static

Moving is hard. I knew it would be, of course. I knew I would miss the ocean and the weather and familiar places. I had a hunch I would miss the city and the hills and mountains. And most of all, I knew, I would miss the people I love.

It's been thirteen months and I and was pretty much right. I do miss all those things. But one thing I didn't realize I would miss. More than our favorite breakfast places and California burritos and our ocean view and even more than the people I love, I miss people who love me.

I miss people who know I can be melancholy and sensitive. They know I read into things too much. They know I don't smile readily. And they take it in stride, because they know that at the end of that brooding day, there will probably be a new song or a fantastic meal that works its way up through (and maybe even because of) the melancholy.

I miss people who know I like hugs even though I feel too tall to initiate them. People who know I book myself too tight. They know I suck at talking on the phone but that if they want to get coffee I can go for hours. They know I have good ideas sometimes, and are straight forward when they need to talk me out of a bad one.

It's been a long year. Full of opportunity and new experiences. We've learned a lot about ourselves. I expect this coming year will hold much of the same. Well, hopefully a little less. I've had all I can take for a while in getting to know new things. I'm ready to be known again.