what a crazy few weeks.

in nine days i’ll be making my last drive to visit lauren in philadelphia.  on that visit, we’ll be packing a u-haul trailer and saying goodbye to her home of almost four years and driving south to a new home waiting for her in richmond.

after a year of dating long distance, we’ll finally be living together in the same city.  missing her will no longer be an everyday part of my life.  we’ll celebrate in all the things a million couples take for granted - a quiet dinner at home, sunday night TV, running errands together.  the most mundane things will be filled with meaning and excitement.  i can’t wait to see what that feels like.

it’s safe to say that i’m an over-communicator.  you could do an informal poll of every ex-girlfriend and none of them would tell you that my thoughts/feelings were a mystery at any given time.

i just hope that she knows how grateful i am.  i would have moved halfway across the world to be with this girl, but i didn’t have to.  she saw how much i loved this little city and wanted to join me here.  no words or gesture can compare to a person upending their life, leaving friends, being further from family, and changing careers to be with you.  i don’t even have the slightest clue how to begin to repay that kind of sacrifice.  i will start by being the most loving person i can be and see where it goes from there.  it might also involve the occasional footrub.

she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.  and when i think about how much better it is about to get, i can’t even wrap my head around the idea.

so grateful.  so lucky.  can’t wait for her to call this place home.