The air is cold...bitter cold. Each breath stings as I inhale, then turns to a heavy fog when I exhale. Even 5 1/2 years removed from this place is not enough to make me miss the sub-freezing temperatures. Still, Bend holds a special place in my heart. I met my wife here. Apollo was born here. I made some of my best memories here.
I anxiously make my way to the front door of a house that my GPS has led me to. Apollo and Orion are as excited as I am, or even more, if that is possible.
"Ring the door bell Orion," I say to my three-year-old, as he reaches for the button then pulls his finger back hesitantly. Reassured, his little finger presses the button. The muffled sound of a door bell, rings from the inside of the house.
"Answer the door!" I hear a voice that I remember well, calling out to her kids, "your cousins are here!" I can here the clamoring of little footsteps making their way to the door.
The door swings open and two young boys are staring out, their faces lit up with nervous smiles. Apollo and Orion are smiling nervously back at these two, vaguely familiar, strangers. Its been a year and a half since we have all seen each other. Apollo remembers everyone, but is still a bit shy and acts coy. I scoop up each boy and hug them, as I step into the house. They giggle and are a bit apprehensive of me. Linkin is certainly too young at 3 years old to remember me, however 7-year-old Kingston does. He makes a comment about my shaved head no doubt remembering that I had hair the last time he saw me. I haven't even made my way to Kaitlin (whom is now 16) or Michelle and Aaron, when the 4 little boys scurry off together to play. I was surprised that there was no "warm up" period. They acted as if they see each other daily.
It was good to be back home.
There may not be any blood relation between any of us, however, Aaron and I spent the better part of a decade working side-by-side for 8 to 10 hours a day, often working out of town and sharing a hotel room. On weekends and evenings, our families typically hung out together for dinner and fun times.
You either learn to love or hate someone if you spend that much time with them.
Aaron and I became brothers. We had some of the best times together. We shared some hard times...and somehow we survived the dull day to day workload by solving the worlds problems.
One of the hardest things about picking up and leaving Bend in 2009, was leaving behind Aaron and his family. I had just assumed that our kids would grow up together, like cousins, that we would continue to work together, invent the next "must have" item that would afford us notoriety and an easier lifestyle. The down turn in economy forced my hand though, and things changed. We did what we needed to do to survive, to provide for our family...we made some hard decisions. "Regrets, I have a few" (just to add a cheesy cliche song lyric in there).
I often think about how our lives would be different had we stayed in Bend. Would we have had Orion? Would I still be installing tile? So many questions. But then I think of all the positive things that we have had happen here in California. So many adventures, warmer climate, different scenery and lifestyle. I am thankful for all of it.
The compromise is that we now have to travel
to see loved ones and family. There is always too little time and we always feel rushed. I think this is the hardest part for me; trying to balance time with everyone that we love. Alas, we do what we can, when we can. I wish my boys could grow up with cousins, both blood and chosen. But for now, I will settle for short visits and long road trips.
After just 40 hours in Bend, an afternoon of playing in the snow with the boys and their cousins, staying up until well after mid night two nights in a row, it was time to get back in the truck and make the 470 mile drive back to Santa Rosa.
Misery certainly loves company and we enjoyed the company that we kept when living in Bend. Wishing we could spend a few more days, we solemnly headed for the highway. We passed by our old house on the way out of town. Apollo asked if we could move back to our snow house. After contemplating our answer of "No, we cannot," he asked, "Can we come back at Christmas then? I want to play in the snow again with our cousins."
If it were only that simple. Until next time.
I anxiously make my way to the front door of a house that my GPS has led me to. Apollo and Orion are as excited as I am, or even more, if that is possible.
"Answer the door!" I hear a voice that I remember well, calling out to her kids, "your cousins are here!" I can here the clamoring of little footsteps making their way to the door.
The door swings open and two young boys are staring out, their faces lit up with nervous smiles. Apollo and Orion are smiling nervously back at these two, vaguely familiar, strangers. Its been a year and a half since we have all seen each other. Apollo remembers everyone, but is still a bit shy and acts coy. I scoop up each boy and hug them, as I step into the house. They giggle and are a bit apprehensive of me. Linkin is certainly too young at 3 years old to remember me, however 7-year-old Kingston does. He makes a comment about my shaved head no doubt remembering that I had hair the last time he saw me. I haven't even made my way to Kaitlin (whom is now 16) or Michelle and Aaron, when the 4 little boys scurry off together to play. I was surprised that there was no "warm up" period. They acted as if they see each other daily.
It was good to be back home.
There may not be any blood relation between any of us, however, Aaron and I spent the better part of a decade working side-by-side for 8 to 10 hours a day, often working out of town and sharing a hotel room. On weekends and evenings, our families typically hung out together for dinner and fun times.
You either learn to love or hate someone if you spend that much time with them.
Aaron and I became brothers. We had some of the best times together. We shared some hard times...and somehow we survived the dull day to day workload by solving the worlds problems.
One of the hardest things about picking up and leaving Bend in 2009, was leaving behind Aaron and his family. I had just assumed that our kids would grow up together, like cousins, that we would continue to work together, invent the next "must have" item that would afford us notoriety and an easier lifestyle. The down turn in economy forced my hand though, and things changed. We did what we needed to do to survive, to provide for our family...we made some hard decisions. "Regrets, I have a few" (just to add a cheesy cliche song lyric in there).
I often think about how our lives would be different had we stayed in Bend. Would we have had Orion? Would I still be installing tile? So many questions. But then I think of all the positive things that we have had happen here in California. So many adventures, warmer climate, different scenery and lifestyle. I am thankful for all of it.
The compromise is that we now have to travelto see loved ones and family. There is always too little time and we always feel rushed. I think this is the hardest part for me; trying to balance time with everyone that we love. Alas, we do what we can, when we can. I wish my boys could grow up with cousins, both blood and chosen. But for now, I will settle for short visits and long road trips.
Misery certainly loves company and we enjoyed the company that we kept when living in Bend. Wishing we could spend a few more days, we solemnly headed for the highway. We passed by our old house on the way out of town. Apollo asked if we could move back to our snow house. After contemplating our answer of "No, we cannot," he asked, "Can we come back at Christmas then? I want to play in the snow again with our cousins."
If it were only that simple. Until next time.
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