My final day in Tucson. What an odd connection I have with this place. Okay, so I just wrote this long segment on what Tucson means to me on a personal level. Then I deleted it all. A bit too Sally Jesse.
Let's just say that I've grown here. I've experienced both intense joy and pain. I've worked my ass off here. I nurtured a partner through the hell of getting his Ph.D here. Then I followed up a couple years later by returning to get my own doctorate.
And, here, along came Mark, wrecking my plans and stealing my heart. It was here I began my life-changing role of parenting, when Zane arrived from Australia.
Now, here I am. I was 34 when I first arrived. Now I am 46. More than 7 of those intervening years were spent here in the Sonoran Desert. Most recently, I've just spent 6 of the past 8 months in Tucson, during which time I have realized that a full-time career in music is not worth the sacrifice of being with my partner and watching our son grow up.
As always, I'm a bit heart-heavy leaving Tucson. Homer has made my temporary residency here a pleasure. We have become very close, and I'm happy that we place each other on our list of best friends. Fellas, for the record, here's one worth noting.
So to Homer, as well as Lani, Forrest, Steve, Brian, Richard, Cobban, Ray, Lyle, Norene and everyone I've met or reconnected with here, thanks for keeping me company. I'll see you all in July, when we return to Tucson for Mark's doctorate.
Wait, did I just say that?
All the best to you, Mark and Zane. You're lucky to have all these great friends in your life. Have a safe trip back home :)
Posted by: Jim | February 04, 2009 at 09:50 AM
Safe journey, my friend. I'll see you at The Banal Chew!
Posted by: Kevin-Andrew | February 04, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Have a safe trip home. See you in a few months.
Posted by: Brian | February 04, 2009 at 06:16 PM
Hey Sandy: I am glad that you figured out what you really want in life. We live too short lives to be doing what we were trained to do, but be miserable doing it. Life is for living, loving, and being as happy as possible. If that happiness lies in being with your family, then it's certainly the right choice. I am glad that you came back to figure that out though, because now you KNOW you are making the right choice.
Good luck to you three. I will be glad to read the Chew again.
All best from us in the woods,
Seth
Posted by: seth | February 05, 2009 at 06:08 AM
Safe travels. I just submited my paper from the summer invert conference, so Ill be back in town at the end of July. Hope to see you then!
Posted by: DougT | February 05, 2009 at 12:21 PM
I miss you already.
Posted by: homer | February 06, 2009 at 03:03 PM
Have a safe trip back to down under!
Posted by: John | February 07, 2009 at 07:24 AM