At Home in Paradise

As I was driving home today, ticking off my "To do" list in my head, I realized, life is back to normal!  I was driving without GPS, the crazy traffic, tuk-tuks, and motorcycles weren't giving me panic attacks, things were good. I need to remind myself, each time we move, that the great stress of upheaval and newness and change (along with the accompanying excitement and intrigue) eventually passes. I've realized that six months is my magic number. Give me six months anywhere, and it will become home. This morning I went shopping, stopping at three stores to get the best deals on oats, dairy products, and pantry staples. I came home and made granola and baked oatmeal and prepped dinner. I took one kid to a birthday party and the others to a playdate and lunch across town. I nonchalantly flicked an ant off my glass before I took a drink, barely noticing. I walked the dog around the neighborhood while our kids laughed and rode their bikes alongside.  I handwashed dishes without stopping to mourn our lack of a modern dishwasher. I took the kids to the orthodontist and planned meals for the next week. I checked email and submitted insurance claims and played a game with the kids. All in all, it was a wonderful day. An ordinary day. One of the very best kinds.