Oh, Canada

I'm moving once again, but it's different than it's been before. And thus, life gets more hectic.

About a week and a half ago, I went up to New York with Rachel and her parents to spend the weekend with them and some friends of theirs. The weekend itself was nice, I'd like to think I was less socially retarded (I use the word in the technical sense) than usual. We took the opportunity to look at a couple of colleges, too. We also picked up the new Harry Potter, which I got a couple of pages into Sunday night and was able to finish it Monday before anyone could ruin it for me (it was pretty good, right guys?).

But as nice a weekend as it was, there was one conversation I had with my mom that was portentous. She had been up in Canada for a few weeks visiting a friend of hers. The lease on our apartment is up next month, so we knew we had to look for a new place. This is a recreation of the conversation:

Her: So, when I get back, you and your sister have to start packing.
Me: Yeah, I know, but we also need to look for a place to live.
Her: Oh, I have been.
Me: [Laughs, a little nervously] I mean, some place not in Canada.
Her: Yeah… Yeah, don't worry, we'll talk after I've made some commitments.
Me: [Quieter, more nervous laugh] You, uh, mean before you've committed to anything.
Her: Yeah, well… No, I don't.

Long and short of it is that she's gotten a job up there and is going to move. Don't get me wrong, Canada is awesome. I've enjoyed the time I've spent there, and in years past joked about moving there (insert quip at the current administration). But Quebec is a long, long way away, and it would mean leaving behind… Too much, in the end. I'm extremely lucky in that I'll be able to move in with my dad and will stay more or less in the same place for the school year, excepting some holidays I guess. As for what happens next summer I cannot say.

So I'll be staying put for the time being. It's going to be hugely weird, having my mom thousands hundreds of miles away for long stretches of time, but it's inconceivable that it could be any other way. I can't move out of the country before my senior year of high school, away from all of my friends when I'm going to have to say goodbye to them next year.

This is why there's been a little more stress in my life than usual.