The next chapter

Needless to say, the last couple of days at home were jam-packed full of goodbyes and getting ready to move my life from the frosty Massachusetts winter to the blustery Hawaiian sun. Dealing with this move, changing my life again, was not easy for me as I have always felt that I never dealt well with change. As I said goodbye to my ailing 90 year old grandmother, my new best friends, my old best friends, acquaintances and my family, I felt a pit in my stomach forming. How could I leave all of these people behind? Somehow though, as I rubbed my eyes when my alarm jolted my out of a deep sleep (accompanied by my cat, Max) at 2am, none of those thoughts really bothered me. As I wheeled my suitcase out of my bedroom, I paused to take it all in, to say goodbye per se. My parents were waiting in the car as tears came to my eyes as I rubbed, kissed and hugged the second and third loves of my life for the last time for a long while. Max kissed me back with his little wet nose and Ruby grunted as I interrupted her while she was eating, I do love those kitties. I pulled the last of my bags down the stairs and hopped in the car. We made it to the airport in no time at all since the only people on the road at the ungodly hour of 3am were those crazies who wanted to save a buck on their plane tickets by scheduling a 5am departure. The three of us made our way to the check-in counter with relative ease, as we got to the security line, Mom and I said goodbye to Dad. I felt my eyes burn with tears and a lump form in my throat as I hugged him and told him I loved him. I blinked away the tears as I pulled away and got into the line. As our plane ascended into the Boston sky, I stared out my window and bid farewell to my city until the next time. The most painful goodbyes were finally over and I didn’t really cry.
About eight hours later, Mom and I arrived in sunny San Diego and met my mother-in-law by the luggage carousel, we would be spending a weekend with my in-laws before continuing to Hawaii. We had the greatest weekend with them, I have been blessed with wonderful in-laws. They showed us around the city, did just enough touristy things without being a tourist, if that makes sense. We caught up, we talk and laughed and just had a great time together. Last night, Marsha invited two couples over for dinner, her two best friends and their husbands. What wonderful people. I truly hope that when Hubby and I are their age, we are surrounded by wonderful friends and family as well, that is what makes life complete. Whenever I visit San Diego without Hubby, my favorite part is learning more about him, seeing where he came from and what he was like when he was younger, I love looking at all the pictures in their house, it makes me feel closer to Hubby even when he is so far away.
As I write this, I am sitting on a plane en route to Hawaii. On the way for the number one love of my life to be back home with me, on the way to the beginning of the rest of our lives. The excitement I have is bubbling inside me, my stomach filled with butterflies just waiting to get out. So many days and nights while Hubby was gone, I felt like this day would never come. I have dreamt of this so many times and now it is finally here and it doesn’t seem real. In just about a week and a half, Hubby and I will finally be able to start our lives together. I am amazed in myself for making it through, I am amazed by Hubby for being so courageous. I truly do admire him for what he has been through, I am so proud of my husband. Finally, every night before I go to bed, I will be able to turn to him and kiss him goodnight, what greater joy is there?