Gratitude

We're just about to move from Europe to North America, and given how hectic the past six weeks have been, I am incredibly grateful for a number of things.

• Internet access!! (for the first time in weeks—it's been killing me)
• My son is napping and the construction workers outside took a break. Peace and quiet for the first time all week.
• Not having to pay rent for July when we won't even be here. (Long story, but it almost happened.)
• The housing manager offered to paint our old apartment for us. (For once my lack of skill paid off—he saw how inept my painting was and quickly offered to bring in someone who could do it right.)
• The movers had mad 3-D Tetris skillz and managed to fit all of our stuff into the shipping container, even though we were sure something would have to stay behind.
• The washing machine didn't break until our last load of laundry.
• The people who were buying our washer and dryer (knowingly) took the washing machine anyway.
• The army of friends who have watched our kids, fed us, and schlepped us (and our stuff) around Berlin.
• My children's excitement about the move.
• Discovering a trail at the end of a lake that led into the Grunewald yesterday morning. I spent the morning soaking up the forest, since there's nothing like it on the Plains.
• Having had the opportunity to live in Europe for five years.
• Living in a place that inspired my latest novel and prompted me to start writing again.
• Finally getting an acceptance letter from Highlights.
• My signed copy of Possum Summer, which I'm saving for the plane ride.
• Only five more days until I get to read it.

I hope you're all doing well. Sorry for my absence from the blogosphere, but I hope to be back soon!

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