I haven’t forgotten about this newsletter, and I also have not given up on my weekly vow to write. August has just been busy… my little cousins visited, my sister moved back to college, the twins started their junior year of high school, I finished working at the Kenyon Review, said goodbye to my nanny kids, got my wisdom teeth out, and today, my little brother left to play junior hockey in Minnesota. It’s been wild and non-stop. In a fun way, though.
One week from today, I will be flying to Spain. I will be moving to Madrid. I’ll probably write about it more eloquently later, but to put it simply, the vibes right now are WEIRD. It feels like everything is changing, and that’s exciting but also overwhelming. Everyone is moving on or going back to school. I’m doing both except I’m moving to a foreign country, and this time, I’ll be the one teaching. I’m excited don’t get me wrong. It’s just a weird thing to wrap my head around. I’ve known that September would bring this change since April, and I’ve hoped that September would bring this change since last August.
It always feels like this before the start of something new. The weird week before. It’s calm because the next step is decided. There is little to worry about there. It’s chaotic because you have to pack, say goodbye, feel all the things (anxiety, excitement, gratitude, sadness). It’s weird because you know that one month from now, everything will be different. You will have new friends, a new bed, a new home. I will have students! I will have gotten lost, made mistakes, and cried a little probably. Maybe I will have already decided on my favorite coffee shop or found a good bookstore. I will certainly make new friends. I think part of the reason these moments are so weird is because you know that all these people and experiences are waiting for you on the other side, and one day, you’re going to wake up and wonder how you ever lived without knowing them. Additionally, one month from now, my wisdom teeth will be fully healed and maybe I’ll go crazy and drink through a straw.
That’s all for now. Just wanted to say hey.
My friend Olivia said her friend told her that August is the Sunday of the year. Nothing truer has ever been said. Here’s a TikTok about August (in lieu of a playlist) because I’ve been doing an ungodly amount of scrolling in my convalescent era.
Find the pony,
Maddie
Love your honestness and openness! Good to hear you are ready to go, we thought we were too....so don't be surprised 😲 Love you