I've been feeling very introspective lately; I'm not quite sure why, other than life seems to be pulling me in a hundred different directions, and I want to go in a hundred OTHER different directions. I kept wondering why things don't go my way, and I have finally realized that actually, they really have.
In a nutshell, the "my way" direction I want to go is to purchase this beautiful historic home in one of the oldest districts in Columbus. It is old, and has been somewhat neglected, but my husband is an incredible carpenter and there's nothing he can't fix - and he LOVES to work on old homes, so that's not an issue either! The problem is that he doesn't have his tools. The other problem is that our home in Provo hasn't sold. We can't afford both homes, and I don't have a job, so here we stay in army housing on-post. No pretty yard, no garden, no garage, no shed for tools…tools that are still in Provo….you get the picture.
Because we thought we were going to be swinging back through Utah in November, we left all Ben's tools stored at home. Then, he had back surgery; his training was postponed, and voila, we're still at Fort Benning- and most likely will be for quite some time. I thought I would get a job when we first got here, and there is a hiring freeze on post for medical positions so that didn't work either…. The reasons the house isn't selling are many - the first and most obvious being the economy. Second, the Army called us to Fort Benning a full six months before we had planned/hoped, and so we didn't quite finish the re-model. Subsequently, while it is a beautiful home, it has its problems and they seem to be hindering the selling process.
So. We left Utah early, the house isn't selling, I don't have a job, we can't buy the house I love with every fiber of my being, and here we sit in our Antique White floor-to-ceiling wall-to-wall tile duplex. And so, because the army called us early, we were here when Ben's back gave out, and he was able to see one of the best neurosurgeons on the East Coast to have the fusion surgery performed. Six months later, he is up walking, biking, swimming and exercising pain free - and still progressing towards Ranger School and SF. Because the Army called us early, he still received a paycheck during his recovery time. Because his training was delayed, we've had the chance to explore Georgia, Florida and Alabama and fall in love with the South. I also had a chance to explore Columbus and find the house of my dreams. Our kids are attending a high school that is rated in the top 5% of the nation - and because of that, will most likely be accepted to whichever college they choose to attend. Because the house isn't finished, our "other" girls had a safe, comfortable, beautiful home to live in for the school year. Because I don't have a job, I've been able to finish another year of college credits, and I've also been a stay-at-home mom and wife since last May. I have loved every errand running, chauffeuring, grocery shopping, homemade meal-preparing minute of it. I sit in my army-issued duplex with an ugly yard, and I am grateful that in this economy, we are managing to live on one income, and have a roof and four walls. We have maintenance people to fix leaking faucets, non-cooling refrigerators, and broken light fixtures. I have a yard that is a blank slate, just crying out for some TLC - my favorite activity in the Spring. Because I live on post, there is a brand new, state-of-
the art gym with a swimming pool, so I can indulge myself with swimming and biking and running and weight training, and maybe get ready to compete in another triathlon. The house I love here STILL hasn't sold, maybe I'll have a chance at it later….
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm really happy that my life doesn't always go according to my plan. Remember that Garth Brooks song "Unanswered Prayers"? My dad always hated it, and said the prayers were answered, the answer was just "no". Either way, I know that where I am right now is where I'm supposed to be. Blessings get poured out on us every day; all we have to do is recognize them.
Elinor Schroeder Carrick
In a nutshell, the "my way" direction I want to go is to purchase this beautiful historic home in one of the oldest districts in Columbus. It is old, and has been somewhat neglected, but my husband is an incredible carpenter and there's nothing he can't fix - and he LOVES to work on old homes, so that's not an issue either! The problem is that he doesn't have his tools. The other problem is that our home in Provo hasn't sold. We can't afford both homes, and I don't have a job, so here we stay in army housing on-post. No pretty yard, no garden, no garage, no shed for tools…tools that are still in Provo….you get the picture.
Because we thought we were going to be swinging back through Utah in November, we left all Ben's tools stored at home. Then, he had back surgery; his training was postponed, and voila, we're still at Fort Benning- and most likely will be for quite some time. I thought I would get a job when we first got here, and there is a hiring freeze on post for medical positions so that didn't work either…. The reasons the house isn't selling are many - the first and most obvious being the economy. Second, the Army called us to Fort Benning a full six months before we had planned/hoped, and so we didn't quite finish the re-model. Subsequently, while it is a beautiful home, it has its problems and they seem to be hindering the selling process.
So. We left Utah early, the house isn't selling, I don't have a job, we can't buy the house I love with every fiber of my being, and here we sit in our Antique White floor-to-ceiling wall-to-wall tile duplex. And so, because the army called us early, we were here when Ben's back gave out, and he was able to see one of the best neurosurgeons on the East Coast to have the fusion surgery performed. Six months later, he is up walking, biking, swimming and exercising pain free - and still progressing towards Ranger School and SF. Because the Army called us early, he still received a paycheck during his recovery time. Because his training was delayed, we've had the chance to explore Georgia, Florida and Alabama and fall in love with the South. I also had a chance to explore Columbus and find the house of my dreams. Our kids are attending a high school that is rated in the top 5% of the nation - and because of that, will most likely be accepted to whichever college they choose to attend. Because the house isn't finished, our "other" girls had a safe, comfortable, beautiful home to live in for the school year. Because I don't have a job, I've been able to finish another year of college credits, and I've also been a stay-at-home mom and wife since last May. I have loved every errand running, chauffeuring, grocery shopping, homemade meal-preparing minute of it. I sit in my army-issued duplex with an ugly yard, and I am grateful that in this economy, we are managing to live on one income, and have a roof and four walls. We have maintenance people to fix leaking faucets, non-cooling refrigerators, and broken light fixtures. I have a yard that is a blank slate, just crying out for some TLC - my favorite activity in the Spring. Because I live on post, there is a brand new, state-of-
the art gym with a swimming pool, so I can indulge myself with swimming and biking and running and weight training, and maybe get ready to compete in another triathlon. The house I love here STILL hasn't sold, maybe I'll have a chance at it later…. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm really happy that my life doesn't always go according to my plan. Remember that Garth Brooks song "Unanswered Prayers"? My dad always hated it, and said the prayers were answered, the answer was just "no". Either way, I know that where I am right now is where I'm supposed to be. Blessings get poured out on us every day; all we have to do is recognize them.
Elinor Schroeder Carrick
Lovely house, for a beautiful couple! Hope is it yours!
ReplyDeleteNor Jane - I mean Elinor - reports that she found out that her beautiful old house has sold. Bummer! Victoria
ReplyDelete