Not the Forest Service

Not the French Foreign Legion… We're joining the service. The Foreign Service. Not quite Bond. Not quite "The Gay Diplomat." Probably more like "The Last Remake of Beau Geste." Come along for the ride. (Movie References deliberate and ubiquitous.)

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Ok, I deserve your scorn...or your pity

So, it's been over a year since I last posted. Since then we've gone in and out of Internet-land several times. Then I was too busy to see straight. Now, I'm sick this weekend, but also at this point sick of being in bed, so I'm up, and found an old email from Jeanne (Hi There! Congratulations on the Wedding!!) asking about addresses, and I figured I should drop a note here just in case any of you are still checking this place out.

Not that I'd believe after a year I deserve to have any of you left. It's been a tough year, with one escape to London for bookstores and Cyprus for Christmas, and then a long weekend in Dakar. By the way, Dakar is the kind of place I thought we were going. It's probably how you all envision Africa. It's not bad, although those of my colleagues who work there have plenty to complain about. (on the other hand so did the ones in the Bahamas...)

Anyway, Jeanne, your question (old old and unanswered...I'm sorry) about our address...

Well, it doesn't really matter now, as we're leaving soon. I've asked to be released from Post in Early July. My boss countered with early August. We'll see who wins. But, with the three week delay in any mail arriving at post, there's no point in sending us anything after June 1, as we might not get it before we come home.

Yes, that's right--Home! So, we're planning two weeks in California, followed by two weeks in Colorado, a quick return to CA to pick up the cat, and then popping out to Boston for my sister's wedding, and then to Virginia where we'll be until June of next year. Then, for those who may not have heard through the grapevine..Frankfurt! Yesiree, Fred's getting his first choice. It will cost us a fortune (our income will be cut in half, and our expenses increased by 30%) but it will be worth it for him to be able to go see all those castles and battlefields, and hit people with sticks.

So...look for us in August. We'll have our new address in September, and it will be in Falls Church, VA. We just don't know the street number and apt. number yet.

For those of you who have attempted to stay in contact, thank you so much. Reading your emails has really kept me going during some fairly dark times here. I appreciate your efforts to reach out, and I feel guilty as hell that I haven't responded. Mostly, I didn't want you to think I was depressed. (Although, I guess I was.) I didn't want to bring you down, or think that we're unhappy.

So, I hope we'll get to see all of you soon.

J--we'll be in Boston at the end of August! Can we see you?

Love to everybody.

Robin