Much has happened in the last few weeks and I’m afraid I haven’t made the time to write about it. Matthew and I moved out of our home of the last nine years on River Rd. We had help from our sons and my brother but managed to do most of it ourselves. At the eleventh hour I called a local moving company to take a final load because I was exhausted and I was afraid Matthew might die. While we made it out and left the house clean, I think it took something out of each of us that we didn’t expect.

What made the move more challenging was that we were doing it while I was continuing the buying process of our home in France, and supporting our daughter in all of her end-of-Senior year events. Lily graduated Friday night, we emptied the house on Saturday, had a graduation garden party at the old house Sunday, and closed Monday. Matthew has been sick ever since and I think he just wore himself down to nothing. I have been trying to settle into the condominium and finish my end of the year professional responsibilities.

I’m not sure if it is exhaustion, menopause or early dementia but I am confusing times and dates for appointments with alarming regularity. I missed my car inspection appointment last week and only found out when I was calling to ask how long the appointment would be the following day. I was one day early for a dinner date in South Portland with good friends but managed to get there the next day anyway. I forget what I’m doing when I drive out of the condo complex and usually remember a 1/4 mile down the road. I’m telling myself that this is just the result of trying to do too much and overwhelming my clearly waning cognitive ability. Let’s hope the dust settles a bit.

In the last two weeks I have made an initial currency transfer, changing my dollars to Euros and found the process really easy. Some people use banks for transfers but I was told that a currency company that specializes in this service would offer better rates. I was able to transfer the initial down payment amount at a great rate and will transfer the remaining amount as soon as the check clears for the sale of our home. I also signed the Lettre de Mission with a proxy which started the ball rolling on the notaire researching the deed and transfer process. Along with my signature I sent along 10% of the purchase price starting a 10 day “cooling off period” where I could change my mind without significant financial penalty. When I did this, the amazing French realtor Stella, informed me that I might be able to schedule the closing for the end of August. She had originally told me September after explaining that most of France closes down in August so the notaire would not be working on our contract during that time. At first I was excited by the notion of getting into the house before taking Lily to school but I’ve decided to push the final closing until September so I can spend quality time with my college-aged kids before they head back and not have to travel twice across the ocean. Right now, the plan is that I fly to the U.K., get Lily settled and then take the ferry across to France where Matthew and Sophie will meet up with me. From there, we will have the final signing and Matthew will spend a stint getting our house settled and familiarizing himself with our new French home.

Before that happens, I need to organize a shipping company to take the furniture and boxes to France and have them ready for me when I get there. I’m hoping to order furniture to be delivered immediately at the closing date. Also, I have to follow up on my visa application from which I’ve heard nothing since its submission. I have to officially open a bank account in St. Denis de Gastine, and start the paperwork to apply for my French I.D. and medical card. I’ve been told it is wise to keep copies of all identification material digitally and get at least 8 passport photos. Now that things are slowing down a bit that’s my next task. I’m so excited of the next steps and really anxious to settle into summer and spend quality time with my family and friends in the U.S.