Run For Cold Climates!

As if I didn’t already have sufficient cause to leave Texas and head north:

The Texas Department of Transportation isn’t laughing at the ghoulish warning that appeared on an Austin traffic sign.

[...]

“The end is near!!!!!!!!!” the sign exclaimed. “Caution! Zombies ahead!!!”

“Run for cold climates,” the sign instructed motorists.

MSNBC

It’s definitely a sign, and perhaps the confirmation I’ve been looking for. I shall heed the warning and run for cold climates.

~~~~~~~~~~

I recently wrote about the layoffs at the company where I was employed until about a week ago. I was a little disoriented at first, and uncertain about how to proceed. I soon realized that the layoff was an opportunity to finally leave Texas, something I’ve wanted to do for quite a long time.

Mike and I have discussed moving to Portland, Oregon, so I started looking into that. I was just about settled on going when I learned about how difficult it is to find work there. I’m sure it’s not easy anyplace right now, but heading off to a strange place where I don’t know anyone, with nothing certain lined up was not only frightening, it seemed irresponsible, especially given that I have a child who depends on me and means the world to me.

Prior to having second thoughts about Portland, and while making arrangements to relocate, I had written to my dear friend and chosen sister, Bonnie, and asked if I could send her a few things for safekeeping. She was more than happy to store my things and forward them to me when I was settled in Portland. She had also offered to “store” my son and me if we needed or wanted to go there for a while.

While I would never want to presume on our friendship, upon realizing how uncertain things would be in Portland, I wrote back to Bonnie and told her that we would love to come and stay with her in Minnesota for a while, and possibly settle there.

I spent a couple of days utterly overwhelmed by the generosity Bonnie and her husband have extended to us. Not only have they opened their home to us, they have made arrangements to help us get all our things there as well.

I had originally planned to leave most of our things behind, and take only the maximum luggage allowed on either a plane or bus. That’s why I had asked Bonnie to keep a few personal things for me. Well, she and her husband thought that leaving all our things was a disadvantage, so he offered to fly down to Texas and rent a U-Haul, load us up and drive us to Minnesota.

I scarcely knew what to say. I cried for two days, finding it all quite difficult to process. I’ve pulled myself together, though, and the packing is underway.

The level of compassion and generosity that I have received from these wonderful people is simply amazing. Bonnie and I have been exchanging regular emails, making plans and arrangements for our stay. It’s more than three weeks before we’ll arrive, and she has already made me feel comfortable and welcome.

I hope that I can be the kind of friend and sister that Bonnie and her husband deserve.

And I hope the zombies don’t follow us.

Thank you for everything, my dear sister. I love you! (((hugs)))

Tags: compassion, friendship, generosity, kindness, relocating