10,000 Goodbyes

I'm writing this from our brand new (craigslist) desk in the family room in our Pueblo House!

The week of June 2 to June 10 2016 was the Week of Goodbyes. It was both surreal and wrenching, punctuated by periods of single-minded soldiering as we packed up the Pirate House.

June 2 was my last day of work. My dear office-mate, Liann, and I got lunch at Gillie's.

Liann has been my sunshine at work, and my prayerful companion in this whole long emotional journey of Jon's job search. I miss her already.

For my birthday, the kids and Jon made me breakfast and then presented me with the gift of the cities I have loved:

Blacksburg, Rochester, Annapolis, and a print made by my sister in law, Corey, of my favorite sign in Rochester. 

I don't know why I love that sign so much. It just makes me smile.

These gifts were just what I didn't know I needed. There were tears. 

Then came June 4th and our Goodbye Party. It was a day long picnic in the park with people coming and going all day. There were hugs, and laughs, and only a few tears. A perfect send-off.

Some of the kids' friends from daycare came: Marcus, Shaniah, Aliyah and Damian are old and dear friends by now.

Miles' first best friend

With Liann and family

Leslie is one of my favorite NRV twitter friends!!

Elizabeth, Miles' first girlfriend. Also from day care.

Darling Ann!! My karaoke, pagan fire and twitter buddy. 

Sunday the goodbyes were directed at church. 

The tears were thick when we sang Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. 

Hast thou not seen
How thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Lines like these were impossible to sing full-voiced. We have been so blessed in this town, and we're so grateful. 

But oh, goodbye can ache!

I took a couple of reflective pauses while packing. 

One, to say goodbye to the pack of neighborhood kids and our abundant back yard at the Pirate House.

Another, to get a moment of peace to enjoy the sky and breathe:

Before we knew it, Trucky McTruckface was parked outside and we were loading. The loading party was Wednesday. Thursday was further packing. Michaela and Addison came all the way from Lynchburg to help, and then Tim and Corey came to help with the last effort, cleaning, and to begin to drive the truck! They drove Trucky all the way to Pueblo!!

At the last minute, of course, Adele came down with a urinary tract infection. While getting her prescription, I had a moment in the parking garage, looking down on my town. 

I will always remember these years in Blacksburg as some of the happiest of my life. 

One more family portrait at the Pirate House on June 10...

Miles carried the Pirate Flag (sobbing) through each room of the house as we said goodbye. We paused for prayer...

Drove through town one more time to breathe it in...

Goodbye to the parking lot where Adele was born...

...And exhaled as we drove away. There were a lot of tears. 

(Except from Adele, who kept saying, why is everyone crying??)

Just to cheer us up, after about 60 miles, Grendel the Determined broke free from his kitty tent and joined Miles. He caused no further mayhem; just sat in laps and alternately panted and purred. 

I think he knew we needed him.

Next up: pictures and words from our 2,000 some miles of driving!