Transition

Ever since I can remember, transitions have been difficult for me. (Just ask my parents.) I remember as a 1st grader feeling sick to my stomach because my classroom was in a different hallway than Eamonn and Kristin's. I couldn't bear the thought of only seeing them at lunch. I didn't want to go to school, so I'd cry and cry. Sundays were THE WORST. Of course, I went, and I got over it (and soon began to love being more independent), but that was one of the first real major changes I'd ever had to deal with, and it freaked me out.

In the spring, my parents visited Kristin and me in New York. At that point, moving was becoming less a distant dream, and far more real. We walked to the Met, and after seeing a few exhibits we decided to sit in the cafeteria for a snack. My parents asked if we were considering moving, and I said yes. Within minutes, in a packed museum basement, the Brady ladies--my mom, sister, and I--were in tears. (Sorry, Dad! We definitely got the weepy genes from my wonderful grandma, Jane Curtin.)

I'm still grappling with the fact that I'll see my family less, but I also know I've been incredibly lucky over the last few years. I had the pleasure of living with Kristin for 3 years. (It's so much easier asking a family member to rinse her oatmeal bowl than an unrelated roommate!) We experienced triumphs and failures as new teachers together, and I'm not sure I could have gone through that without her. During those three years, I saw my parents more than I ever did while in college. We explored the city with them when they visited, and we went to see them in Binghamton over four-day weekends and extended breaks. Any opportunity we had to go home, we did. It was comforting and rejuvenating. (Although taking the luxurious Greyhound back to the city after a break was never a welcomed experience.)

I know there will be moments on dreary, cold, and relentlessly rainy Sundays where I'll really miss my family and friends. But, I'm comforted knowing that I've embarked on this journey with someone I love. And, after spending a month living with her generous parents and brother, I feel like I have a second family here.