The hockeylife has given us an amazing life with amazing opportunities.
For the past 9 seasons, our normal routine of life has been living overseas (one season in USA) for 8-9 months of the year and the other 3-4 months of the year in a hometown for us both, Saskatoon SK. I'm NOT going to miss the endless packing and unpacking, the jetlag or the fact that the Saskatchewan summer begins when we have to leave, but I am going to miss the european culture, the shopping, the hockey games, the coffee and gym dates and last but not least: the schedule.
There are perks to this lifestyle, that's no secret.
My husband is home in the mornings so I don't have to get up with the kids. We have the opportunity to travel. The healthcare has by far been the best I've ever received. Family/friends get to come and stay at the Becker hotel.
But there have been adjustments.
For most people, Saturdays/Sundays are a day off...for us, our day off is on a Monday because Fri/Sun are game days. Dinner is at 8:30 because that is what time Jason gets home from practice. On Sundays everything shuts down. EVERYTHING. Your fridge is the same size as what we call a beer cooler back home. Laundry takes an average time of about an hour...for ONE load. And if you have the luxury of a dryer, good luck if you can get it to work.
Oh yeah, and a dishwasher..... that's me.
I know this will sound crazy but I know I'm going to miss ALL those adjustments.
Holidays are always hard. But every year we meet wonderful people that we not only make our friends, but on holidays we make them our family. If you really like eachother or not, you put up with eachother anyways...because sometimes all you have is eachother. Sound familiar, just like family. haha
My babies were born all over....one in Wales and the other in the USA. I didn't have my mom, my sister-in-law, my close friends or even an aunt during or right after having a baby. But I had a husband who did and said everything perfect (he knew better) and friends from those seasons that I will always be thankful for. Kerri,Ruth, Bridget, Bev.....just to name a few.
When we started this hockeylife, I was in my early twenties and didn't have a clue. Surprising right? Thank goodness for people like Ronnie, Kelly, Miia, Ines who helped me with everything and anything from translating german to english on ingredients to inviting me over for cake n' coffee or just chatting on the phone with me to take away the lonliness of home. And I cannot forget Hilary who reminded me that just because I was a mom didn't mean I couldn't come out and have fun! I did and I paid for it the next day.
Now I must pay respect to my husband who is the reason we have had such an amazing life and wonderful opportunities. Jason is a great man with a great heart. And may I not forget his dedication. Hockey has always been his passion, and he will always give his 100 percent. He loves the game and being around him makes you want to love it too. Even after suffering a injury this season he continued his physio and training and he was at the rink even if he couldn't practice.... he was riding the bike. He was at every game...even road games because even though he couldn't play he wanted to be there for his team. He always has a great attitude, even on the days he may have felt like pouting or cursing. This is a sportsman. And these are some of the many reasons he was so successful as a player and was awarded for his many accomplishments. We are and always will be very, very proud of him.
We are going to miss hockey and all that this hockeylife had to offer.
Jason will miss the hockey, I will miss the shopping and the kids are going to miss the after-homegame skates with dad and their "hockeynoodles".
We have so MANY wonderful memories and they will always be cherished.
But time and events were telling us that it's time to face a more realistic life and we couldn't be more excited for it.
So, cheers to retirement from the hockeylife and the exciting, scary start to our next chapter in life.
These are just the clothes I brought back with me from Germany.
He's smiling now......
First day of our move Bella fell into a table
The only place in the house that doesn't have clutter,
