Monday, September 10, 2007

The Road Trip Ends, But Another Journey begins....

"Genesis" by Tia, 09.2007

We have finally concluded our trip. Almost anyhow. What remains are just the final details of moving our lives from Florida to Montana. Who knew. When we boxed and labeled everything back in June we were pretty certain it was all going to get shipped to Finland. Acknowledging that it is not is still giving me a not-so-slight pinch of sadness in my heart. I miss Finland. I miss my dad. I miss my brother. I miss our god-daughter. I miss the food. I miss summers in Turku. I miss the social awareness and political climate. The health care. The chocolate, The Christmas Traditions... the list goes on and on...

So why did we end up in Montana? I do ask myself that even as we finalize the move. It is a gorgeous place. We made some great new friends. The nature is unlike anything I've experienced elsewhere in this country. (And remarkably it reminds me of Finland, a lot.) A few years of my salary combined with the cost of living here will enable us to get (hopefully) nicely set up for an international move that won't, most likely, be financed by an employer. I try to go through the list of reasons in my head. But, after all the logic and reasoning, I realize that ultimately I DO want to be in Finland, more than anything. And fortunately I have a husband who also wants to go with me! So... while I am excited to set up our lives here at
latitude 48.2N and longitude -114.31W, I also recognize that I am prone to finish that statement with a "for now" at the end of it. And I can live with that. As long as I also remember to still stay in the Now. And after all, that shouldn't be too hard as I gaze across the valley from our living room in Lost Prairie.

Our rental house in Lost Prairie

The Lost Prairie Valley

7 comments:

kenju said...

Tia, thanks for the visit. I am glad to know you are settling in, even if it isn't your final destination. I have never been to Montana, but I have heard in some areas, it is breathtakingly beautiful. I hope you enjoy your time there, and I look forward to regular posts from you again. Welcome back!

Stephen Newton said...

Tia,
I love your latest art and the new home looks like a dream. Peck's book has really been an eye-opener and I didn't pick up on the religious undertone yet. It appears he's making a case for "naming" the disease and does so from the perspective of science.

keda said...

what a beautiful time to settle down and read up.
perfect timing.

i've missed you all summer. beed a bit of a nomad myself. but now i can sit back and peruse your wanderings, in the beautiful knowledge that you are sitting somewhere open and free and enjoying the air and producing wonderful works of art.

yay for the day's silver lining.

i'ma be checking out your joint and bruces blog. :)

Anonymous said...

Wow! I'm so excited for you!!! "For Now" sounds like a plan. I understand that deeply and all the good and bad that comes with it. I've lived "for now" for a long long time now and staying in the now is a challenge sometimes and... settling just because I'm sick of "for now" is also a hazard. BUT... "for now" is freeing and full of possibilities.
I can't wait to learn more about Montana and I look forward to your future move to Finland too. Your rental place looks amazing!
So, where is this cowzass everyone is speaking of???
-Bobealia at www.bobealia.blogspot.com

san clemente betty said...

Tia,

So glad you are in your rental home, it looks so wonderful! Please let us know about the position you are working in and also what your hubby will be doing.

Welcome back!!

bj

Anonymous said...

Oh it's just beautiful!!! Being an Army brat and an Army wife..we always made every place home...'just for now'. If you don't make it 'home' then you miss the best part of living there. Even in 'retirement', Florida is our home, 'just for now' as we talk about Miss Sam leaving for college in a few years and perhaps a second retirement in the great state of Texas. But it is important to put down those roots and make it home 'just for now' or you won't grow.

Anonymous said...

Tia,

You will be back in Finland, wait, relax, have fun, and then something will happen that you will be back home.

I hope to see you soon.

Miss you

aldo