No picture yet, just words

In the midst of all this unseasonably warm weather, a present better than any at Christmas...for the first time in 13 years my oldest and I live in the same city. Now, this is not to lessen how wonderful it's been to live reasonably close to the youngest. And the grandson. That time has been truly valuable and I wouldn't trade it. But I missed the oldest, and long hoped she would head to the left coast as I did.

Tonight they are in their new place, just beginning to understand where they are. Not aware of much yet, other than nights are cooler than in Texas. A nice bonus. Jobs must be found, learning how to get around, where things are, all that. But the smiles say a lot...even though they are tired from three days of driving. Our smiles say a lot too...finally our kids are all in the same state!

Changes

Changes come in many forms. Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. New life, death. New job, loss of job. Leaving home, coming home. Leaving one state, coming to a new one.
This change is hopefully a good one. A new life, new challenges, new places to explore, new jobs to find. The picture was taken two years ago, just over a year before they were married.
Now they are living their last week in Texas before coming to Oregon. Jamie has been there 11 years, Darren off and one for nearly 20. But finally life is changing and Texas will be something they see in the rear view mirror.
Challenges? You bet. Jobs, maps, finding places to eat, drivers tests, medical stuff. Different pharmacy, different restaurants, different landscape. Changes.
Four seasons, not two. Mountains and hills, not flat earth in all directions. Green, not brown. More liberal, less conservative. (not all of Oregon, but true in the Portland area) More green from the standpoint of nature, recycling, and other such stuff. Changes.
Better and easier when you are young. ;-) A new city, state, to explore and learn. New approaches, different ideas. Same country, but a different world. Changes. Ahhhhh...