right now my thermostat is registering happy.

this is surprising, given that i have a deadline snapping at my heels, other concerns, a trip to plan for and news that is causing me real sorrow.

in fact i wanted to name today’s blog "right now i am sad" but i couldnt, because amidst the sad stuff, i have happiness, and contentment so overriding the sorry bits that i wanted to write about the good stuff.

friends.

today i said goodbye to odila for the summer. yesterday the kids were on the playground playing "odila and joel", this game goes like this: cast of odila, husband joel, dog carlota and daughter alice or anna. and if you are odila (and everyone wants to be) you get to say "oba!" and pretend to wear lipstick and if you are daughters alice/anna you can kiss mummy and if you are uncle joel you can give high fives and pretend to take pictures and go to the office and, well, you’re smart people, figure out what carlota does.

but it was just nice to see her for five minutes before she jets off for london and then rio.

it’s tough being the last woman standing in hong kong. it’s the first time this has ever happened to me. usually we lead the exodus. but this year we’re only taking four weeks, and it’s tough watching everyone leave and having your weekly events cancelled because no one is here.

and then sandi came to cut jude and sebastian’s hair. they of course loved it, and i read them a book while sandi snipped away, and we chatted about the watoto children’s choir (SEE IT!) and other non sequeters. sandi leaves on the 12th for shanghai (i think, you know with her it is hard to tell) and a few other places. i need her perspective. she’s that bit older than me, she knows what is important and these days, as she is suddenly my kids greatest advocate, she is quick to inform me, "this is a good life. keep it that way." and she’s going to teach me to play mahjong.

friends. holding my hands, holding me close, letting me go, watching me grow. 

re-reading this i make it sound like friends are parents, but in expat situations, friends really are the family you choose. these are the people we consult about schools, where to shop, vacation, we pool knowledge, experiences, we join together on family holidays to prevent sadness.

we have a playdate at denby’s wednesday, which will be good. shredded soul needs the friends and thank goodness tara and katie are still here.