After receiving news that I had received a Fulbright grant, I experienced and received such profound support, love, and good wishes from friends and family. I felt such joy mixed with a sense of relief (waiting for news about a grant often has moments that mimic waiting for water to boil) and an intense reckoning with reality.....wow! I can't believe this really is happening? Whoa, now I have to actually go through with my project. Parka. I'm going to need a parka. Finland! I'm going to Finland! Who's going to teach my classes while I'm gone? I'm going to miss Brian like crazy. Is Sarah's new school going to let her take four months out of her 6th grade year and allow us to retain her enrollment? Wow - we're going to Finland!

My joy is compounded astronomically because my  talented colleague Seth Hoffman was awarded a Fulbright, too. While I'm in Finland, he'll be in New Zealand. Two Fulbrights, one school - I'm still shaking my head in astonishment and gratitude.

By Saturday morning, I woke with a feeling of the weight of .... good news. So much good news that begot excitement, curiosity, questions.... that I would not be able to answer right away, and the beginning of the list of things I needed to start to take care of: letter to request a sabbatical from my school for 4 months; contact director at Sarah's school (what if they can't/ won't work with us?) At my acupuncture appointment that morning, I shared that I had a Good News Hangover. Keelie immediately popped a needle in the center of my brow -- ahhhhhhhhhhh.

One week later, I'm rather aglow. The lovely reality of the opportunity and adventure that lies ahead has settled in. There are plenty of details that will emerge over time - What university in Finland will I be working with? Where in Finland will we be living? How will I go about making contacts and beginning a research project? What will school-life be like for Sarah in Finland? Shall I start weening myself off of green chile now or just go cold turkey in February?*

So much to anticipate and so much to look forward to between now and then. Sarah  will be 'graduating' from 5th grade and leaving her little school next month. My 8th grade class - so many of the students having been my students for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades - will be 'graduating' to high school. The end of a school year; the beginning of summer that will include Sarah's dance camp and my trip to Colombia. A new school year will begin and I will teach for 5 months before heading to Finland.

Gratitude. I have such gratitude.

* Cold turkey, baby