So Much Change

We have officially been living in California for over 6 months now. That might not sound like a long time, but it is incredible how many changes take place in 6 months and how they all add up.

My trusty backpack that I’ve taken on countless trips including forays to 5 continents has finally had to be retired. I’ve also traded in an old computer and an old phone for newer models. I’ve cut my hair and gotten new clothes.

At the time of our move, we had a pickup truck, a honda accord, and an old motorcycle. All vehicles had Pennsylvania plates. The old motorcycle was totaled and replaced with a newer model. The Accord was traded in for a Fit. Both have California tags. We gave the truck to a friend when we moved. It’s strange to realize that we have had 100% turnover in the automobile department and we now drive CA vehicles that most of our friends and family members have never seen.

All of these small pieces of a puzzle come together to form a new picture.

Within months of our move, my grandmother passed away unexpectedly. Recently a dear friend of the family died after a long struggle with his health.

I moved out here and took a new job. My niece started middle school. My baby brother traveled to South Africa on a grant and is getting ready to graduate from college!

When we moved out here, Senya was just learning to walk. Now she is constantly running, jumping, and climbing. When we moved, she knew a few essential words. Her vocabulary is expanding every day and she is experimenting with sentences. She has outgrown most of the clothes we brought out here with us.

I’ve been struck recently how the mere passing of time results in such vast cumulative change. Trying to keep in sync with all the daily happenings of friends and family both here and back home has been more challenging than I thought. Things like blogs, Facebook, and video chats help. So do plane tickets. We got some by the way. We’re heading out east for a visit in a few weeks.

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