The Mysterious August Absence of Yours Truly

In my previous post, I mentioned that I wouldn't be able to write in Tornado C for the month of August due to certain circumstances. The simple question may have crossed your mind: why?

It's a long story - but then again, most stories are. The short story doesn't exist, not really. Short stories are merely story fragments. (But I'm going on a rabbit trail, aren't I?)

In this post, I will (with multiple rabbit trails) attempt to explain why the month of August will be a non-writing month.

But first, I'll tell you in a one sentence. Then I'll explain. And what is that "one sentence"?

Between August 6-29, the entire Buller clan (including me) will be at large in the U.S. of A.

Yeah, that's a pretty decent reason to forgo writing for a month. We're visiting America - and it's going to be hectic. I'll hardly have time for sleep, much less writing. (And I don't sleep on plane flights, particularly twelve-hour ones. AND we're arriving in the morning. *headdesk*)

So why are we going to the States?

Well, if you recall, some time ago I wrote a post about why I wasn't going to America in the year of 2012. The reasons were perfectly legit: in addition to the unfortunate subject of money (and lack thereof), it would be potentially dangerous to go back before we had been here in Africa for a full year.

Why? Because we'd be tempted to stay. After all, the majority of culture shock and homesickness happens within the first year of moving to another culture and another country.

Thing is, though, you have to let go of something before you can receive it. In the same vein of "he who loses his life shall find it", we let go of our desire to go to America - and discovered that we were going to America after all. After examining ourselves - and taking away our almost insatiable desire to go to America - we found that our desires were fulfilled in the end, to the glory of Christ.

However, back to the original question—there are several reasons for this visit. First, well, who wouldn't want to visit their home country after being gone for eight months?

And second (the main reason), Mom's uncle offered to pay for our flights so that we'd be able to go to a large family reunion, which only happens every three or four years. (When I say large, think 100+ people...all related to each other.) This is important, especially since some of our older relatives are getting along in their years. So we're flying in for the reunion! :)

(Interestingly enough, in some bizarre way, we managed to get comparatively dirt-cheap tickets that were like half the starting price. We still don't know exactly how that happened.)

In addition, it's going to be insanely busy. We've got three states to visit, multiple churches to go to and update, and dozens of friends to see - all in a three-week period. And that's besides the massive family reunion.

In an excited summary: I'M GOING TO AMERICA IN A WEEK!! GAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!

No, seriously, you have absolutely no idea how excited I am, for the very good reason that you've probably never been away from your home country for eight months. (Granted, I know there's a couple MKs out there. You, of all people, would be able to understand, right? Going back "home" for a visit is fantastic, and this is my first one since moving.)

But if you consider the idea of moving to another country, and reverse the feeling, you'll have a good idea what I mean. It's more than delight - it is (as my grandpa put it, when we picked him up from the airport here in Liberia) pure, unadulterated happiness.

As the ever-present G. K. Chesterton says, "What could be more delightful than to have in the same few minutes all the fascinating terrors of going abroad combined with all the humane security of coming home again?"

But enough of that. ^_^ Suffice it to say that we're extremely happy to be visiting America again.

Oh, and if any of you are visiting the Midwest (particularly in Kansas; Wichita and Kansas City mainly) email me or something. It would be awesome if I could meet up with some "internet friends" while visiting (although it's hardly plausible). Still, God's done stranger things!

Prepare yourself, America - for the Clan is coming back!