PROMTuesday #59 on Wednesday – Life Altering
I absolutely Debbie for being on her tippy toes and working toward a huge decision. It’s daunting and exciting all at the same time. I know this because I’ve been there. More than once. And let me tell you…
Back in Early 1990, I decided to uproot myself and haul my still-cute-ass to Colorado. I had a friend who’d just moved there and whom I’d just visited for a week. I decided I could and should take a chance and move. I had no kids, no spouse, no house, nothing really to hold me back. And you know what? I did it! I totally loaded up my truck and moved to Colorado.
My little sister was my co-pilot. We had an interesting drive from San Diego to Phoenix. We had an even more interesting drive from Phoenix to Scottsdale Flagstaff (which included almost flying off the snowy road into a ravine, but we never told my mom about that). At one point, we were in Winslow, Arizona. Despite freezing sleet, I got out of the truck and went and stood on a corner for 2 minutes. That’s all I could handle. Back in the car, we headed into the white out. The freeway closed right behind us.
Somehow or another, we made it into New Mexico and witnessed one of the most breathtaking sunrises I’ve ever seen. Our drive through New Mexico was quick and uneventful. We entered Colorado just as our nerves were fraying and we were lapsing into old childhood squabbles — over music, over smoking in the truck, over windows cracked open or not, etc.
When we pulled into Boulder, it was as if we could both breathe again. Off to the airport my sister went. She didn’t want to stick around any longer than she had to. I kind of don’t blame her. Oh, to have those moments back! I wish the trip had gone a bit differently, but it was what it was at the time. Anyhow, I was in Colorado.
I didn’t know what awaited me exactly, and for that, I’m glad. Not knowing made the surprise of my daughter that much more precious when she came a long a couple years later.
I didn’t know that my heart would break, but then be filled with even more love than I thought possible.
I didn’t know that I would discover just how much I loved and missed my family.
I didn’t know that I could handle the winters. I could and I did. Even with a newborn. Me! I did it! Crazy, but true. It wasn’t easy, but I did it.
Moving back to California was another big decision, but one that made sense at the time. And, if I hadn’t, my life would have been radically different. Just like if I hadn’t moved to Colorado.
So, Deb, take the chance! Embrace the new opportunities that await you in the suburbs or wherever. It’ll be different, but good. And just remember, inland doesn’t mean the ocean has disappeared.
Always, always take the chance! Beautiful story…!
Comment by Pam — 2009/06/10 @ 12:47
Taking chances is what life is all about, isn’t it?
Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/06/10 @ 16:10
Taking chances means never having to look back and say, “What if I had….”
Comment by Mrs. Who — 2009/06/10 @ 18:40
Very true, Mrs Who.
Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/06/10 @ 20:11
Yes, courage, foolishness, whatever it is – just make the leap!!
I did something similar when I left NYC and moved to Seattle, joining a friend – who didn’t remain a friend – but it was still the best decision I made.
This is a great piece. I love the image of you all standing in the sleet in New Mexico.
Comment by g — 2009/06/10 @ 21:26
The question is “did you stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona?”
Also, I may be moving to Poway.
xo-
Deb
Comment by San Diego Momma — 2009/06/10 @ 21:40
G – yeah, my friend who moved to CO didn’t stay my friend. I’ll be avoiding her at our reunion. That’ll be fun.
Deb – NO WAY! OMG! (insert girlish squeal!)
That would be very cool. Great schools here. That’s why I worked so hard to find another place in the area — can’t beat the schools.
And yes, I did stand on the corner in Winslow, Arizona. Froze my ass off while my little sister sat in the truck…
Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/06/10 @ 22:08
This post really spoke to me. I love change and making a clean break. But on the other hand, I’m a pack rat who hates change!
Every move I’ve made, I would describe as catastrophic. Not necessary in a bad way, just because it was such an upheaval. And I hate to give up stuff.
But our last move was very cathartic. Even though it was just moving to the apartment next to us, we actually gave away a ton of stuff that we didn’t need.
But this was a minor move compared to some that I’ve done….like closing my family’s business of 40 years!
It is tough to make these kind of decisions. But I’ve also found that it can be so revitalizing. It’s all in the perspective, I think. And it’s hard to keep that! But memories are made this way, I think.
Comment by DogsDontPurr — 2009/06/10 @ 22:54
Marcie, I hear ya. I mean, it’s hard to get rid of stuff that you’ve accumulated over the years, but then again, it’s just “stuff”. The real worth is the memories. But yes, change is part of life and you sometimes have to roll with it. This last move was difficult for me, but ultimately good. Like you, I got rid of a lot (still need to get rid of more), but have been building new memories and experiences along the way.
Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/06/10 @ 23:38
I think it’s totally cool that you just picked up and moved…my grandparents sort of gave me a moving bug, I think we moved 7 or 8 times when I was a kid. And I’ve moved about 10 times within 3 different states since I’ve been an adult. And now I have the itch again…it bites me every couple of years, but my kids have been settled in the community for 3 years now, and I would feel like a dweeb moving them for my own selfish reasons.
Growing up and currently living in AZ, I do have to say that your line about flying off a snowy road on your drive from Phoenix to Scottsdale had me bamboozled…I don’t think I’ve ever seen snow stick on the ground in the Phoenix metro area. Could you have maybe meant Flagstaff? Just wonderin…not tryin to be a dorky know-it-all.
Comment by Crystal — 2009/06/10 @ 23:50
D’oh! You’re right! FLAGSTAFF! Oy. Some days…I’ll go change it immediately. I really should never try writing when my son’s talking to me. Or when I should be sleeping.
I’ve moved rather often myself. Even when I was young, my parents moved us every couple of years. Always to a new, better or bigger place. That pattern didn’t change at all once I was on my own. I moved at least once a year or so. Finally, when my second child came along, we’d moved to a house that served all our needs. We were there seven years. The longest I’ve ever lived anywhere in my life. It was hard to leave. And yet, we did. We moved to a place closer to family, closer to the schools we really liked, and even though I’m on my third place since then, it’s been cleansing. Go figure.
Thanks for pointing out my silly mistake. I’m going to fix that post haste.
Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/06/11 @ 00:27