A Long Intro

Life, for me, has had a series of long-distance relationships. My extended family is scattered all around the country (at times, the world), coming together two or three times a year to celebrate a holiday or enjoy a week of fake “camping” on the Jersey Shore. My Elementary years were spent hopping from one school to the next, making new friends and leaving old ones behind. My parents and sisters remained the constant—the rock in ever swirling waters, if you will. Then, I entered high school and despite settling into a school district for seven years, I chose to have my one serious romantic relationship with a guy who lived a 5 hour drive away. College didn’t change anything. Suddenly the daily constant, my rock, became my friends. A handful of people who took on roles as confidant, entertainer, memory makers and family. I found myself in long-distance relationships with my biological and step family members as well as my home town friends. While some of those bonds have inevitably weakened throughout my years in Massachusetts, many of them have strengthened and flourished.

But it doesn’t end there. Last October I met a man. I can’t say we “hit it off” immediately (we’ll leave that story for another time) but about a week after meeting there was a phone call followed by a series of texts…and I knew I was in trouble. The problem: This awesome guy lived in freakin’ Colorado. We both fought it internally for all of about 9 days, while continuing to talk for hours every night, until it was clear that we had a pretty great connection and needed to give this a shot. That being said, I added yet another long-distance relationship to my already extensive list. Thank God for Verizon’s Unlimited Talk.

It has been a journey, and a wonderful one at that, consisting of carry-on bags, airline peanuts, Southwest Rewards points, delayed flights and far too much time in airports. But there have also been hours upon hours of incredible, real conversation, Skype “dates,” and the fluctuation of emotions that comes with seeing and leaving and seeing and leaving a person that you love. Although the rollercoaster is fun, stay on too long and you’re bound to lose your footing. And maybe your stomach too.

After a rejection from the Boston Teacher’s Residency, many conversations, thought and prayer, I have decided to relocate to Denver, CO. I am incredibly excited for this adventure! I am looking forward to experiencing a new place, living with my good friends Liz and Shane, and developing a short-distance relationship with an incredible man from a land I am eager to explore.

This blog is yet another way to NOT allow the miles to separate me from the ones that I love on the east coast and elsewhere.