Turk Family Changes!
So there we were...
Packing up and moving to Minnesota!
Ever since Doug and I moved to New York, we knew that we'd want to move back to the Midwest. The problem was, however, with my family in Michigan, his family in Minnesota and neither one of us wanting to move to Wisconsin, we couldn't decide on a close location to both our families. So we kept putting it off. "In 3 years, we'll move," we would say. "After we get married." "When we have a baby." It was never the right time, never the right place.
And then my sister and her family moved to the Twin Cities, very close to Doug's parents and his sister's family. This happened in November 2011 and we took it as a sign that God wanted us to move to Minnesota. Perfect! Location - DONE. But still, we dragged our feet. That is, until early 2012 when we both separately learned that our jobs might be in jeopardy. We started looking for jobs in Minnesota, but nothing seemed to be panning out. We got complacent and then in mid-August, Doug was laid off.
It was a pretty big blow. I don't have to delve into specifics about losing confidence, needing validation, wanting revenge, etc. But, crazily enough, about 2 hours after Doug had cleaned out his office, he received three calls from three different organizations requesting his information. Luckily, we were planning to go back to Minnesota for a brief family vacation the following week, so Doug tacked on some interviews. They all went really well because the next week, also Oliver's last week of daycare at Tutor Time, he received a verbal offer from an organization just outside of Minneapolis. I gave two weeks' notice to my organization, we pulled Ollie out of daycare and started packing up!
Needless to say, it's been a whirlwind. We are trying to be patient and take it a day at a time, but it's a struggle. Doug had to clean, purge and pack with Oliver nipping at his ankles while also worrying about his emotional, social and learning development. It's been a curve: Is Tutor Time on "B" and "2" this week? Should we practice, like, putting things in an open box? Jumping over a stick? Stacking things? What does he eat for lunch? Is it okay if he takes 2 naps instead of 1? Where is a fun park?
We also wanted to make sure O got in enough "New York" as possible and we had enough foresight, I think, to enjoy some time in the city. On one day, Oliver saw the Central Park Zoo, Lady Liberty, Grand Central Station, Times Square...and had his pictures taken.
We also had to say goodbye to his daycare, which was heartbreaking. His teachers were so wonderful, they really were Oliver's third parents, so it was pretty difficult to say goodbye. He was doing very well - not crying when we left in the morning, making friends and learning so much. It was definitely an eye-opener for me to realize that when our lives change, his will change automatically whether he wants it to or not. What a big responsibility on both Doug's and my shoulders and also a sad position for Ollie. Poor buddy. Oh well. If it's gotta happen, at least it's now when he doesn't remember it.
I also had to give my notice to work, which was more upsetting than a relief. Without getting too much into what I was doing, I will have worked on an AIDS vaccine for nearly a third of my life. I'm going to miss the mission and my coworkers very, very much. They are the people who celebrated my engagement, my wedding, my promotion, my pregnancy and my son with me. They made up a good portion of the audience at my theatre performances. We have cried together, laughed together, been idiots together, yelled at each other, praised each other, ignored each other --- you know, been a family together.
And we said goodbye to our dear friends. We went out as a family with Jenn and Joel over the weekend. Jenn was the first person I met in New York City. She and I came to New York for an internship semester and lived together in a room the size of a small Jeep in a remodeled brothel in Chelsea.
This morning, Ollie and Doug touched down in Minnesota. Doug will be flying back tonight. So I don't sit at home and brood over my lack of family, I'm heading out with my theatre girls for dinner. Tomorrow night, we are getting together with as many friends as possible at a bar in Park Slope. I'll have pictures from these gatherings in a later post, I'm sure.
Doug and I will have living in New York City for 10 years. As Doug put it on Facebook, we've been through 2 surgeries, 3 bouts with bedbugs, 10+ moves, an earthquake, a couple of tornados, and a hurricane. I've nearly starved, worked off-Broadway, started a theatre company, met some famous people and was in an exhibit at the MoMA. Even though I came here with a different dream than I'm leaving with, I'm so proud to have called Brooklyn home for such a long period of time - at a time in my life when I was able to enjoy it.
I want to insert some pictures of our New York journey start to finish, but my albums are all packed away. Imagine us young, positive, energetic and fresh-faced.
While Doug will be starting his new job, I will be a stay-at-home mama. Ollie and I will have some time to explore our new city, meet new people, spend time with family and fabulous friends, and enjoy each other. Who knows, I may be able to pick up my scrapbooking again! Or at least Pinterest...:)
It's, yes, going to be a culture shock, but we're starting to get excited about it all. It's an adventure and I'm anxious to get it all underway! I've been told to try one new thing a week. Shoot, Oliver and I want to try 3 new things a day!
I will try and blog from the road, but you may only hear from me again once I'm settled in the land of ten thousand lakes. Farewell, dearest besties! Until we meet again, New York!
Packing up and moving to Minnesota!
Ever since Doug and I moved to New York, we knew that we'd want to move back to the Midwest. The problem was, however, with my family in Michigan, his family in Minnesota and neither one of us wanting to move to Wisconsin, we couldn't decide on a close location to both our families. So we kept putting it off. "In 3 years, we'll move," we would say. "After we get married." "When we have a baby." It was never the right time, never the right place.
