The Ragged Reentry Continues - New York
Greetings from Gramercy Park, New York!
It has been an intense few days since we returned. After being at work for three days, the shock to the system has receded a bit. It has been fun to feel the frontal lobe of my brain coming back to life. I can practically hear the machinery creaking as I try to multiply 7 x 5, or remember the details of some pharmaceutical product.
The kids have had a great time, hooking up with friends, playing in the playgrounds, shopping. Both of them became feral during our time away. Maybe these are the consequences of too little peer interaction.
Tallulah is frequently taking off her shoes, and walking barefoot on the sidewalks of New York. India says that passing mothers see our shoeless child, and give a look of horror, followed by a look of “I am calling social services.”
Zola has gone to the other extreme, maybe compensating for his Antipodean wildness. He got a haircut, and has been acting very polite and mature. ”Can I get the door for you?” ”That dress looks very nice on you, ma’am.” ”I love you Mom. You too, Dad.” Very sweet, but not clear what he is up to yet.
India found me a suitable apartment today, way downtown. Apparently it is big enough that all four of us can stay there in comfort when they are in New York. It is strange to contemplate not having my family in my life every day for a while. I am going from 24/7 family time to something considerably less than that.
Each night, India and I have talked for a few hours after the kids have fallen asleep. We wonder what the next period will be like, and how we will get through it. My guess is that the time will fly by. Before we know it, we will be together again.
The reentry has definitely been ragged. By starting work immediately, I have inconvenienced my wife greatly (again).
Tomorrow morning India and the kids are flying to Florida to see my step-mother. We spent the evening packing our bags, which somehow exploded in our hotel room.
I will follow them to Florida on Friday evening. If we squint, I think the weekend will feel like the world-round trip again. On Sunday we come back, and on Tuesday morning they all go to Nashville for a few weeks. The adventure continues.