3 hours to kill, or enjoy

These are exciting days. For the past seven months, I have been driving back and forth every week from Toledo to Winston-Salem, as I started an exciting new job on the first of the year, and as we complete the countless tasks of relocation. The big move finally happens in three days! I am right now sitting on a comfortable rocking chair on a balcony at the main concourse of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, waiting 3 hours for my connection to Detroit Metro where Princess Gail will pick me up. I have time to either participate in travel anxiety, or peacefully reflect on all the good things in my life, for which I’m grateful. Since this is a gratitude blog, I choose the latter!

Gail has been capably managing all the details back home in Toledo. She is a master organizer. She has trimmed down our household as our new home has considerably less storage. We were advised to “edit” our belongings, and really, that’s a good thing. Little by little we have accumulated stuff we no longer use, need, or want. But getting rid of stuff is a chore! And the stuff that has emotional meaning takes extra thought. Well, Gail has edited away these past seven months.

We didn’t want to own two homes at the same time. Our house in Toledo has been slow to sell. The big move has to happen now because of Eric’s school. We also didn’t want to leave an empty house back in Toledo. So we waited until last month to buy a house in Winston. And wouldn’t you know it, a few weeks later we got our first offer on our Toledo house, and it looks like we’ll close in early September! We won’t have a double payment! Man, I am GRATEFUL!!

Speaking of grateful, I just bought a little iPhone app called Gratitude! The idea is to write down 5 things I am grateful for every day. Perfect for me!

I feel very blessed right now. All the important people in my life are healthy. All are doing well, working hard, gradually moving ahead in every way, as I see it. Not that there aren’t problems, issues, and some sadness. Sure there are. That’s part of life. I’m sad to be putting physical distance between me and my four adult children. But I see answers to all the problems, issues and sadness. All in all, things are good. We are blessed and I’m grateful.

I will now sleep with my wife every night, instead of 4-5 nights per month. I am very grateful for that! (I hope she is,too! LOL)

And I am very grateful for the exciting opportunity to start a new life in North Carolina. I have learned many lessons through the mistakes I made in my previous life in Toledo. And I am older. I value and savor the many blessings that seem to always come my way. My next job will be to see how I give them all back, pay them forward.

Okay, I better stop. Just because I have all this time on my hands doesn’t mean I should abuse my readers with my wordiness!

Peace!

13 thoughts on “3 hours to kill, or enjoy”

  1. Always a pleasure to read what you're doing! I'm so glad the house might have a buyer (fingers crossed!). After my husband closed the practice, he went to basic training for 2 months in Texas, then was posted in Savannah! He had an apartment and we flew back and forth! Now he's in combat overseas, and I"m still in California.

    We are also getting the house ready to either be rented or sold. I'm fixing up the kitchen, getting rid of things, and painting while my husband is deployed. I will try to email me or you can email me …the Forward Surgical Team would love to have a card from a physician on the outside to say hello!
    .-= Kanani´s last blog ..The Surgeon's Wife: Outlook for Surgeons' Salaries by 2015 =-.

  2. That is indeed great news about the house! As a homeowner who has done the 2 payment thing on a couple of different moves I know what a relief this must be. Our daughter and S-I-L recently moved from NC to DE and finally got an offer on their NC home, it seems the market is picking up. Wishing you and Gail/family all the best with this upcoming move.
    .-= Elaine´s last blog ..U.S. grads work for free, look abroad =-.

  3. Mike~

    Thanks! We are so relieved!

    Kanani~

    It was nice to catch up a bit on your blogs! The Kitchen Dispatch is an absolute gem!

    It must be very, very hard to have your husband away for so long! Gail and I have done a long distance relationship for about 7 months, but we get to see each other every week at least a little. And we can talk, text, and such all the time. I'll pray for his speedy and safe return.

    And good luck with the house prep. Boy, you have a job on your hands.

    Be well and stay sane, my friend!

    Elaine~

    I am glad your daughter and SIL found a good opportunity in DE, but am really sad they left Chapel Hill, for my own selfish reasons. I was SO hoping that the four of us would meet someday in Winston, or even in Chapel Hill.

    🙁

    Princess Gail~

    Love you!!

    😉

  4. I always wince a little when I hear people use the expression, "killing time." Time is too precious to "kill." Good for you for choosing the peaceful reflection thing! If everyone took a little time to reflect and be grateful, think of the implications! So many happy hearts! So little time to be angry or upset or stupid! I'm very happy for you, Ferd!

  5. Keli~

    Thanks! I have found that "Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude" has been the one most helpful thing in finding happiness and peace.

    Though I think I have discovered the next step in my development. I recently read a blog post by a young eFriend in Nashville, who wrote a piece on forgiveness that really struck me. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do with that. It's a little ember catching fire.

  6. Hello! I will have a post up in two days about my husband's Forward Surgical Team. They are TRULY impressive. I'm hoping to be moved to Georgia next summer, and then we'll drive up to meet you and your lovely wife!

    Anyway, so check back on the Kitchen Dispatch. Oh…by the way… he operated on a DOG yesterday! I always told him when we had the surgery clinic that we should have a veterinary clinic as well. I thought it would pay better!!

  7. Kanani~

    LOL! I was always a little jealous of veterinarians and dentists. They were able to charge what they wanted, and to collect all of it. Not at all what we have in the world of medicine for humans!

    But I have heard that the insurance industry has started to cut into their businesses as well. I'm not surprised. Insurance companies are essentially organized crime.

    GREAT news about the move to Georgia! I'll look forward to future developments and our eventual get-together!!!

  8. You do have much to be grateful for. I commend you and Gail for all the positive and exciting changes and opportunities you've made for yourselves. You are such a beautiful family!

    Peace,

    Mimi

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