If Wishes Were Horses

Eep... the move is becoming increasingly real. I leave tomorrow for a quick trip back to New Mexico, the last one before I become an official resident of the state. That will happen Sunday -- Happy Father's Day, Dad! -- when I sign the leasing agreement on my new apartment. I'm debating whether to go ahead and buy a few needed things after that... a couple new bookcases, a futon, and possibly a new TV... or wait until I move in for real.

On that front, I continue to (increasingly half-heartedly) pack away my life's possessions away, in anticipation of the actual move. I've enlisted the help of my friends Shoe and Monk to assist in packing the truck; both very graciously agreed to help, though under some protest -- as both don't want to see me leave.

God, I'm going to miss them... as I'll miss Lee, who has offered to drive me and my possessions back to New Mexico ("take it all to Laredo instead," Shoe quipped during a final get-together at the Crow on Friday). And his wife Diana, who cooked a final "Italian-style" meal Sunday in celebration of the last episode of "The Sopranos" (the spaghetti was excellent; the episode blew.)

"You're gonna miss us come football season," Diana said, good-naturedly rubbing salt in my wounds. "You're gonna miss watching the game, and you're going to miss my cooking." I already do, Diana!

I've taken to calling the move back to New Mexico a "pragmatic" move. It's a conscious decision I made, after a stark examination of the situation at hand. That's not to say I don't want to move back to New Mexico, per se; as the time grows nearer, I'm looking forward to the change of scenery (including the fact that, unlike this part of Texas, New Mexico HAS scenery) and the fact I'll be closer to my folks. There's also the flying thing, of course.

I'm not sure whether I would say I'd rather stay in Dallas; there's as much point to that as saying "I'd rather have never gotten TC." No use wishing; you play the cards you're dealt, and take it from there. The cards are telling me to return home, at least for a little while, and plot my next move.

Thankfully, I'm in a position to be able to do that.

I'm buoyed by the fact that in the past three years, friendships that started in Albuquerque continued to grow and develop. I've especially grown closer to Monk and his wife, Quinn. It's funny to think how much our friendship has evolved and grown from the time we celebrated New Year's Eve 2004 with a fondue dinner, followed by a disjointed trip to the seediest bar in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights; to the time I piggybacked my meager possessions on the back of their moving van for the trip out to Dallas; and today. That journey has seen several jovial dinners, innumerable skating missions and awesome conversation always... and I don't plan for that to change. I'm already planning my trip back to Dallas for New Year's 2008.

I'll have more ruminations later, I'm sure. For now, back to work, and back to packing.