Saying goodbye (again)

This is it. Really, honestly, and truly. This is my last week with Olivia. Her parents have found a house, they have jobs, and they're looking for pre-school for Olivia in Edinburgh, Scottland. They have a house just down the street from Edinburgh Castle. Olivia can't wait to meet the princess there. (I'm afraid she might be disappointed when she arrives at the ticket office.) The movers come next Monday. They leave Tuesday. No backing out this time.

Unlike last spring, Olivia understands what is about to happen this time. She knows she's going far away, and she knows I'm not coming. She's nervous about the move. She's nervous about school. I don't blame her, but I know she'll be fine. Both her parents and myself have talked her through the whole process. She knows what's going on.

I've told her that I'm moving, too, and she's very happy to hear that when I do, I'll be close to my mom and dad, and I'll get my cat back. She just made me a spiffy painting of John, myself, and Hunny, which is supposed to be outside our new house. John's wearing purple. I'm wearing a red dress. That might not seem like a big deal, but only princes get purple clothes in Olivia's drawings, and only Olivia and princesses get red dresses. She made sure to tell me that the color was important. In a odd-ball way, the painting is a real honor.

Anyway, our last day together is Monday. Next Thursday I have guests coming from England, the daughter of an old co-worker and one of her friends. They'll be crashing here for a few days, which will be a nice diversion. Then I'm on my own again. I have plenty to do. I need to start looking for an apartment in Rochester, find a moving company for our stuff, and figure out how to transfer our bank accounts. I also have a few more trips to plan. We want to go to Barcelona and Paris, and possibly one or two more short trips. One will be to Edinburgh. We've already been invited for a long weekend. Olivia has already announced we can have her room.