The Final Countdown... With More to Come

My last week in Bali. So much to do, so little time....

When I started this blog, I thought it would be a good place to chronicle the enormity of this international move, my emotions, the changes I’m going through, the challenges. And it has been, although I’ve been writing it in my head while living it instead of writing it down here. So much has happened in the last few months, and yet nothing has happened. We’re still here in Bali, putting the last touches on the move. I’m working up until the night before I leave (glutton for punishment). I’m packing my last two suitcases gradually as I sell and give away “stuff”… And of course I got sick with a crappy cold in the last two weeks. But all is well and on schedule, and I’m so excited for us to get on the move next week!

First: the “stuff”. After doing a lot of research about how to move 1-4 cubic meters of household goods from Bali to Colorado, I went with a local branch of Allied International: Pickfords. These movers are quite well-known in this part of the world, and are truly world-class. Their team of four arrived early on the scheduled date; they used approximately 8 thousand meters of bubble wrap and tape; boxed and re-boxed; calculated and re-calculated the volume until it was around 3.96 cubic meters total…

The whole process on this end was quite impressive, and a level of service I’ve not seen in a long time. Most importantly, I was able to send a few pieces of precious furniture and art I thought I didn’t care much about until I realized how much they had meant to me in my 13 years here. It became a “no brainer” to spend the money to make this shipment. The other crap that ended up in my boxes will be anybody’s guess, as we had a last-minute dash to fill space that involved running around the house and throwing things in. So it will be fun on the receiving end! Service is door to door - wrapped, moved, moved, unwrapped, and placed in place in Colorado. A real treat after doing everything mostly for and by myself for so long.

That night - the ONLY night all celebrants weren’t scheduled for weddings - the beautiful My Bali Celebrant Team had a little going away gathering. It was bittersweet to be sure. But my heart is so full of pride for this team, and I know they will continue to do amazing things into 2024 and beyond (I’ll still be involved, too, which is a bonus for me!)

These two events in one day SPENT me emotionally and physically as I should have anticipated but didn't. I walked around like a zombie the whole following weekend.

Meanwhile, I’ve been “celebranting” weddings - my total will be 34 for 2024, including four in the next week (I know, stupid).

I got down to The Ungasan to help the incredible Sasha as celebrant and MC for one of her gorgeous events. This was great because we have been working together for YEARS while we both have transitioned and grown in our careers. I’ve never seen one of her events from start until finish, and it was SPECTACULAR, so that was a treat.

HOWEVER, the most important wedding of the year, and the one that assured my staying in Bali until at least the end of July, was this one:

when my gorgeous “daughter”, colleague, most beloved friend, Uyun, bestowed the honor of “celebrant” upon me for her own wedding. Uyun’s wedding was the brightest highlight of all of my years in Bali and career as celebrant. We didn’t “ugly cry” but we got close! (How beautiful is Uyun, BTW???) This event was planned, executed, and attended by an eclectic collection of wedding planners, suppliers, and vendors - all hand-selected by Uyun, who by now knows them all. From the Akat Muslim ceremony, to Balinese dancers, to speeches in three (four?) languages - I don’t know how Uyun and Joann did it, but they did!

Again, I was exhausted. But I had a wedding to officiate the next day, and I powered through with the help and great energy of these gorgeous souls!

Crash and burn… again… this time I went to the doctor and it was time for the dreaded antibiotics. All good. We got this!

Resting and packing and resting and packing and resting and packing….

To be continued…