Re-locate: Starting Over
OK, I swear I'll finish the Ireland Saga at some point, but for now, I might as well catch you up on the present.
I came back to California last week, and was staying with my friend Sara until my apartment lease started on Sunday. On that morning, I drove from her home in La Verne, about four towns west of Upland, my town-to-be, thinking about what was about to happen. I had been so excited the night before, I barely slept. I was about to move into my very own apartment for the first time. I've never lived completely on my own before, without roommates or family. It was somewhat bittersweet, because a few months ago, I was planning on moving back here with Conor, and would have been sharing this experience with him. Even when I looked at apartments when I was back in September for my exams, I told people I was looking either just for myself or for my fiance and me (I indicated that the doubt was from the visa process, and not that I was thinking of breaking up with him, of course, but still, he was on my mind as I looked).
But instead of making a home with him, this transformed into a chance to start fresh. A new situation, a new year, and a new home. It all felt promising.
I was driving along Foothill Boulevard, which is actually the historic Route 66. As I got to Claremont, which is just west of Upland, I saw three vintage biplanes, in bright oranges, yellows, and reds, flying in formation overhead. As they passed, three vintage cars, mostly in black but with red and yellow panels, drove past me in the opposite direction on Foothill. A block later, as I was still smiling about the funny scenes, three old-school cruiser-style motorcycles drove past me.
I decided (and chose not to let reality get in the way) that this was a parade for me, welcoming me back to Upland and celebrating my new home and fresh start.
I came back to California last week, and was staying with my friend Sara until my apartment lease started on Sunday. On that morning, I drove from her home in La Verne, about four towns west of Upland, my town-to-be, thinking about what was about to happen. I had been so excited the night before, I barely slept. I was about to move into my very own apartment for the first time. I've never lived completely on my own before, without roommates or family. It was somewhat bittersweet, because a few months ago, I was planning on moving back here with Conor, and would have been sharing this experience with him. Even when I looked at apartments when I was back in September for my exams, I told people I was looking either just for myself or for my fiance and me (I indicated that the doubt was from the visa process, and not that I was thinking of breaking up with him, of course, but still, he was on my mind as I looked).
But instead of making a home with him, this transformed into a chance to start fresh. A new situation, a new year, and a new home. It all felt promising.
I was driving along Foothill Boulevard, which is actually the historic Route 66. As I got to Claremont, which is just west of Upland, I saw three vintage biplanes, in bright oranges, yellows, and reds, flying in formation overhead. As they passed, three vintage cars, mostly in black but with red and yellow panels, drove past me in the opposite direction on Foothill. A block later, as I was still smiling about the funny scenes, three old-school cruiser-style motorcycles drove past me.
I decided (and chose not to let reality get in the way) that this was a parade for me, welcoming me back to Upland and celebrating my new home and fresh start.
posted by Devin at 7:27 PM
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