I don’t want to say we’re starting a new life and saying goodbye to the old. We’re given one life to live here on Planet Earth and there are many doors we walk through and paths we choose during that one life. But we are saying goodbye to relationships as we have known them, the sense of security living in one country all our lives and of course, the amazing beauty of these Blue Ridge Mountains here in Nelson County.

With social media, relationships/friendships can continue, just in a different way. I’m thankful for that much. We both have so many friends and acquaintances made here in Nelson County, VA. over that past 16 years. I know I will see and talk to many on Facebook as we navigate our way in Italy. And some may even make the trek to our new home!

We are a few weeks away from our move. Over the past few weeks, we’ve worked through the details of banking, Social Security, Medicare, insurance, etc. My brain screams for rest. Our shipment made it as far as Rotterdam and has been sitting these past two weeks in a customs bonded warehouse. I have no idea when it will shake loose and head to Italy. I’ll do some followup later this week with my contact there. John’s car is sold and mine should happen tomorrow evening. The property in Italy is being cleaned up by Luigi, a tougher job then he ever anticipated. The jungle was very thick. 😉

We’ve said many goodbyes to friends. One of the toughest goodbyes for me is to my friends (my extended family) of my search group, K9 Alert SAR Dogs Inc. I began my volunteer work back in 1991 and jumped on board with this group in 1992. It’s been an amazing time. Many searches, long hours in the field, constant training over these years. Four dogs and through it all, the strongest friendships have developed and stood the test, not so much of time, but of proximity. We all come to the table with quirks in our personalities, but true friendships accepts those, may embrace them or at best transcends those annoying things that are us.

I share a few pics of my friends over a training weekend that took place here in Nelson County. No further words need to be said. I will miss them all dearly. Our home is open to them, no questions asked. One last note: my friend, Pam, reminds me that there are no ‘goodbyes’. Just ‘later’. I’ll hold her to that..