How things can change…

I have no regrets about picking up our life and moving from Colorado to the South. I love it here. This is more home for me than any other place I think I’ve lived, including my birthplace. My heart has been mostly full to the brim since our arrival, except for one little tear. That sliver belongs to my best friend. Leaving her back in Colorado has been hard.

Mel and I met back in 2002, not long after we landed in Colorado from Arizona. Our girls were 2 1/2 when we met and she was pregnant with her second. I had one older son and later in our friendship, they had their caboose, who is now 14 and a freshman in high school. How time flies.

But in between there’s so much history. So many great stories of our families and friendship through the years. So many adventures, and shopping, and laughter, and holidays.

Holidays have probably been the most difficult.

We spent every fourth of July together, ever Thanksgiving and NY Eve together for 15 years. And then…we moved. The move abruptly ended those gatherings. And that first year apart I was super sad.

Over the years we’ve been here, Mel’s husband has looked for work here. Which always brought so much hope that things would work out and they would join us in this adventure, but the jobs were not quite right, or the timing, or fill-in-the-blank – something always got in the way and dashed our collective hopes.

Then a few months ago, he landed a few interviews out this way. One of those interviews continued through all the stages, even through the offer, and voila, the stars aligned.

It took me a bit to believe it was going to actually happen. They were packing up their lives and joining us in the Carolinas.

They set foot in this place together as a family (sans their middle child who is away at college) in early September and I can’t begin to describe how full and mended my heart is. The joy, happiness and completeness I feel.

This week they closed on their new home. And this weekend I was over their packing up their rental to help with the transition. Because that’s what family does.

And this weekend we are going to my very favorite North Carolina spot — the Biltmore. I am literally jumping in my chair at the thought of showing them, and especially Mel, all my favorite things.

It’s been so strange. I feel panicked much of the time that I have to show her all.the.things. in rapid time. Like they are on an extended vacation and it’s going to end soon. But it’s not. They are here. They have purchased a home and are setting down roots.

Yesterday I thought, “I should call Mel.” But I did one better. I bought some flowers, wrote a quick card and drove to her house in between meetings — because I could. The joy I feel at that sentiment is hard to put into words. My heart is no longer torn, I no longer feel like I am missing a part of me. We are immensely blessed!

We’re back together — and I am ready to let the Carolina adventures begin!!!