instead of fight against them. Our compass is grace, and true north is having faith in ourselves. This is all a humbling experience and one we know will leave us wiser and stronger on the other side.

Meanwhile, on the other side, current RIS teachers are posting things to sell. One of those things is a bright pink 3-wheeled scooter. OOHHH! I can see myself cruising around the neighborhood, one boy in front of me, one on the bench behind, and Tetley in the basket. It goes by the name “Pink Fury.” All it needs is a few Hello Kitty stickers.

This time next week I may have sold my Specialized road bike and bought this instead. Good trade.

Let’s see if we can do better with this negotiation. Kevin has made it clear that he will not be showing up to school driving “Pink Fury.” So the search is on for a more manly mode of transportation for Mr. Kevin, as his students will be calling him.

For now, this weekend has been declared the weekend to “post things to sell online!” In between a cub scout event, a hockey game, a shred-a-thon, a play date, some work, a mountain of laundry, and more paperwork. Onward! Well…. right after I go have a margarita. It really was May 5th this week, right?