So now I'm a stalker...

Today, I was reading some random blogs at blogspot, and happened upon one by a woman who lives in (gasp) LAS VEGAS! :) AND, she has kids that look like they might be Chase's age. Are they morally-grounded? Time will tell.

Her blog was funny, intelligent and seemed like she felt strongly about family. SO, I commented on her most recent blog and told her a little about my story. And I've been running to the computer every, oh 10 seconds or so, to see if she has written me back, suggested a playdate, invited me to her book club, or asked if she can pop over with some freshly-baked blueberry muffins to chat.

I kinda feel like a stalker. I am putting myself in her shoes and wondering if I would consider her a stalker if the situation was reversed, and I've come to the conclusion that I don't think I would. Especially knowing just exactly how difficult this move has been for me. I think, knowing what I know, that I would be baking those blueberry muffins and packing the kids up for a day at her house even as we speak (no, dad, I did not give her my phone number, address or even my name...I know she could actually be a terrorist in Qatar somewhere), or at least writing her back to make sure SHE'S not some nutcase ready to steal my kids and sell them into slavery.

I got a new book - it's called After the Boxes are Unpacked: Moving on After Moving in and it has helped me a lot. It was written by a woman who moved 13 times in 10 years (not military either!!). Their last move was from Atlanta to Phoenix. She said even though they moved all of the time, it was always in the south, so there was at least some continuity in that. When they moved to Phoenix, she said she thought she was going to die. I CAN RELATE! Phoenix is one of the few places in the US that is hotter and more arid than Vegas. She said it took some time to get used to (I really wish people would stop saying that), but that she can honestly say she absolutely loves Phoenix now.

The book has been good for me - I keep having to look at the cover and make sure I didn't write it! She has made me cry more than once, but mostly she has made me think and realize I'm not the only person in the world who feels like I do. Apparently in any given summer, 20% of all people in the US move. I guess mostly, she has made me realize that this phase is just that, a phase. I'll look back on this as a very difficult but hopefully brief moment in time when I've settled into life here. I've been really surprised how much more difficult this move has been for me than the other 2 moves. I've been even more surprised to realize that I am the one who is suffering the most. Divine hubby and Chase seem very sanguine about the whole shebang. While I'm certainly better than I was a month ago, I can't quite say I'm anything like sanguine.

So, in my quest for adult companionship, I've ventured into the realm of stalker-dom. Shelly, if you're reading this, I hope you'll respond and I'll be the first to bring the muffins over.