stress, stress, stress, stress, stress, stress, stress ...

I wish I had "people" to whom I could vent. I've had a half a dozen occasions over the past 2 days when I've really wanted to pick up the phone and call my Mom's best friend, who was pretty much the "closest relative" I had for that sort of stuff, but she died several months back too. I never talk to my Brother (although I did send him an e-mail today suggesting that he not get Chicago-area restaurant gift cards for me for my birthday) and I have one Cousin who lives in Seattle (who I have e-mailed about this, seeing if he had any leads in Spokane or Billings), and one Cousin who lives in Michigan. Aside from The Wife's family (which is itself pretty small), that's it. I feel like I've been through the "death of a thousand cuts" at this point, and the fun's just getting started.

I guess The Wife told The Girls the general outlines of why we're suddenly, out of the blue, going off on an extended driving trip. They are, understandably, freaked out. Especially #1. I worry about her. When I was a kid, we moved to Chicago from New York when I was between 2nd and 3rd grades and it messed me up good. I hope #1 (who is 11, and going into 6th) can keep her shit together, she's so smart, I would hate to have her collapse under the emotional pressure of this. I'm also not happy about leaving their Dojo ... obviously, none of these places are likely to have anything comparable to what they've been in at Degerberg.

I could still win the Lotto, right? Still plenty of time to win the Lotto.