09/23/2024
Five years ago today I hopped on a plane to NYC to fulfill my lifelong dream of living and working in Manhatten. I was 53 and it was the first time that I decided where I wanted to live and what I wanted to do on my own. Many of my friends thought I was crazy leaving Montana without having a place to live or any work lined up. My kids were pursuing their dreams, and it was time for me to do the same. I had recently sold or given away most of my belongings, rented out our family home in the mountains. I literally had no idea where I wanted to live, but knew that when I saw it I would know. I fell in love with the first place I saw & moved in a couple of days later with none of my belongings. I had ordered a mattress pad and some sheets that I slept on and waited for my belongings to arrive. Everything started to fall into place. People invited me to dinner. my family and friends visited me, I ran into people I knew at random parties, and work was lining up. I was indulgent and did all of the things that I wanted to do. It was a grand six months! In March Covid hit, the photo of Grand Central Station was taken at 5PM on Friday evening. NYC was a ghost town. I decided to fly back to Montana the following morning. Again, I found myself with no place to live and no car to drive as I had sold mine before I left. I was committed to living in NYC forever. Things fell into place again, Keegan sold me her car and a dear friend let me rent her place in Livingston. At that time I was riddled with disappointment and anger that my dream was squelched. In hindsight, moving back to Montana was the right thing for me. This is my home. I had missed Crae giving birth to baby Flynn which broke me. Now I live a block away from them, Keegan lives 5 blocks from me, Cole is in Bozeman and I get to see and play with my friends again. I still wonder what life would have been like if my dream hadn’t been derailed, but I know Montana is where I am meant to be. Marc Anthony’s song Vivir Mi Vida translates to Live your life to the fullest and to always be positive.
