“…Sobbing and eating chocolate. God. I miss my best friend.”

Questions dropped like anvils on a Bugs Bunny cartoon. She had questions about Nerang, Pottsville, jobs, school systems, collages, safety, money, how many bags we are going to be packing, and how many boxes we are going to be shipping. Any questions a best friend could think of she was asking, and all at once too. “You would have kicked my ass by now if I were in your place.” And though we both know I would never literally “kick her ass”, I definitely would have put her under the same interrogation lamp she had put me under. It’s what we do; we’re best friends. At the end of the conversation we came to the conclusion that the questions were to comfort her because, just like me, it’s hard for her sleep at night when she fears the “unknown” for someone she loves. For as long as I can remember Carina has really been there for every tough decision I have had to make in the past five or six years, and just as we were both there for Landon’s birth, we have both been there to watch our friendship’s rebirth and growth. It’s been a Choose Your Own Adventure book filled with more hysterical stories than any comedian could ever dream up. But now my adventure book brings me to a new page, “To move to Australia turn to page 103.” Before I turn that page Carina wants to make sure there isn’t a box jelly fish there to greet me, but isn’t that part of the adventure? Isn’t that why we loved those books so much? Adventure.

The thing is, Derek and I aren’t going out there on a whim. We aren’t just picking up with a tent, fun safari hats and heading out there with some fake snake repellant. It’s been over seven months since we first tossed the idea of Australia back and forth between the two of us. Since then we have done so much researching, interviewing, brainstorming, talking, “skyping”, meditating, and harping over this decision. So now that the time is approaching to turn that page we are all a little anxious. As I type this Derek is still in Australia, and though I said he was having all the fun; he is doing so much of the hard work. He’s a real trooper; being the eyes, ears, and heart for both Landon and I over there- who, by the way, have never even physically been to Australia. So as nerve racked as all our loved ones are… we understand, and we love you even more dearly for wanting to protect us. It’s what we do; we’re family.

After a long meeting today with my wise, new friend, Pamir, I received a text from Carina, it read, “Lol. Watching Juno- the birth scene- sobbing and eating [dark] chocolate. God. I miss my best friend.” It brought me back to something Pamir had said earlier in the day, “Life is not random. The Universe is not random.” I know you are thinking, “Okay, how did you get from Juno to the Universe?” It’s not so much about Juno as it is about Carina. There is no randomness in any relationship, big or small, and it’s not a coincident that Carina moved away a year ago. It’s taught us that distance, whether it is 1,601 miles from Maine to Miami or a flight or two to Australia, is no match for the bonds we have all created.

Here's a video I made for Carina when she turned her page, I feel it's appropriate to post on this blog:

Skype -vs- Snail Mail

In moments like this, I am truly grateful we have internet and skype, because, really, think of how long Derek would have had to wait for a letter like this in snail mail.

He claims it makes the furniture feel friendly.

This morning I caved, just like I caved when I posted that “25 random things about me” on Facebook. I like to think I’m different from the majority most days, but today it’s clear- I’m not, I’ve started a blog.

Over the next six months I suspect there will be a number of things to blog about; a cross country road trip, some Gallant family visiting, Landon's birthday, graduation, a family cruise and Deb's wedding. The one thing not on this list is probably what I will find myself writing the most about. Preparing for our move half way across the world to Australia.

For now, my past week or two has been filled with school projects, papers and presentations. They have been nothing amazing to inspire me as an artist per say, just things to keep me busy. Busy. Just the thing I have been fighting by plugging into hulu.com to watch TV shows. I’m definitely infected with a case of the very serious “senioritis”, but after eights years of slowly getting a degree, who can blame me? I identify more with the lines from the television show Bones like, “He claims it makes the furniture feel friendly”. Much more than something my infamous professor said about a photo where you couldn’t see a woman’s lower half or her hands as she lay on the beach, “Do you think she’s masturbating?” I mean come on people; my reason for wanting to relax and chill out a little has just been justified. Sure, his comments are entertaining, but I’d much rather be home sleeping or relaxing on my “friendly furniture.” Don’t get me wrong, I want to go out into the world and do stuff- lots of stuff- but when my days are filled with professors who are at their retiring point, the bed or couch is a nice alternative on some days.

While Derek is half a world away (literally) in Australia having all the fun; meeting with Chiropractors, scoping out possible town to be living in, curling his toes in the sand, I’m happy I have Landon to come home to. He’s a pretty simple kid, likes his “special milk” from Starbucks (an Organic milk) on occasion and two to five Skittles every now and then. And as Derek and I plan for our move across the world, little LT doesn’t really have much of a choice; really he doesn’t even know what it is to move more than 20 minutes from his “Nonni”. So last night while shopping with my Mom in Marshalls we saw a globe and I thought it might be a good idea to see what kind of grasp he might be able to have on the situation. I started with the usual, “Here is where we are right now” pointing to Florida. Right away he said, “Well, I don’t see our apartment.” Okay Heather, he’s three, the only thing he understands right now is his own world, which is much smaller than our actual world. Well I proceeded just to see where it would all go. “Here’s California,” “Where Derek is getting his car?” he asks. “Yes, now all the way over here,” I rotated the globe to Australia, “this is Australia.” I asked him to repeat it, he did, with excitement too. Probably because it was one of those globes made out of beautifully fake “marble” and Australia was a large, pretty, shinny pearl. “Would you like to move there with Mommy and Derek?” He looked at me, seriously contemplating the answer. “Mmm, well, do they have Halloween there??” Of course that was his first question in determining whether or not this was a cool place to live! “I think so, sure.” He shrugged his shoulders looked up at me and said, “Okay.” That was it. The entire drive home was filled with questions and comments like; “Is Derek driving his car to our apartment now?”, “When he comes home we have to leave on a jet place right away! Oh, but first you have to pack. I can help you pack Mommy.”, “How many toys can I bring- one? Five?” Well, I guess it’s really official now, as a parent I can’t disappoint. Let the preparation for Australia begin.