The Ones Left Behind

"Family faces are magic mirrors.  

Looking at people who belong to us, we see 

the past, present, and future. "

-Gail Lumet Buckley

The Campbell kids - 1990

The decision to leave Idaho was easy, but carrying it out was difficult, and made harder by the faces I left behind. All friends and family are hard to say goodbye to, but as always some are harder than others.

I've always loved my dad, not only because he is my father, but because he has earned a special place in my heart being the best person, dad, and grandfather.  Leaving the closeness of being near him was hard, but all kids grow up and move away and I know we'll always be close no matter how far away I am.  It was hardest to take Zoey from them (Dad and Brenda), but I hope that each moment they now have together will be that more treasured and memorable.  For now we stick to regular updates and planned encounters as we go on with our lives.

 Leaving behind my family in October meant saying goodbye to one person for good.  My grandma and Zoey's great-grandma Ruth Frehner was in ill health and had been getting worse over the last few

Baby Zoey and Great-grandma Ruth

years.  I knew as I held her hand and talked to her a few days before I left Idaho, it was most likely the last time I would see her, and it was.  Early December, one day before she and my Grandpa Stan would have celebrated 39 years together, she died peacefully. Due to prior obligations and the extreme distance home, Karlie and I were unable to attend the funeral, but sent flowers in her memory.

Although I knew I would miss her, one person has been missed a lot more than I ever expected, Chrissy.  My sister Chrissy and I have always been the closest of sisters and friends.  With only two years between us, we've seen each other through every stage in life.  Nobody laughs with me like she does; appreciating the ironic, stating the obvious, and matching my sometimes off-beat humor.  It's funny how different we are too, but i think in those differences we manage to compliment, balance and cultivate our sisterhood. For now our relationship is long-distance, but someday it may be at least in the same climate again.

Me and Chrissy 1983

With Mr. Molly (the hamster) 1985

Camping ~1989

High School graduation 1999

Being Crazy....as adults.

All that being said, being away is nice.  Sometimes when we have each other too available and so we forget to make time for one another, feeling they'll always be there.  But when you're apart and come back together, you make the time and treasure the moments, knowing they are short lived.   That being said, I choose not to miss my family, but rather look forward to the treasured moments we will have in the future.