They're Gone

After some 40 years of a near continuous presence in Salem/Keizer, mom and dad have left the valley. I thought coming home from Japan to a new house and neighborhood was going to be difficult. But this trumps everyting; there's now nothing to come home to.

It's pointless and self-centered to say that I'm the biggest loser with this move, but I feel abandoned. I'd wager that all of us siblings are upset and or disappointed, but maybe I'm just a poor whiner.

No more plucking fresh raspberries and blueberries straight from the vine, no more fancy_friday meals, no more Duck bowl games on big screen tvs, no more McNary ball games, no more Los Arcos (although that's probably a good thing) no more grandma and grandpa for Aaron and Edward, no more refuge in Keizer.

Our house is always open for those who still want to visit Oregon. We currently have a spare bedroom with futon, an extra bed in Aaron's room, a big backyard to pitch a tent, and a Sienna in the garage with seats as comfortable as any bed (or park your own car/truck/RV in the empty third bay). Don't let mom and dad's absense preclude you from visiting. Megan and I intend to hold the fort here for another 40 year span . . .

From the immortal words of Jordan from Real Genius, "They're gone."

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