During this time, we got and lost a contract on our house, which was emotionally very difficult for me. When we got the contract, it was a low price but we negotiated it to an acceptable compromise and starting preparing for the purchase of a home and a move. We got pre-approved for a mortgage in NY, interviewed 4 moving companies, looked at 6 more houses and made arrangements to go back to see the one I liked most once Chris arrived in the U.S. Meanwhile, our buyers backed out 3 minutes before their attorney review period ended without giving a reason. Their realtor eventually told our realtor that the buyers decided it was just "too much" for them, but we don't know if it was too much money, too much house, too much work (the house is 100+ years old), too much responsibility, or just too much change - we still don't know. I was in the "finally moving back to Schuyler County" mindset, so it was very difficult to let it go with nothing more than "too much" to go on. I have been fighting depression every since and feel so discouraged about the house in Elmhurst, even though I love that house and it's beautiful, because I feel like we'll never be able to sell it.
Fortunately, before I left Elmhurst for the summer, I was able to catch up with many of my great friends there and remember how wonderful it has been to live there all these years. I had lunch with my writer friends from the Windy City RWA - thank you SO much Wendy, Lauren, Dyanne, Linda, Liz, and Debbie - it was wonderful to see you all and have a chance to catch up. That same day, which happened to be our anniversary, although Chris & I were on different continents, I had book club in the evening at the lovely home of my friend Maggie and it was wonderful. I so enjoy the Monday night book club (even though we met on a Wednesday that month) and really miss these wonderful ladies. Imagine my pleasure when they scheduled the next meeting, at Cathy's house, in June on a night I could be there. I postponed my drive to NY by one day and was able to see them all again in June - thank you to Maggie, Cathy, Jane, Val, Patty, Jan and Peggy - you ladies are the best! I also had a couple of great evenings with my Girl Scout friends Sandy, Kathy & Genet - what great friends. It was fun to meet up at a restaurant for dinner and then again at Sandy's pool for a fun girls night in - thank you all so much for finding time in your busy schedules to see me twice! I had a great lunch with two scrapbooking buddies - Anne and Patti - and really enjoyed catching up with them. And then a lovely breakfast with a long-time Emerson friend, Ann. I was thrilled to be able to see my best friend, Jane, several times, including a movie night or two and lovely Memorial Day picnic at her house. I was happy that all 3 girls were able to be home for a least a short time during my weeks in Elmhurst and, in addition to chatting with our neighbors, see some of Elizabeth's, Samantha's, and Miranda's friends, and spending time with my Jane and Paul, this made the weeks I was in Elmhurst fun and memorable, despite the house-related stress.
This year, I am lucky because I am able to spend 2 months in Watkins Glen, mostly at our cottages, enjoying family and the lake. I spent a few nights with my sister Patty before her 2 weeks at the cottage and cabin started, when she graciously let me stay with her the whole time. With Samantha in Michigan, Elizabeth in Brooklyn, and Miranda working at Cornell, I am somewhat footloose and fancy-free this summer, although I drive to Ithaca to bring Miranda back to the lake as often as she'll let me. :)
After Patty's two weeks in both places were over, she unfortunately had to go back to work (although she was working a lot during her supposed vacation, IMHO), and we moved into the big cottage for our 4 weeks, which we are taking successively, as Chris has 4 weeks in the U.S. this summer. Technically, 2 weeks are working and 2 weeks are vacation, but I'm guessing he'll probably work at least a little most days, as usual. Again, it's great to have Miranda around so much, as well as my nephew David, and we're really looking forward to Samantha's 2 weeks here at the end of our month, everyone coming back for Miranda's birthday the first weekend in August, as well as a visit from our good friends, Paul & Karen. All-in-all, given the stress of leaks and showings and no offers on our house back in Elmhurst, facing Shanghai without my nephew Peter and his family in the fall, and my overall feeling of untethered-ness and frustration, it's great to have time together as a family at the place I love the best. Our little piece of Seneca Lake is my slice of heaven, when I'm here with my family, and I'm so grateful to be here.
