Returning to Roots

I turned 45 last September.  I didn't understand then how much life could change in the months afterwards.  Not that I think anyone really noticed nor do I think my birthday was the influence over events in this year.

Last summer, when I visited NC - I realized that we might need to be closer to family.  My parents are incrementing in age at the same rate that I am, but seemingly encountering more medical conditions as each year progresses.  The kids are getting to the age that we are talking with schools about "transition" - what is the plan after organized school.  At least for Alexis, organized school will go until age 22, but the planning and the prepping starts at 14.  Over Christmas last year, I floated the idea to my husband of moving to NC.  He was interested.  

I got a local realtor who showed my parents some properties and then we found one that we could customize to make accommodations for Alexis' wheelchair/walker.  We were able to make her bathroom bigger, make her doors bigger and get a single level living house near my parents.  Here's a photo from April 5th.  

The plan was to move at the end of the school year.  With Alexis' surgery in February, I wanted to get her recovered from surgery and return to school to get caught up with all of the mobility challenges that she had had because of pain and dysfunction in her spine.  

Well, as you all are very much living along with us - COVID19 had different plans.  Alexis' last day at school was Feb 12, then school vacation, then surgery, then recovery time at home - then no one had school.  And now MA doesn't have school for rest of this school year.  

So we have made some adjustments.  We are planning to move from Massachusetts May 14.  We will arrive in NC either May 15 or May 16 (depends on the weather - we must drive straight through because #nohoteling #COVID19).  The moving truck should arrive between May 18 - May 25.  And then I'll work on unpacking until 2030.  Mark my words, I'll have boxes that will need opening still then.  Kids will still participate in remote MA school until the end of the school year in June.  

It will be a big transition.  I'm excited for having family around - for my parents, my aunts, my uncles, my cousins, my cousins' kids and cousins of cousins.  I haven't lived in NC since 1996 when I left for California.  I'm sure over the next year, I'll try to re-remember who my high school classmates were, try to readjust to hot weather, try really really hard not to miss the snow.   Most of all, I'll try really hard not to miss my MA friends who became family in the 19 years I've lived here.  But know that when COVID19 gets "done", we'll be back for a proper farewell!  Jessica and Alexis will keep some of their doctors at BCH - so we will travel back for those appointments.

When we get settled and the yard and the house look a little more like "our touches" - I'll try to post more photos.  In the meantime - keep yourselves safe !!!