When I was seven years old, my parents moved our big family from Heber City, Utah to Windham, Maine. My dad went out first and all of us followed shortly after. Just like what will happen with my sister and her family. I guess history repeats itself in our family.
I remember how excited I was about the move, the train ride across the country, and the adventure of living in a new place. Adjusting to a whole new way of life, new culture, and climate was a big part of what shaped me as a person. I loved it. I'm sure many of my older siblings didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I did. They had to start all over in a new school where most of the kids had known each other since kindergarten. When you're at an awkward age, from about age 12 to 15, moving across the country is akin to running naked in front of your peers.
We survived, though.
The move opened our eyes to new ways of thinking, the great outdoors, and how to deal with change. We all learned really quickly that our way of seeing things wasn't the norm. Most of all, we grew closer as a family.
Seeing my sis move has me feeling sad and nostalgic. Sad that we won't be 20 minutes away from each other any more and nostalgic for that exhilarating feeling you get when you make a big move. Sometimes big moves are tough at first, but can turn out to be a positive character-shaping experience.
