onward

Wow!  Where do I begin?  On July 2, 2020, Todd and I would have been on the road in route our annual road trip.  This would have been our 4th trek cross country to whichever destination we flipped a coin and agreed on.

This year we were scheduled to road trip in New Mexico, Colorado and AZ.  These plans were disrupted when COVID came to city, town, state, country and world.  To be honest, one convenience of this disease is not having  to describe to any of the 7,655,957,369 + folks in the world what I am going through.  COVID is a universal code and translates the same in any language, as it has affected each and every one of us in one way or another.  We all have similar stories to tell, some sadder than others.  I will, however, explain how we got here and what finalized our future plan, a couple of years sooner than anticipated.

Todd and I began road tripping 4 years ago.  Our first trip was out to Sedona, while our second and third trips brought us back there; its spirituality.  On our last trip we decided we would make Arizona our home.  We researched the area and decided to wait a couple of years.  When everything changed, life as we would know it, back in March, we started experiencing some anxiety and having some heart to heart conversations.  Knowing that Todd could never return to work in NYC, and with my business taking legs, we decided to make some changes.  We decided that returning to our “normal”, although normal, was not what we wanted to return to.

Nancy:  “Todd, how about Arizona?  How about moving?

Todd:  “Nancy, how can we do that?  What about work?  What about dad? The house?’

What about, what about.. what about?  What about it?

Nancy:  “Are we happy where we are?  How long can we afford to live here?  Another winter, really?  Hey why don’t we do it now?  Let’s follow our heart.”

So we did.  We identified an area we would be comfortable in.  Todd began looking for work, within 2 days he had a work commitment.  We decided to build our journey around this.  My amazing dad, 101 years old, has lived with us for four years. I spoke with my brother and after discussing all options, my brother and I decided that me leaving was essential to my happiness.  My brother would take the wheel.  Still one of my hardest decisions, we placed dad in a wonderful facility nearby to my brother and a train ride away from my sister.  The house?  What about the house?  We put it on the market the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, it sold in three days on the 19th year anniversary of us being in our home.

It may be about 6 weeks since we made this decision, not sure as I am loosing track of time.  With all the wheels in motion, and all the positive developments, our minds were occupied.  We realized what we were about to do and embraced it; perhaps with a little hesitation; but the strong hold kept us on track.  We have left behind a lot.  A lot of amazing people that we called friends over the last 19 years.  I feel confident to say that my Toddy and I have made a mark in our community through the support we have shown.  We raised three great humans in New Fairfield, and my husband an I grew closer together in New Fairfield.  Our kids are all in good places as young adults.  Amanda has a great plan, and will eventually meet us out in AZ.. Dani will remain in New Haven for the time being, and William is following his dreams in Nashville.

This is a good move for us at a good time.  Despite its sadness and destruction, I feel safe to say that this COVID crisis made some positive changes for most of us.  It gave me strength through its fear, and afforded me the opportunity to meet some personal challenges.

I will miss my amazing band, The Bellas and I will miss my best friend, but there are certain things that distance can’t touch..

Next stop, Nashville, TN.