Last night my husband and I drifted off to sleep talking about where we might live next. We have two more years here before we move and since our oldest will be in high school by then it feels like there’s a lot more to figure out.
But, in all honesty, this has been pretty much how we fall asleep every night since we’ve known each other. Having lived overseas off and on for the past 20 years (has it been that long!?) hasn’t done anything to alleviate the slow list of countries, their advantages and disadvantages easing from my sleep-drunk mouth as I settle into my pillow.
I think the final words last night were something like, “Latin America…sure. Maybe. Or maybe somewhere in Europe.”
I thought we were done with the conversation, but clearly my brain wasn’t.
The Dream
We were driving, driving, driving – all packed in the car. Me, my husband, our 3 kids and (interestingly) my mom. It was a beach town. Hilly and beautiful, but full of people and obstacles in the road.
I was trying to find a parking space. “Get that one!” my Mom says.
“No. It’s too small. It’s only for those small cars.”
“But it’s so close.”
“I know, but I tried it. It’s too small….I’ll try again…yep, too small.”
Then more driving. The roads are getting trickier and curvier. There are steeper cliffs and tighter turns. There are more impossible parking spots. The view is nice though.
Finally, we come to the perfect spot, but the entry into the spot is super steep and at a jack-knife turn. I look over to see a family (coincidentally the family of another expat friend I’d just been talking to last night) standing in the parking space.
“Oh, they’re in our way. I’ll just get out and ask them to move.”
I get out. We all get out.
Then I realize I haven’t put on the parking break. The car begins to roll. I’m too late to stop it! It goes sailing, down the hill and over the cliff crashing into an antique store at the bottom of the hill.
“Crap!” I think. I check to make sure we’re all okay.
And then we just stand there watching.
We weren’t even all that afraid. No one freaked out. One guy stopped and took a photo.
We were just there watching and thinking, “Hm.”
Hm…indeed.
