It has been 20 years since I packed up all of my earthly possessions in Texas and drove north to Kentucky. Twenty years! I have loved every moment too. I have never regretting giving up an excellent job in Texas in order to move back home to raise my son.
My dad got sick while I was still living in Texas. He had to be hospitalized for a lengthy time and was given shock treatments to treat his addiction to Xanax. I remember him telling me that he had thoughts of going to the top of the hospital and jumping off because of how much pain he was in. His wife and my stepmother, Linda, was there for him in every way and saw to it that he was taken care of by the hospital staff. That was comforting to me but it wasn't enough. I knew where I needed to be and I knew what I needed to do. It was time. Time to move back home to raise my son in a small town, close to both sets of his grandparents.
I was working at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and had been for 10 years. Our office in Alvin was being relocated to Pasadena. Very few people were going to lose their jobs due to the move. My job was secure, no reason to worry. But that wasn't what I wanted. My heart was being tugged on to go back home. I loved my job and I loved living in Texas but it wasn't 'home' for me. I started checking around at work and found that a young girl was going to be laid off due to the relocation of our office. It was then that I saw my way to make it work. I talked to her and told her what I was contemplating. Instead of her losing her job I offered to be laid off instead. Needless to say she was thrilled at the thought of being able to keep her job. Plus I was thrilled with my decision to move my family. It was a win-win situation.
And so it happened. A truck was rented and boxes were packed. The day we pulled into Paducah it was snowing big wet snowflakes. It was gorgeous. I smiled from ear to ear as we pulled across the road from Mother's house in a church parking lot. As she came across the parking lot we ran to each other, kind of like in those scenes we have all seen. It was magical. I was home!
8 comments:
Gosh. Has it been 20 years already?
Wow, that is a great story. You are such a strong woman. Congratulations on this wonderful anniversary. This is a story that you can be proud to tell your grandchildren.
It is the little things in life isn't it? I felt the same when I drove home from MD to San Diego only it was snowing in MD as I left, haha! When we drove through the pass in the dessert and I saw the landscape of San Diego appear I almost cried. Of course it no longer holds the same appeal, too may in laws back there...
Now when you and your Mother were running to each other, did the orchestra sound off, the angels sing, there you were in slow motion with those smiles of absolute joy spreading so slowly across you faces and those long bouncy steps and the material of your skirts blowing as the wind swept them up. Just wondering.
So in a skirt? I don't think so!
I had the full vision of watching that moment in my mind's eye, standing in Mom's driveway and watching her run over there to hug you. A beautiful picture!
I hated it that you left Texas, but sure am glad you have been happy to be there the entire time. Including those super lean years.
I'll bet Trailboss was wearing a hoop skirt.
That's a nice story. Thanks!
Great story, sounds like you are just where you should be. Happy Aniversary!
Had to come over to check out the weird spinning fetuses.
And I got a great story for my effort.
Moving is such a , well, moving experience.
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