a new beginning

I don't know who follows this blog anymore, but I think there might be some family and friends out there, especially here in the US who'd appreciate just some daily life updates from Norway once in a while after we're there; Lilly and I and eventually Lilly and I and Elle. So I am re-committing to my writing and posting of pictures here. With my credit card points I was able to get a new digital camera that I can bring along to Norway so that Leighton/Elle can keep the one we have here and I can bring the new one to Norway to shoot pictures with and post here.

In case you didn't already see this on Facebook, I got tickets for Lilly and I to fly over to Oslo January 7th. We have a friend picking us up at the airport and can stay in her sister's apartment for the first two weeks while said sister is away. This apartment happens to be in the region of Oslo where it so happens that we have better chances of getting in to a good daycare/preschool, and I have applied for openings there. After our arrival I will have to find us an apartment to live in in that area. And a job. Unless I land one before that. I had a Skype-interview for a job there this morning and it went very well. Crossing fingers.

We will be Skyping a lot, Lilly and I, with L/E. And you all! When you want to. Keep in mid the time difference: Oslo is 9 hours ahead of pacific time, 8 from east mountain time. The pictures in this post are from me Skyping with her while I was in Berlin on tour this fall. I know she will miss her papa and home and life, even if she speaks now about us moving with excitement. She's been talking a lot about how excited she is, going to Norway. However, last night, for the first time when I was putting her to bed, she was talking about how she did want us to all go to Norway, but not live in two homes the way I've explained it. So that was heartbreaking.

She will have her grief. Just as Leighton/Elle and I have our griefs. We will *all* have grief and loss over our former life. It was a good one.

But I can say this with integrity, personal and political: I can see the goodness in Leighton coming out as Elle. You are her parents. Not her lovers. For you, it is a different change. And that's a good thing too, maybe.

But as I said: both Leighton and Elle will always have my full support. Living with integrity and honesty is the most important and loving.

When Elle has finished up stuff here and joins us in Oslo I will want to help her in finding a home and a job there. And we will figure out a way to share our parenting responsibilities and time with Lilly in the way that is best for her. And I do not see Lilly's relationship with you all changing at all due to the change in the status between Leighton/Elle and I after our separation and then divorce as Leighton turns to Elle (in Norway the way it works is that we will file for separation, then live separate for a year, then file for divorce. The child has her own rights and voice. It's all very civil.)

Like I've said, when things come undone, they will also at some point reconfigure. And something truly beautiful can come of that.