While traveling home from the funeral on Monday, Toby and I reminisced about some of the moves we made in our marriage. Our first big move was a year into our marriage when we moved from Lubbock to San Marcos to attend college. When Toby graduated from SWTSU in December of 79, we packed everything we owned into our Dodge truck and moved to Dallas where Toby went to work for Texas Pacific Oil (later became Sun Oil Co.) Bo was six months old. Toby hated living in a big city, so we packed Bo and all our junk and moved to Vernon, TX, where Toby worked for a CPA firm and then a tractor dealership. Jesse was born in Vernon in 82. Although we nearly starved in Vernon with my commuting back and forth to Wichita Falls from Vernon (60 mi. one way) I finished my college degree in May of 83. Two weeks later, we packed Bo, Jesse, and everything we owned into a truck and U-Haul trailer and moved 1200 miles to McAllen, TX. Toby had a job, but we had to find a place to live. Bo was turning four and Jesse was almost a year old at that time. I found a teaching job in Mission, TX. Three years later when Toby's job played out, Jesse was turning four and Bo turning seven. We packed up the whole shebang and moved to NM (well over 1200 miles) to start a restaurant. When we moved to OK eleven years later, it took much more than a truck and trailer to move all of our stuff. But Toby wanted to ranch, and we wanted to be closer to our older parents so we took another leap of faith. Jesse was 14 and Bo was 17.
Were we crazy or what? We just upped and moved babies and junk all over Texas and New Mexico and then to Oklahoma - often not knowing exactly where we were going to live and sometimes without jobs. Those moves do not include the little moves to different homes in each place we lived - three places in Lubbock, two in Dallas, two in Vernon, three in McAllen, five in NM, and three in OK. Does that seem crazy? After reminiscing, Toby apologized for dragging me all around the countryside. There was no reason to apologize. It was all a grand adventure. I guess I have a pioneer spirit. Would I change any of it? Well, maybe some things, but for the most part, it made us who we are and brought us to a great place in our lives. I'm happy. I think my family is happy, too.
4 comments:
Scary...we are on a similar path. Although i'm pretty sure we're done with any major moves for the next...15-20 years. Lets see...Tuttle, OKC, Yuma AZ, Velma, Marlow x2, Duncan...all since 2001 and three kids and #4 in the proverbial oven. I actually had forgotten you all lived in McAllen, i have/had a great uncle who just passed in Feb. who has lived there since WWII was over. Owen and Helen Graham (Jerry and Patricia are their children) if that rings any bells. Its interesting reading your odyssey, i'd love to hear the details. I think Sunday lunch at the Lazy B is in our near future, if you don't mind me inviting ourselves over.
FNP, when you guys moved to AZ, I had de ja vu. I was not sure if it was a good move for you, but I knew you would be okay - and it would be an adventure. Come any time. May 12 will be a work day to finish the barn - could be a party that day.
Lou, I thought I moved a lot in the AF. In the 30 years Shelley and I have been married we have moved to only 4 different locations. Ft. Worth TX, Mildenhall, England, Chanute, IL and finally Little Rock, AR. dragging children in the last three moves. It was an adventure but I think it enriched our family and kept us together. Shelley couldn't exactly grab the kids and run home to momma when we were in the early years of our marriage in the UK. What an adventure!
Were we crazy or what?
Not at all... Doesn't sound too crazy to me, but then again, being USAF x2 (as a child and an adult), one takes that moving thing for granted. What seems strange to me is staying put for one's whole life. TSMP and I met in Tokyo and lived together there and in Plentywood, MT before we got married. After we got married we lived in Westby MT for a brief period then it was on to North Bend, OR; London UK; OKC; Detroit; and Rochester NY.
I could really give you a list if I were to include my childhood and first marriage, LOL. But I won't...
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