In a city across town...

After we were married, ten years ago, our first home was located a few miles from where we live now. We didn't stay there but for a few months, because we were building a new home across town. It was my husband's first home that he built all by himself - with a little help from his Mom and some friends, but by himself, nonetheless.  We loved that home. We stayed there 3 years - mainly because we both were getting jobs back on the other side of town (where we are now)...and my husband is a nomad by nature.

A lot has happened between the time of that home and where we are now. If you wanna get down to it, we've moved about 6 more times since then. Ugh. Yes, I'm a lifer married to a nomad. It's tough, but I've adapted, I guess. Anyway, I'm thinking about that stage of life tonight because today I went back to the city across town where it all really started. Where we learned one another's quirks, where we brought Dubya into our family, where we had our first Christmas, where he comforted me hour after hour as I was failing in my career choice, working a job that I didn't love, was physically starving and pulling away, and had no idea what would come next for me - would I die without purpose in a career, feeling unwanted and unsuccessful and unfulfilled? That all sounds really, really sad....and it was...don't get me wrong! But, having come out on the other side, I can realize the beauty in it, now.

Today, I went over to the city across town. It was a social visit. I don't get out that way much...or at least not past a certain point. Today, I passed that point. It was a beautiful day, I had my ipod playing and was at leisure with my thoughts, alone in the car. I had lunch with my buddy Shari and then toured her new place of employment - where she is a BIG DOG, I might add ;) Wonderful time with a friend...but also a great time to think. Just think. I didn't think much about it on the way to lunch, or even on the way to her new job, but as I left there, I allowed myself to go there (if you know what I mean). I passed a restaurant that we would eat at as we built the neverending house (yes, this is another one that we built and sold) - it reminded me of my jeans covered in paint and working 'til all hours to 'get er done'. I passed the Books A Million that I spent hours perusing as I ignored lunch while I worked on that end of town. I passed the grocery store that no longer exists where I used to stand in line to renew my car tags. I passed the office where I used to work, I saw the window of my back office where I starved, cried, put depressing songs on repeat, and wondered what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I also thought about the window of time in which Jimmy and I were the "Jim and Pam" of the office when we both worked there. Ha. I passed the road on which I ran out of gas and had to have a bail out. I passed the Dairy Queen where we would get a treat sometimes and the lady always made Jimmy's sundae overflow from the cup and he'd complain that he "'bout had it" with them. Okay...honestly, I stopped there today. Just for old times sake. No judging. I passed an old location of a restaurant that I do believe aided in saving my life. If it wasn't for the sweet lady at the Thai restaurant, I probably wouldn't have eaten in the better part of a year.

I think about that time in life occasionally. I think it built us. I think it helped shape who we are today. We were religious then and believed in Christ, but we weren't living it. We weren't fully relying. We weren't true Christ followers. We had no Christian peeps to help hold us up, we just were wondering and hoping something good would happen. I actually thought that God was ignoring my prayers at that time. Now, I KNOW that God had His hand on us. I KNOW that our trials were for a reason. I may not understand 100%, but I get some of it. I am glad that I can think back on those times now and smile. I am who I am because of those times in that city across town. Jimmy is who he is because of the city across town. Heck, Dubya is who he is because of those times too - and all of those classes at Pet Smart....and that very first trip where he could still fit in the TOP of the buggy. Ha ha.

I enjoyed my walk down memory lane today. You never, ever get too far removed to remember from where you came. If I had the time back from this afternoon, I would've driven past our old house :)