How Do You Feel About Edinburgh?

Our journey begins, not with a single step, but with a single phone call.  I was buried in a book on the back yard deck, enjoying the last quiet moments of a glorious Friday fall afternoon -- the Atlanta summer heat had finally broken -- when I answered the call from hubby: maybe he's coming home early?


"Just got off a call .... I'm being offered a job in Edinburgh."  Hmmm, it had only been two months since we had made peace with the decision NOT to accept a job offer in the London area.


Edinburgh?  I made the call to my one source for all things Scottish:  a co-worker from years ago, a dear friend in Virginia, Norma M.  She has lived in the States for 50 years, but I remembered that she visited frequently and had maintained lifelong friendships in Scotland.  Besides, I hadn't spoken with her in years; it would be lovely to catch up.  

True confession time:  I telephoned Norma before calling my mother, my father, dear friends or siblings.  I needed to know:  could we live in Edinburgh as a family?  Norma's encouraging reaction was "Wonderful!  I would take Edinburgh over London ten times over!"  I promised to keep her updated as to our decision and she promised to forward contact information for friends in Scotland and to help me with pronunciations .... yes, it's English, but I've lived in the South for 11 years!  Can I add "honey" or "y'all" to everything?


And so it began.