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| Waving farewell to the Pacific |
We are discovering there are many items and aspects to consider when moving halfway 'round the world. One part is saying goodbye.
Earlier this month we went to one of our favorite places in California: the Mendocino coastline. It seems silly and, perhaps, even trite to say "goodbye" to the Pacific Ocean. It's not going anywhere! It is the largest ocean in the world and will continue to hold that championship ring. It'll be here when we return. Sounds ridiculous, right? We'll be back in a couple years. Overkill?
We'll say "goodbye" to things over the upcoming five months. Goodbye to our favorite restaurants. Goodbye to local events such as the annual Christmas Parade. Goodbye American Thanksgiving on American soil (we'll see you in 2026 — keep those mashed potatoes warm). Goodbye to our house, our furniture, our backyard and garden. Goodbye to authentic al pastor tacos 🌮. Goodbye to friends and family (Woah woah woah, don't forget FaceTime).
This process has been a healthy, encouraging, thought-provoking, and family-bonding experience to collectively say goodbye. It's preparing us. We're not taking what we have for granted. Yes, we're excited about new beginnings and new adventures, but we also mustn't move past the emotions of today and pretend they don't exist; no, we must acknowledge, work through, and when necessary grieve losses for ourselves and for our kids. We have the opportunity to show emotionally healthy ways of saying goodbye — and of grieving.
Goodbye Pacific Ocean. We'll see you in a few years.
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