by Kelli Bowen
This past week two big events happened: Ozzy Osbourne died and I put in my notice with the wonderful #1 tourist destination in North Dakota.
After the tornadoes in our home area, a few jolts of upcoming weddings and reunions, plus school rearing her pumpkin-spice-flavored kisser right around the corner, AND the most tragic saga of house hunting we’ve ever encountered, we’ve come to terms with this isn’t working.
Hubby and I analyze and overanalyze. We check in with what we’re thinking, how we’re feeling, and the way the mood is hitting, and we miss having a home. I stalked Zillow and Facebook Marketplace every day for the past 14 months. I checked them more frequently than my personal email, proven by the 99+ unread emails in my inbox. Sorry in advance if you think emailing me is effective communication.
Sitting solemnly on the deck chair about a week ago, taking in the scenery and sitting with my thoughts, Miss E asked what was wrong. I said, “I just had a bad day.” She said, “You seem to have a lot of those here. I don’t remember you having this many bad days before.” Oh mama, that was hard to hear.
Miss E is staring down the barrel of a new school, regardless of what we do. Miss A desperately doesn’t want to move any further west. Both are craving security, normalcy, and having all of their belongings in one zip code.
A couple weeks ago we took “She’s A Beaut,” our mid-90s camper, out for the first time in two summers. We remembered how much we like camping. It feels like home.
I sent my sister a text saying we were thinking we might move back and she said, “I mean, that seems like a valid, sensical option!!” That’s probably the most encouraging statement she’s ever given me, so we must be onto something.
My FIL has taken the next few days off to drive across the state and help us pack. He may or may not be excited to have all of his grandkids within the same county again.
I’m going to do something I have not done in my adult life: take a break. I’m going to see what this wife and mom job is about, and as Hubby said, “just bake some bread.” I love baking, but I don’t make time. I need to make time for the things I love. Starting now, plus if I go nuts from not working outside the home, I can pursue something.
So as the late, great Ozzy sang:
“Times have changed and times are strange,
Here I come but I ain’t the same,
Mama, I’m coming home!”
Kelli, a North Dakota girl through and through, has made her home from the eastern prairies to the western badlands with her supportive Hubby, two daughters, and ever-growing menagerie accompanying her along the way.