This photo is full of layers upon layers of stories that I could spend books full of words telling, but I’ll simply start with this: This photo is love and it was taken in Erie.
I was surrounded that day by so many women who have been so important to me, who have supported me through hell and back, and who cheered me when my wings were strong again.
So many of you reading this would fit into that category of women. I am lucky.
And though so many of you are all over this globe and all over this country, right now I’m especially talking to those of you in Erie.
Those women who would drop anything and come running when they could feel my pain and know its depths.
Those women who watched as I built myself up and always were there to say, YES! MORE!
Those women who were my roots when I felt rootless.
Erie is the soil in which all of this love grew and I know those roots are strong enough to stay connected to me even as I leave.
Finally I can share the news...
When we moved back to Erie 3 years ago from our brief adventure in Vermont, it was a difficult and complicated choice between home and another city that called to us. Home was the right thing at that moment. There were lots of knots that needed to be undone here and we've done that.
And I'll never not be grateful that we chose Erie when it turned out my father and mother really needed us.
I love this land and this lake upon which this small city sits, but alas...both of us crave and need more opportunity and, quite frankly, less history, less known, less sameness.
My sister and her family live in Columbus, Ohio, Craig's favorite city, where he has spent many years of his life.
I have not lived in the same town with my sister since I left for college, and my nieces and nephew... I want more time with them.
Columbus is only just under 4 hours away.
We will miss people. Deeply. But this is still home and we'll be around lots. And we expect to see our peeps in Columbus because let me tell you... there is SO MUCH TO DO AND EXPLORE!
And we will be putting the house up for sale, which pains me but also feels like a relief.
This house has sheltered me through so much. This house has made me feel safe when I was alone.
And this house... I taught out of this space so much and I have chanted and danced my butt off and it has left a residue of peacefulness that you can only experience upon walking in.
There's barely anyone who doesn't comment on it.
May we all, who have moved in that space, carry the energy and love and witness that it provided for us.
May you all continue to feel the love I have for you, as I will carry yours with me.
As a note, we’ll be leaving the weekend of September 5th. Please reach out if you want to see me before we go. We can visit safely outside.