Rewind to September 2007. [Diddly-doop, diddly-doop, diddly doop…] We stood with Keith, Jen, and little a care at the Tower of London – and wished that we were brave enough to live somewhere as old and as grand as that beautiful city.
For months after we returned to our daily routines in the states we looked dreamily at those photos of us with all the grandeur of London and Edinburgh in the background. And our hearts longed for the challenge of a different pace, something beyond our comfort zone which seemed to breed habits like treading water in a raging rapid.
January 2008 came, introducing a formal credibility to the dream as echo announced its intention to open an office in London to serve international clients. We visited London again that spring and spent the summer in deliberation. What was I thinking when decided to live so far away from my family, snuggled my cat for the last time, resigned my cool new day job, made the announcement to my students, said goodbye to my friends, sold my house, nearly every shred of furniture in it, the cars, and Drew’s motorcycle?! I could actually still tell you the reasons; it wasn’t so long ago that I can’t close my eyes and find myself standing in the rain at that epic yard sale.
My head was full as we stumbled through the legalities. Basically, TM arranged a work permit for Drew and a spousal permit for me. With those pieces in place we applied to live in the UK on the ground that Drew was employed and I had permission to work because my spouse did.
We landed in the UK on 05 October; Drew went to work the very next day as I fumbled through setting up house and finding a job. Over six months went by before I started my new job – more time than I had planned to be a housewife, and definitely more than we had budgeted for.
We had theatre tickets on the night that we got the news. I can remember being put off by Drew’s confusing request to join the team upstairs instead of him just meeting me outside his building – moments later sitting down in Ade’s office, being then confused and unnerved by the electricity in the air. There was a rush of a thousand words in my head and a range of at least ten emotions flooding through me as they explained TM’s position and the possibilities that lie ahead for all of us.
Being prudent and poor, we started the process of seeking sponsorship through my company, in the case that TM may make all of the London echo employees redundant, though we now know that Drew has a permanent position with TM. We’ve travelled to New York City to be fingerprinted and make the new application for entry clearance to the British Consulate.
What could have possessed me to make the trip to New York on days that overlap my mother’s birthday? Did I think that I was so London sassy that I could handle both the sadness and trouble that inevitably follows us since that day in 2007 when we wished for an adventure? Did I think the power of my big girl panties would save me? Please God, or someone, make it easier. (Thank you, Emily Saliers, for saying it best.) Go ahead, pray for patience. I dare you. But I suggest you get yourself some big girl panties (or Superman briefs – if that’s more your thing) before you go buck wild on that one.
For the moment, two Huddlestons sit in a New York City Starbucks waiting for their passports to be available for the return journey home to London-town. When we get them back we hope there is an entry clearance visa in each one.
Tune in again tomorrow, same Bat Channel, for more on the Huddlestons in New York City.