Countdown To Freedom

As I drive around the city that I have called home for the past seven years, it occurs to me, that this is my last day that I will call this home. Tomorrow, I will be moving to a new city.

It is quite familiar, and a little strange. I feel almost bittersweet. It is almost, anti-climatic. I feel as though I need to have some sort of commemoration for this moment.

Since the beginning of this year, I have had some major transitions. Each has been met with its own set of drama, chaos and challenges. When the dust finally settled, I made it a mission to keep my mind clear. If you have ever seen Ghostbusters, do you remember the scene where they have to clear their minds because the instrument of their destruction would be chosen from their thoughts? (Fine, I'm dating myself. Millennials, Google it). Well, I have this incredible ability to manifest that which I desire. I was trying to keep the whiteboard clear to find some Zen. I did not count on the aged imprints.

Alex was 17 and I was 10. He was the only son of my mother's best friend, and way too old for me (as he let me know on many occasions). At 10, I was intrigued by his erratic and irrational behavior, his wild mood swings, his sexy car, his mysterious friends, and mostly, his obsession with Prince. He dressed like him, and played his music for hours on end. He and his friends would tease me by playing songs like Darlin Nikki, then asking me if I knew what they were talking about. They laughed at my innocence.

It has been about 3 months since I have moved into our RV. Overall, I am thrilled. Life has been so much more laid back and less complicated. I don't have to worry about repairs and yard-work and bills.

I work, come home, eat dinner, walk the dogs, color, write, watch movies, and hang with my man. I do miss baths. I have nothing against a shower, but I really miss a long, hot bath after a stressful day. Shaving is also a bit more perilous in the shower. I had no idea how much those nicks can bleed!

Lately, I have been considering just what it means to be a woman.

I heard an NPR broadcast on Marketplace with Melinda Gates not too long ago about Time Poverty and women. [Related: Help Solve the Time Poverty Problem by Making Your Partner Do the Dishes Tonight and Melinda Gates Offers a Solution to Time Poverty and Melinda Gates on balancing the burden of unpaid work]

In it, she is discusses how, across the globe, women are tasked with an over-sized burden of unpaid work such as family care, child care, housekeeping, etc. She tells the story of a young girl in Africa. Of all of the things that this girl wants, she asks for the headlamp of Melinda's daughter so that she has time to study at 10:30 at night, after all of her chores are done. This is compared to her brother who studies at 4:30 in the afternoon.