The Insta-Home Challenge: Tulsa, OK

Life seems to be moving at light speed now.  I guess that’s what happens when you have kids — every day becomes so chock full of responsibilities, activities and moments to savor, that you have no time to be bored, and scarce time for introspection.  I can honestly say I don’t remember the last time I was truly bored. I love that.

It’s been almost a year and a half since we started our adventure on the road with The Lion King. We launched this blog as a way to chronicle these experiences, so that we could keep our friends and loved ones up to date with what we are up to and who we are becoming.  It is also a way for us to document this time for Max and Baby Girl.  We find ourselves in strange, unique, and sometimes extraordinary circumstances, almost daily.  It has been a challenge and a joy, and my family is thriving and growing because of it.  Hopefully, our children’s snapshot memories will be enhanced by this blog, so that they feel the same fondness and ownership of the experience that Ang and I do.

They’ll be able to read about the night before we left Nashville, when Mama misjudged the height of a step in the sidewalk on a dark muggy night, and broke her foot while in her third trimester.  After 4 hours in the ER, and maybe 3 hours of sleep, she and Max boarded a jet to bring them to Philadelphia where my dad “Pap-Pap” met them at the gate, and brought them home to rural Annville (near Hershey, PA) to stay while we all await Baby Girl.  I left them at the gate, Ang with one big black boot to protect her 5th metatarsal, and Max with a blue and red ring pop that he wore on his thumb.

I snapped their picture, and then he gave me a sticky kiss on the cheek.  Sigh.

Then it was on to Tulsa for me.  I packed the Vibe, grabbed a sandwich and coffee, and then my co-pilot Turkey and I made the lonely trip in just over 9 hours.  And thank heaven for my incredible roomies Nick, Amy, Tony, and Hero.  After an uneventful but long drive, I arrived to our 3-bedroom house after midnight; Tony helped me unload the car, and Nick and Amy had a sandwich and a beer waiting.  The house was thoughtfully accented with pictures of their family and ours. (All Tulsa house photos taken by Amy Cordileone.)

The house was cozy, warm, inviting and smelled like a Yankee Candle Shop.  It’s small, but not claustrophobic.  Turkey seems to have made himself right at home, but I can tell he misses Ang and Max.  Well, maybe he’s happy for a break from Max who seems to take a surprising amount of joy lately in chasing him mischievously about.

There is a big yard that could use a little TLC, but still maintains a rustic charm.  Its fun to see Tony at the window marveling at the scarlet cardinals, squirrels, and small brown rabbits that pepper the lawn.  He said he doesn’t see many rabbits living in Hell’s Kitchen.  Below, Nick grills out a pre-show meal.

My room is comfortably simple with a twin bed, small dresser, writing desk, chair, and an ornate wall mirror, and an oval standing mirror in the corner.  It has a view of the backyard filled with green mature trees, and will do nicely.

Here are some shots of the rest of the house.

The show is undergoing some major changes in the cast while we are here in Tulsa, so it will be very busy.  I’m grateful for this.  It’s going to be tough to be out here alone without Ang and Max, especially as we wait for Baby Girl.  I miss them so much already. Technology has made our separation a bit more bearable — here, Turkey and I Skype with Ang and Max.

My family is everything to me. Being apart is something that we fortunately do not have to do often. It certainly eases my mind to know that they are safe and being taken care of by Pap-Pap, Grandy, and Uncle George (Max’s uncle, my 11-year-old half-brother) in Pennsylvania, and that Ang is getting good medical care at Penn State Hershey. I just try to remind myself that life is moving at light speed and I will be with them before I know it, and this brief period will just be another entry in 3fortheroad.  This is an exciting time for the Hollicks, full of change and growth.  We are so fortunate, and I am so grateful.