As I watched the sun come up the other morning, I couldn’t help but wonder who else might enjoy this very view in this very spot down the road. And, when would be the last time I’d watch this Florida sunrise come up? Could be sooner than I think as we prepare to make our journey back up north towards the land of four seasons, fresh water, snowy holidays and familiar faces.
It’s strange to think I’ll be moving once again across the country, because it seems only days ago I packed up my diploma and moved south in search of love and a new career. That also meant sandy beaches, palm trees, 12 months of sun and city nightlife. And ever since then it’s been one great memory after another with lessons learned along the way. Sometimes you wonder if you’ll miss a place with all the excitement of moving onto something new, but I’m not going to kid myself. There’s a lot of favorite places, past times and people who will soon be over a thousand miles away. But friendships have been made, and those won’t disappear.
As I was driving home today I heard the song, “Tattoos on this Town,” and thought about how fitting it was in the wake of such a big change. Sure, you can think of one part of your life as being “over” or “in the past,” but I can’t help but recognize that impressions have been made on the lives we touch, and not only have we made our mark, but the last few years have made their mark on me, shaping who I am now.
I think about all of the photographs I’ve taken over the last five years and can’t deny I’ll have to explain to my kids one day as they click through them, “why, oh why, did I leave Florida?” I guess I’ll have to think of a good answer when the time comes that they’ll understand, but I know one thing for sure, is that I made the most of my time here and I wouldn’t change a thing. I also think I got a little closer to knowing what I really want out of this life, although, I realize I probably really won’t know what I want until I’m 40.
One thing I do know is that the point is not always to get to where you need to be, but to enjoy the “getting there.” If I can remember that over the next year, I think I’ll be in pretty good shape.
