Well, that didn’t go as planned.

My summer, that is. It’s been a while. And there are reasons (sooo many reasons) for that. But just as a quick interim update, here’s what the plan was:

• Finishing up my summer course (4 weeks to go!)
• A visit from nibling #1 in July
• More fun with Engie! (not a bad thing, just adding it to the list)
• A legal name change
• Dealing with the ramifications of a legal name change: social security, DMV, work, insurance, credit cards, emails, subscriptions, financial accounts, passport, etc. etc. etc.
• Moving to a new apartment
• Going on vacation with my parents
• Going back with my parents (i.e., not home) because
• My dad is having back surgery, 5 days before
• The fall contract starts.

Instead, my summer looked like this:

• Things that actually happened:
  • Finishing up my summer course (a slog, this year, sigh)
  • A visit from nibling #1 in July (wonderful)
  • More fun with Engie! (also wonderful)
  • A legal name change (done and done)
  • Dealing with the ramifications of a legal name change: social security, DMV, work, insurance, credit cards, emails, subscriptions, financial accounts, passport, etc. etc. etc. (ah, bureaucracy, how I love you…).

And then, the day after my name change hearing, life decided that I should add:

• Have a major health emergency!

I did move to my new apartment, which is a saga all its own. So, put that on the “done” list.

• Moving to a new apartment

But the rest of my summer? This part?

• Going on vacation with my parents
• Going back with my parents (i.e., not home) because

My dad did have his surgery, but I was not able to be there. Instead, I modified my list to include

• Move back to my old apartment. Right after
• Summer term ends and fall term starts.

I know I need to write more about these things, but I haven’t even found the time to journal about what happened after July 15th, let alone process it enough to write about it here. I’m hoping that some time to myself in the mornings (now that I’m further along in my recovery from said health emergency) will help with this.

And about that name change. I will not be sharing my new name on the blog, but if you would like to have it, please email me and let me know. I’ve missed you all so much. It will be challenging showing up this fall (two days after my health emergency, I was handed a brand new course, which makes two courses this fall that are new to me, plus the two I usually teach), but I feel such a pull to be back in this space, with all of you.

I’ve been trying to keep up with all of your blogs, commenting sporadically, and, well, just generally lurking as per usual. I hope the end of summer is treating you well.