Heads Carolina, Tails California

Since my world is about to change so drastically, and communication with those I love will be based mostly online, I decided it was time to reboot this blog I used in 2010 to tell about my Costa Rica experience.  I also found a saved post that never got published. So before I write how I'm feeling now- Its best I share what I was feeling THEN.. and then I will basically be repeating the emotions when I talk about now :) This was written, I believe, in January 2011:

I've been a bit busy since the last time I posted. New challenges, milestones, and  changes took over every free moment and conscious thought.. and unconscious thoughts at times. I find the title of this post to be very fitting considering the changes- and since my last  post mentioned how I've found country songs to lyricize my life at times.. So- the last 7 months..

When Ben and I first started dating- most dates involved a popular activity in Perryville, Missouri for teens.. country road cruising. :) We made a game of it, flipping a coin to decide left turns from right, and ended up in different counties or on creepy dead end roads, and somehow always ending up on "C" Road..which I swear goes everywhere.. Heads or Tails, Left or Right. So.. it seems fitting that a country song about flipping a coin- mirrored one of our recent choices.  About a year & 1/2 ago we got news that the osprey program was finally heading west.. it would no longer ONLY be in Jacksonville, North Carolina- but was going to set up in San Diego. And because my wonderful husband is so uniquely qualified and awesome :) he would have no problem getting onto the list if he wanted to. So there was the opportunity for huge change, for a cross country move. There was the decision- Carolina? or California? Heads or Tails?

So we never literally flipped that coin, but the decision was made and change was ahead.. when Ben deployed we knew it was the last time all of our friends would be together- with other deployments and moves ahead, well- everything changes. We soon saw that 2010 would be our "Lost Year".. and looking back it was Lost- but amazing at the same time. Ben and I spent a total of just 3 1/2 months in the same place.  A half a month in January was spent preparing to be apart. The last weeks of August were spent attempting to spend time together when Ben got back and I was beginning my student teaching.. And then we spent September, October &; Half of November together. "Together" But not so much. I spent all my time after school writing lesson plans, grading papers, writing reflections, and working on projects.  Despite this, I did manage to help pack our entire house and did my best to assist Ben as he remodeled our bathroom and finished up our house projects.  It wasn't until December that we got to spend "REAL" time together. I was finished with student teaching and school, Ben had transitioned to California, our house had sold, and we were Home with our families.  So 2010?  Remains the Lost Year. But what an experience.