And then my sister and her family moved to the Twin Cities, very close to Doug's parents and his sister's family. This happened in November 2011 and we took it as a sign that God wanted us to move to Minnesota. Perfect! Location - DONE. But still, we dragged our feet. That is, until early 2012 when we both separately learned that our jobs might be in jeopardy. We started looking for jobs in Minnesota, but nothing seemed to be panning out. We got complacent and then in mid-August, Doug was laid off.
It was a pretty big blow. I don't have to delve into specifics about losing confidence, needing validation, wanting revenge, etc. But, crazily enough, about 2 hours after Doug had cleaned out his office, he received three calls from three different organizations requesting his information. Luckily, we were planning to go back to Minnesota for a brief family vacation the following week, so Doug tacked on some interviews. They all went really well because the next week, also Oliver's last week of daycare at Tutor Time, he received a verbal offer from an organization just outside of Minneapolis. I gave two weeks' notice to my organization, we pulled Ollie out of daycare and started packing up!
Needless to say, it's been a whirlwind. We are trying to be patient and take it a day at a time, but it's a struggle. Doug had to clean, purge and pack with Oliver nipping at his ankles while also worrying about his emotional, social and learning development. It's been a curve: Is Tutor Time on "B" and "2" this week? Should we practice, like, putting things in an open box? Jumping over a stick? Stacking things? What does he eat for lunch? Is it okay if he takes 2 naps instead of 1? Where is a fun park?
We also wanted to make sure O got in enough "New York" as possible and we had enough foresight, I think, to enjoy some time in the city. On one day, Oliver saw the Central Park Zoo, Lady Liberty, Grand Central Station, Times Square...and had his pictures taken.
Walking around Manhattan...
Lady Liberty! One of my favorite New York sites...
The Crossroads of the World..
Tuckered at the Brooklyn Bridge...
Group shot!
Flying around Grand Central Terminal...
We also had to say goodbye to his daycare, which was heartbreaking. His teachers were so wonderful, they really were Oliver's third parents, so it was pretty difficult to say goodbye. He was doing very well - not crying when we left in the morning, making friends and learning so much. It was definitely an eye-opener for me to realize that when our lives change, his will change automatically whether he wants it to or not. What a big responsibility on both Doug's and my shoulders and also a sad position for Ollie. Poor buddy. Oh well. If it's gotta happen, at least it's now when he doesn't remember it.
Playing on the slide...
Biking like a boss...
Welcome to Tutor Time!
Breakfast of Champions at the big kids' table...
We'll miss you, Tutor Time over the Rite Aid!
I also had to give my notice to work, which was more upsetting than a relief. Without getting too much into what I was doing, I will have worked on an AIDS vaccine for nearly a third of my life. I'm going to miss the mission and my coworkers very, very much. They are the people who celebrated my engagement, my wedding, my promotion, my pregnancy and my son with me. They made up a good portion of the audience at my theatre performances. We have cried together, laughed together, been idiots together, yelled at each other, praised each other, ignored each other --- you know, been a family together.
My manager, Rick, and Ollie having a discussion about how he shouldn't break his phone. And then he did.
Hugs with Megan!
The Design & Development Laboratory - my buds.
Me and Joanne.
And we said goodbye to our dear friends. We went out as a family with Jenn and Joel over the weekend. Jenn was the first person I met in New York City. She and I came to New York for an internship semester and lived together in a room the size of a small Jeep in a remodeled brothel in Chelsea.
Telling secrets over tacos...
Aunt Jenn and Uncle Joel!
Family shot!
This morning, Ollie and Doug touched down in Minnesota. Doug will be flying back tonight. So I don't sit at home and brood over my lack of family, I'm heading out with my theatre girls for dinner. Tomorrow night, we are getting together with as many friends as possible at a bar in Park Slope. I'll have pictures from these gatherings in a later post, I'm sure.
Doug and I will have living in New York City for 10 years. As Doug put it on Facebook, we've been through 2 surgeries, 3 bouts with bedbugs, 10+ moves, an earthquake, a couple of tornados, and a hurricane. I've nearly starved, worked off-Broadway, started a theatre company, met some famous people and was in an exhibit at the MoMA. Even though I came here with a different dream than I'm leaving with, I'm so proud to have called Brooklyn home for such a long period of time - at a time in my life when I was able to enjoy it.
I want to insert some pictures of our New York journey start to finish, but my albums are all packed away. Imagine us young, positive, energetic and fresh-faced.
While Doug will be starting his new job, I will be a stay-at-home mama. Ollie and I will have some time to explore our new city, meet new people, spend time with family and fabulous friends, and enjoy each other. Who knows, I may be able to pick up my scrapbooking again! Or at least Pinterest...:)
It's, yes, going to be a culture shock, but we're starting to get excited about it all. It's an adventure and I'm anxious to get it all underway! I've been told to try one new thing a week. Shoot, Oliver and I want to try 3 new things a day!
I will try and blog from the road, but you may only hear from me again once I'm settled in the land of ten thousand lakes. Farewell, dearest besties! Until we meet again, New York!
Comments
I thought about calling you about 9 times this weekend to see how the move was going, but I didn't want to bother you. Glad to see you made it safely :)