Big News Came from a Little Moment 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇮🇹

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 The Calgary Zoo holds a lot of memories for me and Brian has loved going each time we've traveled to see my Dad. Our summer 2022 trip was no different. While eating breakfast and prepping for our day at the Zoo one small email seems to have changed our course.

"HOLY FUCK!" Brian yelled while looking at his phone.

I remember staring daggers at him for using that language in Dad and Lanie's kitchen and at breakfast! One rule in the Chacho house is no f-bombs in the kitchen! Turns out his sudden expletive was warranted. I assumed someone had died but as I read his phone, which he had outstretched to me with shaking hands, death was most certainly not the cause. 

It was from the US Navy. I didn't really have to read anything else. 

Brian has been applying for GS DoD positions overseas for sometime. Since previous military experience bumps you up the list, we've never scored an interview or thought that an international move was realistic. He had an interview on the last day of school for a position in Naples Italy. When I was waiting for my final classroom checkout I had this weird emotional moment that this might be my last moments in this specific classroom but quickly brushed it aside. Brian didn't have a good feeling about the interview - it had been brief, rigid, and felt stunted. 

But here was this email from the US Navy in Naples Italy offering Brian a three to five year position 5,070 miles away. (later when showing Kiniiya where Naples is on a globe, Naples and Alaska are on pretty much exact opposite sides!)

We did go forth to the Calgary Zoo albeit much later than we had intended! First there were tears and hugs and questions and stunned silence and more tears and of course breakfast. It was a wonderful day where we saw a ton of animals and learned all about the Zoo's new conservation efforts but I was distracted by writing down every question that popped into my head in a new Notes on my phone titled: "Italy Move Qs."

You can't tell but there is a LOT going on in each of our heads!


Location: Calgary, AB, Canada

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