The Big Move

I am in Thermopolis, Wyoming, and I am completely exhausted, but I needed to make a post.  I have not posted all summer, because it was all about doubts, confusion, "when am I going to get my money," and general overwhelmingness.

I got in my Budget rental truck at about 4:30 on Sunday, August 7, which also just happened to be my fiftieth birthday (the big five-oh!).  It was such an awesome, freeing drive.  The best way to see Iowa and Nebraska is at night.  Ten minutes of either one and you've see the whole thing.  And what a wonderful opportunity to think!  I realized that I've lived my life along the I-80 corridor, from San Francisco to NY and many points between.  I wonder if there's a book in there somewhere.  OK - maybe too much time to think.  Anyway - I just drove straight through except for my 3 hour nap in western Nebraska when a major thunderstorm blew through, and I got into Laramie at 1 pm on Monday morning.

My new apartment is incredibly cute!  I've got to figure out how to take and post pictures.  I'll ask Gaby.  Anyway - it's got a kitchen, a living space, sleeping space, sink, toilet & shower.  Except for the toilet/shower, everything is open in a kind of doughnut shape.  The hole of the doughnut contains the heating & hot water systems for the house.  I've got the basement.  And I'm only a block and a half from the campus, 2 1/2 from my office.  Location, location, location.

I spent Monday afternoon unloading the truck and then I collapsed for the night.  I got woken by a phone call at 8am for an early morning meeting.  I was able to get there from a dead sleep in less than 45 minutes.  I couldn't help thinking, "This is where I belong."  Linda and Larry were discussing the agenda for the next three days and I understood every word.  Somehow talking about constructivism and modeling was perfectly natural.  I was actually able to participate and enhance the discussion.  I am exactly where I am supposed to be at this point in my life.  Wow!

And now I'm in Thermopolis.  I need to sleep because we start early.  And just to make life interesting - I've got seven tests to write tomorrow while also participating in the session.  There's nothing quite like hitting the ground running!