Habis

That's Indonesian for "finished, done, gone." It also describes me as of about ten seconds ago.

We've been home twice since we moved here, and I've learned that each time there has been a point shortly before we head out that I'm just done. I hit a certain point where reality sets in that I'm going home and I completely check out. My body may be in Indonesia, dragging itself through countless torturous meetings, but my mind is outside in the midwestern sunshine.

I can usually pinpoint the exact second this happens, like a little while ago. I read an e-mail from my mom where she happened to mention going on a walk with my dog, and how it was warm so he stopped and got a drink from a few sprinklers along the way.

Suddenly I wasn't in my living room anymore, I was smelling the freshly mowed lawns and hearing the jingling sound of Charlie's tags swinging from his collar. I was picturing a sidewalk in my parents' neighborhood, pausing to wait for a sprinkler to cycle its stream of water past before continuing on our way.

My heart and mind are in Nebraska, but unfortunately the rest of me has to stay here for another 10 days.

Tick, tick, tick...