Leaving California

It reminds me of a song that I use to hear when I was a child so many years ago. The song spoke of a man traveling here and traveling there, and finally coming to a place in California where he decided to stay. Although it seemed strange at the time, some 10 or more years ago, while worshiping in our church sanctuary one Sunday night, that song came knocking at the doors of my heart. It was one of those beautiful songs about California. In a small way, it was a picture song of my life. Well, I had traveled here and traveled there in most parts of the USA. I had seen the eastern coast of New York City and driven along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. I had gone to college and met my bride in the great mid-west metropolis of Chicago. I spent a few years in San Francisco making castles in the sand with my kids on the shores of the Pacific and flying kites on windy days in Golden Gate Park. I had sojourned in one last sunny California place for 35 years which I thought would be our last place to stay. But I hasten to say that it did not turn out that way, and I shall never forget that early Tuesday night in February 2022 when we found ourselves on the road again. We were young and adventurous when we entered California 40 years prior. There was so much mystery. Now, we were leaving behind so much of our personal history. I confess that deep inside, there was a bit of grey; I felt a little pain as we drove away that February night. Our bodies were leaving California, and another part of me was grieving. But really, it was okay. 111522PS