Goodbye, hello. Here we go.

In nearly 2 years I have driven the circumference of the earth one and a half times- about 40 solid days worth of hours on the road, away from family, sitting in traffic. I have totaled 1 car, been towed 3 (or 4?) times, and changed diapers in the breakdown lane of 93. Today is my last day as a Y staff member and a commuter. I'm feeling lots of feelings, but most of all gratitude and relief. So, here is a brief tribute- an ode to today:

Goodbye commuter culture. Goodbye consoling a screaming baby in the breakdown lane of 93. Goodbye working nights and weekends. Goodbye traffic in the foggy morning hours and the dusky evening hours too. Goodbye billboards and daily postcard views of the Boston skyline. Goodbye hours of podcasts and NPR and Diane Rehm. Goodbye traffic reports.

Goodbye to making my own hours. Goodbye to drinking wine and looking at art as "work." Goodbye to taking on the day-to-day alongside two dear and funny friends- Beth and Tyler, you were a gift these last two years. Goodbye to dancing on stages with talented youth- but not for long, I'll be back choreographing before I know it, I'm sure.

Hello dinner with Jake. Hello holding Alice rather than looking at her in the rear view mirror. Hello weekends and hometown and the return of hospitality. Hello to a new normal, a new "dream," a new vision for what life holds. Hello to living [more] simply and trusting for provision.

Goodbye, hello. Here we go.