so how am i doing:the honest truth

in eleven days

i will be 

living in italy

it has been a process

and i know the process is not over

by any means

the closer we get

the more i get asked,

"how are you doing?"

so here is the honest truth:

i am functioning

surviving

 trying to maintain a sense of normalcy

which is very difficult considering there is nothing normal about moving to italy

with every gain

there is a loss

we are gaining a chance of a lifetime

we are loosing what we knew as our life

we will have to make new friends

find a new house

i will have to find a new job

i know you are thinking stop your griping you are moving to italy!

we are gaining a chance to travel

an opportunity to try new things

(possibly a new career)

the beginning of a new chapter

i believe there is a 'honeymoon' period

when 

you get orders 

does this not look like the perfect honeymoon getaway

you suddenly remember

a "perk" of being a military member:

travel!

but then reality hits

and the 'honeymoon' is over

shortly the seven year itch comes on...

they say the best base is the one you are going to 

and the worst is the one you are leaving

the stress of pcsing

it takes a toll on your health
personally i get headaches

on your marriage

on your children
which we don't have but i can only imagine what it would do to them

on your pets
admiral and maik have never been skinnier

you can only answer the question, 

"honey what box is my belt in"

so many times before you just dump out all the boxes in frustration

i have coped 

only by the grace of god

good friends

a loving family

and dumping a few boxes in frustration

i cope by setting goals

for example

my birthday and our anniversary are in march

my goal:

a weekend getaway to venice

now that is exciting!

i will miss my friends

i will my family
the life that i once had

but i am not saying goodbye

it's just see you later
please stop acting like i'm about to die and you will never see me again


so that is how i am doing
the honest 
candid
truth


i've dumped a few boxes
yelled some
cried some
smiled a lot
and 
will be
enjoying the next eleven days


happy monday ya'll