Isn't it weird how much can change in a year, whether you want it to or not? On this day last year, I was helping Courtney move out and Jenny move into a house that I love and now, just one short year later, live a distance so far away that Google Maps cannot calculate directions between my old life and my new life. I was working and so busy that I didn't even have time to charge the solar-powered Christmas lights that I had purchased (not necessarily because I'm environmentally conscious, but mostly because I didn't want the increased electric bill). I'm mostly just concentrating on the purchase of mulled wine - Glühwein - this Christmas season and not fussing with decorations of any sort because I just have to move them around the world again in another 7 months. I HAD BAKED COOKIES ALREADY! I don't even have an oven here. Does that make you want to cry, or does that make you want to cry?
Minus the cookie baking dilemma, these are all changes that I signed up for and sought out. Guys, I live in Germany! When did this happen?! I think I blinked and then all of a sudden whoosh, I've been here for 4 whole months. My language skills have changed, my diet has changed, my workout habits have changed, my understanding of the word "foreigner" has changed as well as my understanding of "patriotism" have both changed... everything that comes along with living in another culture. But there are also things changing in the US, and when I get back there will be things there that I'll need to adjust to. Old loves and old friends married, settled, or enjoying new loves (how will I keep track of all the new last names?!), brother is already in college and might be really super far away from me, some familiar faces in DC perhaps with new jobs or new houses and other faces that have left for more school or more adventure, even my little house will not be the same if I can move back into it (George I miss youuuuu!)... time does not stand still. It is ever developing and changing. Even if I were to stay in the same place forever, it would not stay the same. I'm glad I am brave enough to make some changes once in a while and find out for myself what this big ol' world is all about.
In less than 24 hours, I'll have another visitor and the start of a grand adventure, spanning country borders and challenging Glühwein suppliers everywhere! My to-do list before then is 16 things long. It's also 34 degrees outside, rainy, and densely foggy. How much of that list is really going to get done, let's be honest.
Has Elf started playing repeatedly on TV in the US yet? If so... jealoussss.
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