All Good Things Must Come To An End

I am sad. I am leaving San Diego tomorrow. The place I’ve called home for the past 5 1 /2 months. It was meant to be a vacay. 2 months. Get away. Recoup. I fell in love. The place. The people. The life. I am hoping my departure is short term. But for now I don’t know. Life is funny. It throws you curve balls. You swerve so you don’t get hit. Or you catch them. Some fall. Land in the right places. Some go foul. Some go out. You just never know. I was trying to avoid this “ball.” I did not want to go back to Arizona. Not without knowing I was coming back here. I wanted everything tidy. Tied up with a pretty bow. But life doesn’t work that way. And then you have to figure it out. And face the “stuff” you try to avoid. So here I go. First I have to say “goodbye.” As Gregger used to say, “Say ‘so long. Until we meet again.’” That’s better. Not final. He was right. So until next time. I will miss…

1. My OTF family. The people who welcome me every day with smiles, warm greetings. They have no idea how it warms my heart. Days I’m feeling down. Alone. I walk in and I feel at home. So, thank you.
2. The wonderful people who I can now call my “friends.” In a short time, we connected. Bonded. As if friends forever. Marcia, Geoff, Hudson, and Harper, I would not be here most days without you. You have been my lifeline. To the others who have touched my life, I hope you know who you are. I love you. I will miss you. But the connection will never be broken. You have given me strength when I felt weak. You have given me love when I felt lost. You are not only friends but family. So, thank you.
3. Walking into Starbucks or Peets and having them fill my order without saying a word. Knowing my name. As silly as it sounds, it made me feel at home. Welcomed. Remembered. Just someone. They never realized the number of times that small gesture made my day. I smiled. I thanked them. But I wish they knew. Really knew. So, thank you.
4. Walking. The beach. The lagoon. The hills. With Lucy. Lifting my spirits. Miles and miles. Just the two of us. Lost in thought. Talking to Gregger. Letting things go. Crying it out. Finding peace.
5. Manis-pedis with my girl. My baby. (And when we were lucky, her hubby too.) Just time to talk. About everything. Or nothing. Whatever time we had, it was always special. I will miss this most. I will miss them. My kids.

I am afraid. Afraid to walk into that big, old house. Afraid to see memories hanging on the walls. Afraid to feel the life I miss so much. So I will step cautiously. Slowly. I will feel the love. I will remember the good times. And I will cherish the life we had together. Strength. There is no other choice. Until next time San Diego…I will miss you. Thanks for the memories.