What I'm leaving behind

I’ve lived in the same general area my entire life. My apartment is about five minutes from the shop that my grandfather owned in my youth. A shop that I spent many Saturdays at when my mother took over the business. My childhood home isn’t much farther. Just out of the way enough that I’m not there every week, walking through Back Bay and reminiscing.

My old childhood walk. There’s another item.

For a while, Leonard and I have been composing an Orange County bucket list, if you will. Though we didn’t meet until our adult lives, the two of us grew up a town apart. Our schools were in the same distract; in fact I went to summer school at his high school twice. (Both times so that I could take extra electives, why should I have to choose between drama and band? I could be double the geek!) That said there are many things, many Orange County staples that neither of us have done. We’ve never been to Medieval Times, for example.

But lately, there’s something even more pressing than the Orange County Bucket List weighing at my soul. That is all of my favorite spots that I’ll be saying goodbye to. All the restaurants that I love (and there are more than a few!). Taking the ferry to Balboa, just because. South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island during the holidays. The Snoopy House. All my favorite little shops, the places that I go to when I’m in the neighborhood, even if I don’t have any money.

Walking down the Newport pier. That’ll be one of our final nights, I’m calling it now. Dinner at Charlie’s Chili, then walking down the pier while I try desperately not to cry. Who are we kidding? I’ll cry.

I’m so excited to move. And I know that I’ll be making new memories, discovering new restaurants. New little shops. New places to walk and smile. That’s what this blog will become, what you’ll all read about in about two months.

But somehow, in between packing, working two jobs, and saying goodbye to my loved ones, I have to find opportunities to say goodbye to my favorite places. I don’t want to miss out on my last holiday season in Orange County, because I’m working so hard to prepare for my first year in San Francisco.