California Dreamin': Going to NJ!

I was considering going to NJ for Thanksgiving... but it came up so fast and there was no money or time for arrangements. Then we considered going for Christmas, but the family matriarch, Auntykins Laineesha, and my Uncle Vinnie, are going to GERMANY to visit her son Jeromy and his new wife Stephanie. (I am so excited for her, and them - I wish Mario and I could go!)

Jeromy & Stephanie at their wedding this year

Alison Judy, my little cousin, is moving from Hoboken, NJ to MILKWAUKEE, WI. I had to put Milkwaukee in caps just like Germany because it's ... well, it's crazy shit... Alison grew up in Virginia... moved to Hoboken to work in NYC for her fashion design job, and has been there for 10 years now. After being layed off in the summer (which worked out nicely for a trip to St. John, but in the cash department - not so much!) she began considering jobs outside the "metropolitan area". I had no idea that meant a state that I knew nothing about and that no one I knew lived in! (like it was all about me!) When she told me, I was dumbfounded! A wonderful new job with amazing pay and benefits! How awesome! Scary! Exciting!

Alison at ARGO!

After several glasses of wine the other night, and me waxing poetic and probably pathetic, about missing my family, and the amazing undertaking Alison was about to ... well, undertake... Mario said "why don't you go to Alison's party?" (because my other little cousin, Rebecca, had announced a big bon voyage party being held in Hoboken for Alison ). I had a lot of excuses, we can't afford it right now being a big one, but next thing ya know, I have booked a flight for a quick 4 day getaway to NJ.

So here I am now, contemplating my upcoming trip. I am going it alone, flying in all day Thursday, then Friday we're going to do some NYC site seeing - the Christmas decorations, the tree... visit Rebecca at her new school teaching job (!) and then Friday night is the big party at The Shannon in Hoboken. Saturday we are going to travel to south Jersey for a holiday party, and then Sunday I fly back home... It will be quick, fun and most likely painful. (if you have partied with my family you will know what I mean)

Being so far from family is a weird thing. When I see the photos and hear stories of what I miss out on, it makes me feel melancholy and almost even queasy. I miss them so much, and I can't believe that everyone is growing up, living lives, working at careers, being adults... when I left, we were all freaking kids! I was only 22, and I am one of the oldest! (won't go into how old I am now - but can you believe i've been in CA for 14 years?!?! :-P)

At the same time, I love California so much. There is so much beauty here! The weather is incredible. The weather is so incredible in fact that it is probably the single largest reason we are still here! ;-) I mean, our county in specific has an incredibly temperate environment. We have hundreds upon hundreds of days of beautiful clear sunshine in the 70s and maybe 80s, with low humidity. When it gets cold that means it might get to the low 40s at night in the middle of winter. We are minutes from the beach... we can grow avocados for God's sake! :) Leaving paradise is damn near impossible. Hmm... and now that my job means I work outside for a living, the climate takes on an even bigger importance. Actually that goes for Mario's business too.

SO that said - going to NJ for a trip where I get to visit with wonderful family is a happy time, and I am really looking forward to it. I can't believe that Alison is making this trek. It is so brave of her! When I moved to CA I did it with Mario. Alison is doing this on her own - a new state, new city, new job, a new life. Everyone I talk to about it feels so good about it - like her new life is going to mean new happiness for her in many ways. I feel the same way. This is yet another 'onward and upward' for someone I love, and I am excited to be there to send her off with a bang.