New Beginnings

We’ve begun a whole new chapter – no, scratch that, a whole new book – in the Madden family. Some transitions are too big to be contained in a chapter, so you start a new book in the series.

With new books come new characters, new locales, and new routines; and with our move to a new home on the Central Oregon coast, this is certainly no exception. We have deep roots in our old community, having lived there for decades (I first arrived in 1976!). So why go through the painful process of selling our home, packing up our belongings, leaving our friends and drugging our cats for the 12 hour drive?

That’s a good question, one I don’t have an easy answer to. Certainly a lot of it is to be closer to our daughter who is now just an easy two+ hour drive away. And much of it boils down to this: it’s just time for a change.

Neither of us has ever shied away from change, in fact I would say I embrace it. Change keeps you sharp as you navigate new routes and routines. For instance, I’ll learn new ways to get to my favorite grocer when the traffic is heavy, or the best time to walk on the beach when the wind is a little more calm. We’ll meet new people, remember new names and addresses, find new favorite restaurants, and all of this keeps our brains active.

And still, it was difficult to leave the home I had built 37 years ago. This home that sheltered me, that helped me raise my kids, that provided a peaceful refuge through all the challenges of life, this home was dear to me. We had done quite a bit of remodeling in the last few years, and it was just the way I wanted it. Can’t I just take it with me? Nope, not possible.

Leaving the community was even harder. We both are strong advocates of service, so each of us has served in various capacities in community organizations from the Chamber of Commerce to our Rotary clubs.

It’s the people I will miss the most, those relationships that have been forged over time, that have been there for me through all of life’s hardships and triumphs. And sure, technology helps, but you can’t hug over Zoom, not yet anyway.

So, it was with some tears and a little nervousness that I said goodbye to my home. As I stood in an empty house, I thanked her for everything she provided over 37 years, and asked her to give the same to all who lived there. As I locked the door behind me and watched our home get smaller in the rearview mirror, I gave a silent word of thanks to the community that has given me so much for almost 50 years.

And now we begin a new book in the series…