We just celebrated a small farewell dinner at my sister's new house to say goodbye to my youngest son and his girlfriend. They are going to be driving cross country, actually from the lowest part of the US to the upper Northwestern tip...heck throw a stone and I think you can hit Canada up there!
I have to make myself remember how I felt when I left the states for Japan, a totally radical adventure in those days. Yet, I was all for it - young, full of life and wanting to see everything, feel everything. So, as I look my young son in his eyes I see the wanderlust there, I do know it well. A deep yearning within for something different, a need to know what's over the horizon. I guess that's what the pioneers felt too.
I looked at Joe and Holly so much ahead of them, so many adventures, roads to travel down...and I have to be happy for them. Even though my heart is breaking.
My son's answer to me is "Move too...come on up there", easier said than done. Yes, I'm playing the age card...it' s hard to start over in your mid sixties. Although, it may come to that.
After all I really hate Florida, the humidity arrived yesterday with a bit of rain. The trick will be to get hubby to travel out west...I think once he got a look at the majestic mountains, the winding river, especially the Columbia and the good, dark, rich soil as a gardener he would probably freak.
My sister lives up near Portland so the kids will have someone there for moral support, which is great. She's letting them stay with her until they get an apartment. I appreciate it so much I would be a bit more frantic without her & her hubby's involvement.
I think they are going to have fun getting out there, even with the high cost of gas. So many states to travel through and they are planning on taking their time. That way they can sight see too. I think triple A is plotting a course for them.
It will be the first time in forty-three years that I haven't at least had a child of mine in the same state as I was. Oh, well I know I will adjust.....