Monday, November 6, 2006

No turning back

The child bride and I are scheduled to be on a plane tomorrow. The plane is flying from London Gatwick to Minneapolis.

We won't be on it.

When we bought our tickets to move here we found it was cheaper to purchase return flights rather than singles ("cheaper to purchase roundtrip rather than one-way," for those of you playing along at home). Hoping to get the best price on the tickets, I set their return date for well out of the summer season and before the holiday season -- 7 November.

A few weeks ago, when things were so bad and I was feeling like I had made a huge irreversible mistake by moving here, I found myself staring at those tickets. I don't know how serious I was about it, but I was aware that they were my last best chance to give up. If I wanted to crawl back home and try to quietly fall back into the same old routines that had once frustrated me so much that I dropped everything and moved 5,000 miles away, these tickets were it.

We don't have the money now to buy any other tickets. When that plane takes off tomorrow morning and we aren't on it there will be no contingency plan -- despite the sage of advice of Bruce Willis in "Armageddon." We can only succeed from here. Or fail really, really big.

As Omega said, "You're living the dream. But no one said it would be a nice dream."

It's a good sign, though, that I had managed to forget about the tickets over the last week. I was reminded only by the e-mail from Northwest airlines offering to let me check in for my flight online.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to read that you won't be coming back home tomorrow!

heatherfeather said...

you and rachel are brave little toasters for up and a-movin' 5,000 miles from home to a different country.

now toast me a bagel, dammit.

Anonymous said...

Wow, you called Chris a brave little toaster.

I've got to remember that particular turn of phrase for future use. In college, my chums and I started to create a "Brave Little Toaster" drinking game, except midway through the movie we were all destroyed and making rules like "Any time Kirby jumps into the river to rescue someone, you have to drink."

Good on ya for sticking it out, Chris.

Rob said...

I'm glad to hear it. You might be surprised to know how many people* are interested in your adventure and wanting you to succeed. Or maybe you're not surprised.
But anyway, you go girl. Boy. Both of you. Whatever.



*There are like more than four, I think.

Anonymous said...

Don't think of it as success or failure - think of it as an adventure. No matter what happens, you're having a helluva time doing it.
Those of us stuck in regular non-welshy lives are very jealous and excited for you.

Violet said...

More power to you! Minneapolis will still be there when you are ready to come back... Some of the coastal cities, perhaps not, but Minnesota doesn't have much to worry about.

Huw said...

Don't leave until I have bought you a beer. I buy a good beer.

Anonymous said...

Chris I just wanted to let you know I'm following your blog and I feel your pain!! I just finished my MSc in London and boy was it a stressful year. I was in a similar situation, but now I'm staying on in London and things have definitely improved. Hope things will look up soon.