Bittersweet Morning

I woke up thinking of all the friends and neighbors we will leave behind in August. I went to my favorite coffee shop and ordered my usual capuccino, hoping to drive the thoughts out of my mind. Saying goodbye is difficult, daunting. We're not just saying goodbye to our friends and family, we are saying goodbye to our lifestyle- our home. Fear bubbled up inside me as I envision our house empty- or worse, filled with new owners who might enjoy it more. Though we will be back- and this is but another chapter in our lives- I have a strong friend base and a lovely "chosen" family here in Ohio. I was raised in Michigan, and though I have lived in Ohio for seven years, I never felt truly at home until we purchased our first home in Historic South Park. It is a beloved neighborhood, where I can honestly say that my neighbors are friends. Here is a little animoto about South Park, for those interested.

Historic South Park

We made a hard decision to sell our house. We could keep it, perhaps rent it out while we are away, but it seems like a lot of responsibility. Selling it leaves room for new owners to create the bonds that we created in South Park. I look at our house differently now, like it is no longer our home. I've rearranged the furniture, taken down our pictures- to be replaced by staged neutrality. Hopefully, when we return, we will find another house that we love just as much as this one. But I can't help but feel a little bittersweet about the process. With light, there is always dark. Hopefully our time in London will be an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both of us.