The Same House

We got back from Frankfurt yesterday.  We signed a lease - in German - so who knows what it really says?  Our relocation person said it was fine and so we signed it.  Anyhow, it starts July 1 and has radiant floor heating which is something very specific I wanted.  But in every way, it's perfect, very similar to our old house in Back Bay, which I wanted, since I love our Brookline house but I think it's a bit too big for our needs right now.  Best location, brand new, big elevator apartment building, big deck, all fabulouso, and funnily enough it has the same open floor plan and kitchen with an island as this house and our old house and our house before that, we keep moving to the same house over and over...  

It makes it all seem so real that we are going there.  I was super impressed with Frankfurt though, I wanted to move there so we could travel more and for the adventure of it all but after being there I am excited to live THERE, just so many nice parks and the trains are fast and easy, and the people are SO NICE.  People say Germans can be unfriendly but honestly I think they are THE nicest people ever.  My experience is that they are darlings, and they love my children, and are very kind and helpful.  Very exciting.  

Lockdown?

So it's 10:09am here in Brookline, Mass.  They killed one Marathon bomber and are chasing the other to the ends of the earth and nobody here is allowed to leave the house.  It's nuts that this is happening right here.  I'm trying my best to explain to my kids what is happening in a kid-friendly way, and entertain them with various media devices while I watch the news and see what is happening, here, right now.

This makes me realize that this is the first time I have watched the news in maybe one and a half or two years.  I was never a news junkie but we did watch the evening news, I felt the need to stay informed.  I gave it up after reading some statistic about how many good amazing things happen each and every day, and how if the news covered all the good in the world, there would be less than a split second dedicated to the awfulness.  And, our brains and adrenaline systems are not capable of watching tragedies on the news and not vicerally being affected by it.  So, I gave it up.  My sole source of news has been Facebook, CNN breaking news email updates, and word of mouth.  And I've felt much happier because of it.  Because most of the tragedies in the world simply do not affect our family.

This is NOT the case today.  The Marathon Bombing occurred in what I consider my back yard.  And, Brookline is one of the towns under lockdown today.  So, in this instance, I want to watch the news, and know what is going on, since it is happening here and now.  I've never experienced anything like this.  It feels surreal.

But I know that we need to remain positive.  I feel lucky to live in an area with such wonderful resources for law enforcement.  I feel lucky for my safe, happy family.  And I send much love and light to all those affected by the events that occurred this week.

Love and Light

Much love and light to all those affected by the Marathon tragedy.  xo

Book Events!

SO this is the cover to my book!  I'm so proud of it!  I'm in the process of planning events related to my book.  

Thus far:

1.  May 7 - Speaking at http://www.uses.org/index.php?page=about&family=involved&category=01--Think_Art_Think_Smart

2.  Hosting a book celebration with Taylor Wells (author of Create the Best Life Ever) at the Coolidge Corner Library on May 18th.

3.  Having a signing at Healthworks, on May 21, from 8-11:30am.

4.  Having a signing at My Gym Boston during their Open Gym time on Monday, May 13.  

5.  Doing a reading and craft activity at Tiny Hanger, probably on May 27.

6.  Doing an event at Edgartown Books, on May 25, at 10:30am.

7.  Doing some other events in Edgartown, which the Edgartown Librarian is looking into, over Memorial Day.

It's funny timing with going to Germany and all, since I feel like I could spend ALL SUMMER doing book events, and still have more to do, and I'll be leaving mid-June.  But at least I have no worries about getting burned out!!!

Memories of our New Home

In 10 days we go to Frankfurt to look for an apartment.  I'm beyond excited.  I haven't been to Frankfurt since I was in middle school, and even then just for a night on the way to and from South Africa, and I have such vague childhood memories of it.

We're moving our whole family to this new city for three years and my only memories of it are:

1.  My mom squeezing my arm in the taxi into Frankfurt from the airport because we were driving so fast.
2.  Snowflakes dancing in the air, and tall buildings.
3.  Feather comforters in the hotels.
4.  Really really nice waitresses.
5.  Getting lice and my mom flipping through her German phrasebook to explain what lice is to the pharmacist, and then just putting my sister on the counter to show him.  And then her picking the lice out of our hair in the hotel room.

That's it.

So I'm really excited to go and SEE where we will be living, so I can really picture it.  I'm excited to find our new home and know that it will be ours for three years.  Then this whole crazy adventure will start to seem REAL.