Four years ago, I made the decision to wake up in a different country each June 23. It was my way of celebrating my then newfound freedom. Peru. Spain. Dominican Republic. We've had some amazing trips together in this journey. This year, though, I will be waking on June 23 in Florida--on my way to New Hampshire for a week. When I realized the date, I was struck with an odd combination of sadness and bliss and almost considered how I could wake up in Santo Domingo before flying to Boston. Then I realized that I don't have to do anything. It's the end of an era in my life, and it's the beginning of a new one. This new one is so much better, and I was reminded of this again today. I've been trying to get back into an exercise routine, and the goal right now is to DO something each day. For the last week and a half, I've been doing a circuit of 3 types of push ups, squats, pulses, mountain climbers, and burpees. Doing the exercises is not a big deal; doing them in f...

It's officially Monday, and in 8 hours, I will load up my rental car and drive to the airport. I'll be with my husband for the next 13 days before I return home for two weeks for a conference and some other work. Then I'll spend the remainder of the summer with him. This is when I am so grateful for a career that gives me these chunks of free time. Without it, this process would be so much more difficult. This is already difficult enough. We live in two separate countries. We have two houses. Two beds. Two computers. All my life, I have viewed marriage as the institution that makes two become one. I understand now why this is such an important concept. You're supposed to be one. One house. One bed. One computer. I wish the United States government understood this. Instead, we are stuck in limbo land waiting for the official word of whether or not they believe we are a real married couple. It's bad enough that we are forced to live apart for now. When I'm in ...