Judi: The Day of Goodbyes

Awake at 2 a.m.

I tried to go back to sleep until 3. That didn’t happen.

So I got up. There were still things to do—vacuum, sweep, mop, check the bathroom mirrors for spots. Why are there always spots?

I found a few more tiny drops of paint on the floors and picked them off one by one. I noticed Kent watching me. He didn’t say anything, but his eyes told me these little details probably weren’t going to make or break the sale of the house.

I did them anyway.

I vacuumed the newly carpeted downstairs bedroom and found one more spot on the wall we had missed. Kent was on it immediately with a little touch-up paint.

One more thing taken care of.

We took more pictures. Even a video of the house and yard—trying to capture its beauty and the life we’ve lived here.

I walked through each bedroom one more time, remembering the different ways our kids had arranged their rooms over the years.

I felt a tightness in my momma heart.

I showed Kent a scribble our youngest daughter made on the inside of a closet door. She had dated it—2009. She would have been 17.

How did that much time pass?

There were more hugs with the neighbors across the street. More tears.

With bags packed we were ready to go; first, breakfast at Strawns, a local favorite spot. We shared our plans with the waitress and even a stranger in the parking lot who stopped to talk with us. I’m not sure how that always happens, but it does. We will talk to anyone.

Maybe we looked excited.

Back at the house, we sat in our empty living room on two camp chairs, waiting for our dear friend Tyler to arrive and take us—and our seven pieces of luggage—to Dallas. He pulled up at 10 a.m.

He was one of the hardest goodbyes.

For years he came over every week to play pool with Kent, filling our home with laughter and easy conversation. I am so grateful for the friendship he has shared with both of us.

As we drove out of Shreveport, I glanced to my right and saw the place where I’ve worked for the past 10 years. I could see the cars of my coworkers and knew their day had already begun.

I felt grateful—for that job, for those people.

And then it started to feel real again.

Kent reached back and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

This is what we’ve been working toward.

It’s no longer something in the future.

It’s happening now.

As we arrived in Dallas, I felt my stomach tighten. Oh my goodness.

It’s been a long time since we made such a big life change. Are we too old for this?

I guess we’ll never know unless we try.

After saying goodbye to our good friend at the hotel I was ready to be done with goodbyes.

Tomorrow we fly and the adventure begins.

— Judi

GO TO KENT’S MARCH 22 POST