If you're like me, 2020 cannot be shed fast enough. For me, that includes a 24 year relationship that crashed and burned the end of 2019 and gasped for life for the first few months of 2020 until I decided to pull the plug. I will spare you the Lifetime channel version of the story. Suffice to say we agreed to divorce. It was disorienting, emotional, painful and I found myself feeling lost and confused about who I was and who I wanted to be. I needed a new beginning. A fresh start. And I need to shed the old.
So I did not re-up my lease on my "separation" apartment, sold the Subaru that had many bad memories over a very short lifespan, bought a used 2019 Jeep Wrangler Sahara (in Punkin' Orange), filed for divorce, quit a job that I loved but just couldn't swing NJ costs, bought an RV (this has it's own story which I will share at some point!), shaved my head (yes!) and left for Florida to set up domicile with a plan to head west along the southern border and meet up with friends along the way.
I was married once before many, many years ago and when I divorced I never changed my name back so part of my starting new was to take back my birth name of Mason. Changing a name you have used for the last 33 years is no easy task. Social media, credit cards, loans, checking and savings, social security, insurance, drivers license and registrations (in a new state as well!). Tack on a pandemic and there are even more hoops to go through! I have to give the Florida social security and Tax collector (that's who does the DL and registration in Florida) kudos because I have been able to make all of the changes and officially become a Florida resident and register to vote.
Registering to vote is my effort to help turn Florida blue.
So, as I prepare to leave 2020 in the dust and shed the old parts of myself and start to build a new more independent, happier me, I want to thank the friends who helped me through the toughest time of my life, who called me to check in at my darkest moments, who shared their home, their pets, their alcohol with me when I needed a place to stay, who allowed me to be angry, sad, numb, depressed without judgement, who encouraged me to find myself, who were honest when I needed honesty and were funny when I needed funny, and encouraged me when I said I wanted to hit the road and travel the country. I am so very grateful to all of you. You have made this painful process bearable and I am honored to have each of you in my life and hope you will share in my journey. I'm happy to be Movin' On with you in my life.
Happy New Year everyone. May 2021 bring us all better times and an understanding of what is truly important.
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