Our household - May 2009
What a week! I have not been posting much because my mind has been in two places: here and France, where I will be heading tomorrow to live for two months. Many of you don't know me well enough to know that this is not a typical thing for me to do, although it seems to be this year. It is an opportunity that's presented itself at a time when it's both possible and very much appreciated. My son, Joe, has been studying there but will be in Togo(!) [every time I type this word I am compelled to follow it by an exclamation point] during part of June and July. So there's this empty apartment... That, and the fact that my beloved husband is kicking me out the door telling me to carpe diem, get some solitude, spend time writing and learn French. "When will you ever get to do this again?" he asks. Sometimes I feel like I am living my life backward; Having gotten started pretty early on family life, I am now getting to experience the freedom to "study abroad."
Life changes for most people during the summer in our region - especially for those with kids or those living in academic communities. Our town is so connected to University of Florida that we all tend to think in semesters. As a community, we start to slow it down in May and June and pretty much close the house for the summer during July. This is partly because we lose a lot of student volunteers during this time and also due to the cost of keeping the house comfortably cool enough during summer's heat and humidity to run the cafe and welcome groups of people. Just last week we pared down from eleven community members to six, by the end of the month we'll be down to three for a bit before we begin to rev back up again in August when the fall semester starts.
John will be keeping the household going here while I'm away and is planning to take over some of the blog-writing as well. What a man! Seriously, I am so grateful for all of it.
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