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You know the song: California here we come, right back where we started from, du du du du….

I have memories of that being sung by someone in my family (though I can’t remember who; my pop?) when I was just a wee lass.  I have no idea what it’s from, but it seems that most people know the song.  Anywho….

The gig is up, the word is out: we’re off to California. (That could also be put to a song that I’m sure you all remember, too!  Was it by Styx?)

I’m starting to get really excited about the move.  I keep coming back – both in my mind and in conversation – to the trees and grass.  My native midwestern sensibilities are getting the better of me, and I can’t tell you how excited I am for soft grass that you can walk on BAREFOOT without it scratching your skin to bits or releasing myriad bugs to gobble up your toes, and trees that actually produce decent amounts of shade and have leaves on them that are larger than my pinky finger.

Don’t get me wrong.  The past 10 years in Austin have been amazing.  We’ve made friends here that are more like family, have created a home for our children, and have found success both personally and professionally.  I will sorely miss the familiarity that is now Austin (which was also once so foreign to me).

Every so often it occurs to me that we live in Texas (“Texas?  Yeah, Texas.  Jeez.”) and that still, after all of this time, it kind of freaks me out.  I mean, come on, I’m from the Land of Lincoln where statues to Confederate war heros on very respectable university campuses and state capitol lawns are unheard of.  And despite never quite picking up the use of “ya’ll” (something I’m admitedly proud of; I prefer the less regional (?) “you guys”), and never really getting used to wearing shorts on Thanksgiving, I’ve adapted to the Lone star State quite nicely.  Believe me, once you figure out the “loop back” concept on roads, you really CAN get somewhere.

I like barbeque.
And breakfast tacos (one of the best inventions ever).
And Shiner Bock.
And Hippie Hollow.
And Eeyore’s Birthday Party.
And the general quirkness that is Austin, albeit Austin with many growing pains.
And all my friends–dearly.

But I’m also looking forward to exploring a new place; seeing what it has to offer; figuring out “the system” “out there;” meeting new people and making a few good friends; going on adventures with my family to the ocean, and beach, and mountains.

It’s a change.  And in all of the details that have to be attended to to make this change happen, I’ve come to realize that I like change; I invite it.

When I first met Sean, my life functioned in 2-3 year cycles.  Graduated college, worked a lame job in Chicago, taught English in Slovakia, moved to Austin, took a job, but then went to graduate school, etc.  I haven’t had any major change in a seemingly long time (though some might argue that becoming a mother of 2 is quite a change).

I feel like this one is not only for me, but for all of us.  Me and Sean and Reid and Ava.  We’re doing this together and I am so looking forward to what the future holds.  In making the move together, we are each going to have our own challenges, adventures, discoveries.  The cool thing is that we’ll all be experiencing it together, but in our own unique ways, and we will have the chance to support one another in our endeavors.

Now that’s something.

So sing it with me: California here come!  (Not quite where we started from…) Du, du, du, du, du, du, du, du, duuuuu, du, du….