For most of my life, September was an already short month that felt even shorter. Wedged between back-to-school August and October, my favorite month of all, September usually zipped right on by. I think this was also due, in part, to growing up in South Carolina. With 90-degree temperatures, September felt more like an extension of summer versus the onset of fall.
Since moving to Germany, my relationship with September has completely changed.
Rivaled only by Christmas markets, September is Germany at her very best.
It is the perfect transition from summer to fall – filled with plenty of sunshine (likely the most we’ll get until spring) and a wonderful mix of warm and cool days. It is a month that gives us both the last taste of summer and those first feelings of fall. (Last year, I kicked off the new season with Zuppa Toscana and a flannel. This year, that first autumnal day brought an afternoon of games with friends, my favorite turtleneck and pumpkin soup at Burg Lichtenberg. Yum!) And dare I forget to mention…the festivals! From wine festivals to Volksfest to Oktoberfest, Germany goes big this time of year.
Not only have I loved all of the German traditions, the beginning of the fresh autumn air, and tucking into fall comfort food this month, but other transitional aspects of September have really resonated with me this year. This month brings a change in weather, yes, but also encourages us to reset and refocus on our priorities. September is the kick-off for the final months of 2019. And this year, it has been both a break and a time to “get back to work” for me.
After the 4th of July (where we celebrated my friend’s wedding in Switzerland!), we decided to take some time off from traveling, so Scott could focus all of his attention on his new job. The first half of 2019 was filled-to-the-brim with travel and planning for said travel, so I was looking forward to this short hiatus. But what was meant to be a few weeks, turned into a few months.
Two quick turn TDYs put most of our travel (we were still able to pull off a few weekend getaways) on hold until October. At first, I was disappointed, but it did not take long for that disappointment to turn into relief.
I am so happy we live in Europe and incredibly thankful to be able to take advantage of the travel opportunities that come with it, but man is it a lot of work! After the first half of our year and knowing what we already have booked for October and November, I welcomed a break. I needed to get the rest of my life back in order!! I needed to clean and organize our home, drag my butt back to the gym, begin eating healthier, and not pack a suitcase for a little while. I traveled 20 out of the first 27 weeks of this year. No wonder I was craving structure!
This time “off” has given me the opportunity to implement new rhythms and routines at home. And in this month especially, I have begun to hit my stride. It is amazing how much better you feel and how much more you can get done when you allow yourself to slow down and get organized.
I have a friend who always asks, “What’s new with you!?” whenever I see her. My response this last time was, “Well, I started a new cleaning routine. And it actually works!” It is so simple yet is making such a big difference in my life. I am also working on boundaries, journaling regularly, and gearing up for the #Last90Days challenge. I finally figured out my Enneagram number, too! And narrowed down my priorities for the rest of the year.
Although getting my ish together was the main objective of the month, that wasn’t all it entailed. On Labor Day, we went on a “back-to-school” shopping spree for Scott. The Clemson vs. A&M game had a 3:30 p.m. EST kick-off, so we got to witness a Clemson win! And I secured bragging rights (my in-laws are Aggies) for the foreseeable future. 😉
We visited with Scott’s roommate from the Academy, who was passing through Ramstein after a deployment, got our annual pancit and lumpia fix at the Bazaar, and found a new enchilada recipe. Yes, the latter classifies as a highlight. Does anyone else get super excited when you discover a recipe you can add into the regular rotation!? I made a batch again yesterday and I can assure you, it will not last the night.
And last, but certainly not least, we went to Oktoberfest!!! What a wonderful weekend in Munich! It is one of my favorite German traditions and I love that we got to share the experience with such good friends. I cannot think of a more fitting way to kick off our last fall in Germany.
Speaking of which…this month also gave me time to “mourn” leaving Europe. When we moved here, we knew we would only be stationed at Ramstein for a maximum of three years. Unlike others we know, with Scott’s career field and where he is at in his career, we knew an extension was not possible. In terms of where we’d go next, Scott was hoping to get picked up for “school”. But before we found out if he was selected, he needed to put down his top locations for an alternative position. Out of those locations, two of his picks were other bases in Europe. It was an odd spot to be in. I was praying very hard for Scott to be a school select, yet this tiny piece of me kept saying, “but there’s a chance we could live in England?”
Well…
We found out Scott is a school select!!!
I am SO happy for him!! And what this means for both of us. But I would be lying if I didn’t say the news was bittersweet (in much the same way I felt when we got the news about moving to Germany). It meant that our time in Germany would, in fact, end. We knew this, of course, but especially with the slight possibility that Scott could be stationed at another base in Europe, it didn’t feel real until we received the news.
With a move back to the States, I will obviously miss the European travel opportunities (no more weekend jaunts to France), but even more than that I will miss the life we’ve built here. I love our home, this base, our friends and the German countryside.
“Grieving” our departure is in part what we are leaving behind, but also what it means to start over again — finding new friends, a church, a go-to spot for take-out when I don’t want to cook, etc. And we don’t know for sure, but Scott will likely not be stationed anywhere for more than two years from here on out. At three years, Ramstein is the longest he has spent in one place since joining the Air Force. The pace only ramps up from here. And with faster turnarounds, the quicker I need to set down roots for us to cultivate community. I realize I signed up for all of this by marrying a military man, but it is still a lot to mentally prepare for and wrap my head around.
Though it made leaving Germany a reality, I am so thankful for the timing of Scott’s school news. (It is rare to find out your next job or location so early; we only had a four-month head’s up before Germany.) It allowed me time to process and “grieve” having to leave, while still getting nine months to cherish this place. I think this will only make it easier to stay present throughout the rest of our time here. And as much as I enjoy traveling to different parts of Europe, I love getting to experience our life right here in Germany. So, while I am excited for upcoming trips (I am especially pumped for our trip to the Cotswolds!), I am equally excited for Saturday gym dates with my man, crushing my new cleaning routine, sharing meals with friends, dining at our favorite local spots, and cozy nights in with Tigger and Roo in our home that we love. ❤
Until I lived in Germany, September often felt like a blip in time. Or when I was in it, I found myself counting down the days to my beloved October. This year, there was none of that.
September and all it has brought — pause, rest, focus, time with friends, autumn, renewal — has been an absolute gift.
It was my longest September yet! In the best way possible.
I needed every moment of it to ready myself for this final fall and *welp* the last of our time here in Germany.
Reisen, Abenteuer, und Love. 