somebody is moving away in seven sleeps.

far, far away. 

she and i have been neighbors (of sorts) since 1999.  we lived in married housing in the same complex at university, where we each had our first child and our husbands entered the same major.  everyone wondered why there was a sign that said "rabbit" next to their front door. 

(there is no reason)

i was always comforted to look from my 3rd floor apartment into the windows of their first floor apartment and see the midnight oil burning there, too. (those animators and their hours) 

i always wondered, watching her inch her way from the car to the apartment after a brutal day of dialysis, if she'd be offended if I just carried her the rest of the way home. 

the week before we moved to L.A, we got to visit them in the hospital. she was finally well again! the only better going-away present than seeing that, was knowing that she'd be joining me in the big city before the end of the year.

 

our kids are just over a year apart. they say they're getting married. they talk about how her last name will change, and how it sounds pretty good that way. they fall asleep curled up in each other's arms, watching tv or playing games.   (we wonder if it's not actually a good thing they're being separated before they get a bit old for this sort of thing)

mostly, this is how we feel about the whole business:

my sweet youngest said, "i don't have a lot of money right now, but i'll save my allowance, and we'll come visit you."  

well we always did like the pacific northwest....

we'll miss you guys.