The Unexpected Move - Part I

 In 2017, we moved from California to the southeastern corner of Missouri known as The Bootheel.  In a state regarded as a split state during the Civil War, this little bit of Missouri hangs below the Mason-Dixon Line much like a Florida dangling chad. And, it's the only part of Missouri that is uniquely Southern. Otherwise, all other parts of the state consider itself Midwestern.

That move produced a book, A California Girl Meets the Bootheel in 2019.  Having lived my entire life in California, settling in the Bootheel was more or less like landing on Pluto. Writing this series of newspaper stories, over a period of 18 months, went a long way towards introducing me to the community and helped me adjust to a new way of life.

Now, at 77 years of age, I am doing the unthinkable. With my husband leading the way, I am moving  -  again.  In a long life, marked by many moves, this isn't one I saw coming.  When it arrived, the very idea ran through our life like a run-away freight train.  Everything changed.

In the spring of 2024, our settled life changed with such sudden rapidity, it took me the rest of the year just to adjust to the idea.  Then I found myself sliding into regret but there was no getting off this speeding train. And then, just like that, our house was listed and sold.  Now we are signing to sell our home on July 15th.  We are signing to buy our Tennessee house on July 16th.  The movers arrive on the 17th and we are out of here.  The whole thing has left me gasping.

End of Part I