Frazzlement

Ok, maybe frazzlement is not a proper word, but I'm pretty sure that's what I've got. It's like bewilderment and overwhelmed and excited (and more) all wrapped up into one package of me. A big case of it. That's why I haven't been talking much... that, and the internet has been less than cooperative.

I'm 'frazzle'd -

1. To become worn away along the edges.

2. To become exhausted physically or emotionally.

We're approaching the end of the school year and there are a lot of activities, responsibilities, extra-curricular events, etc. going on.

We're soon to leave our friends of almost five years... longest we've ever lived anywhere, so we've actually met, learned the names of our neighbors, and made friends with them, so we've had goodbye plans to fit in to the schedule, of course.

We just went through the pack-out of our house. All that's left is suitcase/carry-on stuff, a couple boxes of stuff to be mailed, stuff loaned by the Embassy (furniture and an extra delivery of pots, pans, linens, etc), and stuff to toss at the last minute.

Work is going to require some goodbye formalities and festivities.

The truck is being packed off to the port this week.

Oh, and there is paperwork, and inspections and Dr. appointments, and the need to find a place to stay temporarily, but long term, in a decent enough place so we don't go insane, but that doesn't cost more than the mortgage of the White House, when we land in DC. .. and transportation... and...

Also....

I'm 'lement'ing (I guess that's supposed to be 'lament'ing, but whatever... just take 'lament', and squish a little 'dement' into it and that's my excuse for the 'e'.) -

Lament:

1. To express grief for or about; mourn: lament a death.

2. To regret deeply; deplore: He lamented his thoughtless acts.
Dement:

1. To make (a person) insane.

2. To cause (a person) to lose intellectual capacity.

I still miss our kitties terribly. I still can't believe they're gone. It hurts like anything to move a bookshelf and find a puffball, jingle bell, or twisted up pipe-cleaner that I know they threw under there. We still have one carrier to give away and it's hard to walk by and see it empty.

I am also not looking forward to leaving all the good people here. I mentioned our friends above, but those friends also include the guard staff, the commissary personnel, the facilities, SPM people and a lot of other wonderful folks at the Embassy that we've come to know, the people at the club, Ayman, our driver (with his own cars... I recommend him and will provide his number if anyone is interested), the teachers and other staff at the school, Dave the mechanic (also highly recommended, just let me know if you're interested) and Ahmad (our do-it-all guy in the building), who is always there to help, or at least say good morning to us and the kids, who has become like family too. It's hard to say so many goodbyes!

I am also going to miss Egypt - oh yes, there are things I am happy to leave, like the pollution, the dirt, the trash on the roads, the traffic, the noise... but, really, nobody's perfect. In general, the positives outweigh these negatives easily. I like hot weather (although I miss the rain). I never lived in a desert before and this was a very interesting experience, the Nile is spectacular.... and of course, there are all those amazing historical things.... but I'm really going to miss two special things about Cairo. One is the laid-back attitude. If you can learn to just go with the flow, it's nice. Nothing is totally stress-free, but there's a good attitude of 'don't worry, it will work out for the best, god willing...'. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for taking the bull by the horns, charge of the situation, the initiative, blah blah blah... but there's a lot to be said for accepting that what will be, will be, and just chilling out about things. And two, I will miss the people of Egypt. I have felt VERY "Welcome in Egypt!". Sincerely so. No matter where we go or what we are doing, I have always run into people who feel it is their personal responsibility to make us feel welcome and cared for. Again, there are exceptions... there are some hating and hateful, ignorant and harassing types out there, but they do not represent the majority of the people we meet.

Less seriously, I lament the fact that we weren't that organized for this packout. We did ok, but I'd give us only a 90% grade. Yes, this IS really a good score. And the movers did an excellent job (Sea Bird - we recommend them). But I take 10% off for our not chucking more crap, not having things better organized, etc... I know we have a good excuse, see all the above(!), but I'd hoped we could have had it a bit more together.

ah well...

I assume I will remain in this state of frazzlement through most of the summer. I'm getting used to it. Being exhausted means I sleep well, but if I'm too wound up to sleep, I have plenty to occupy myself with while I am awake. I know that my white hair grows in thick streaks so it looks like I have 'highlights' without any of that messy salon business. I also know we are blessed to have the technology to keep in touch with our friends once we leave... and who knows, maybe we'll be back one day :)