Wow, time has passed since I last wrote on here. I guess that is what happens when your husband returns from deployment, you go visit family back in Europe and find out while you are on vacation that you are moving halfway across the Country!
My time in Nebraska was spent initially adjusting to the fact that I was living in the middle of this huge vast country. Then, homesickness- more like 'missing family sickness', and to top it all off ALLERGIES. I never had any allergies that I was aware of back home in London. They never became an issue as I travelled Europe, or settled in Spain. But after just over a year of living in Omaha they became very apparent. I have had mild asthma since I was 19. It has never given me any trouble other than the occasional wheezing with a chest infection, so imagine my surprise when I started wheezing and hacking one August night. After a year of tests and on and off meds- steroids, nasal sprays, antihistamines, and eventually steroid shots- I was diagnosed with having allergies. A skin test revealed that I was allergic to 60 of the 64 things that I was tested for, for 'Nebraska' allergies. Nebraska hated me! :(
When my husband deployed I met a fantastic group of friends (I am a firm believer in good coming out of a bad situation). Life started to look great, everything was falling into place, and I finally felt like I belonged.
We had planned a trip back to Europe to see family as I hadn't been back for three years (far too long) for summer 2011. In May we flew to Spain, then onto London, and back to Spain again for a final few days with my grandma and sister before coming home. 2 days before we were due to return my husband received an email telling us that we had been assigned a different duty station, in California! It was an emotional rollercoaster. For so long I had wanted to get out of Nebraska; Allergies, no coast, just feeling like I didn't fit in. And now, I was settled and we were headed somewhere else.
We decided to make the most of our time with our friends in the next 3 months that we had until we had to leave.....Time passed quickly, the house was ready to go on the market, and there just didn't seem like enough weekends to 'hang out' with friends. Moving was suddenly very real and very much upon us.
In September of this year we loaded up a moving truck and drove 1600 miles out to Sacramento. A two day journey that I shall never forget.
We knew that our close friends would always be there for us, and us for them, no matter how far apart we were going to be. So to look on the positive side we though it would be great to finally not have to worry about allergies. Not so much. Sacramento is named 'City of trees'. That should have been my first clue. After living here for three weeks I have been on prednisone for 16 days. I am awaiting an allergy clinic appointment, and I generally feel a little down about it all. This isn't what I expected. But, I am determined not to let this get the better of me. We are 2 hours from San Francisco and the coast. 90 minutes from Lake Tahoe. A few hours from Yosemite. Places that I had only imagined I might one day be fortunate enough to see.
I guess the grass is not always greener, and if it is, there is probably more pollen to go along with it. :)
I miss my friends (family) back in Omaha, but with the wonders of modern technology it is so much easier to stay connected, and feel part of each others lives still.
Hubby and I have lots more adventures to come, friends to make, people to meet. I just hope that I can do it without the need to live in a bubble! ;)
