Good Luck George

I went out to dinner tonight with my friend George Jr. who is moving to New York in a few weeks. It was apparent that George hasn't been himself lately and when I asked what the problem was it was like a flood of emotion came pouring out. Conflicted about whether this was the right decision to make and not knowing how he would he could survive had made George something of a mess.

I know from experience it is never easy to pick up and move. Leaving everything and everyone behind is the most difficult thing anyone can do. The slightest change or the smallest move is draining. My most recent move from Plant City to Tampa (about 15 miles) took me nearly 2 years to get over. Moving from Sarasota to Japan was maybe the worse. With all the moving I've done in my life I know exactly what George is feeling.

So given that I had been through the same thing you would think I would have some sound advice for George or at least something wise to say but all I had for George after he had finished crying was "well, I don't know what to tell you. Good luck!" I had a million things I could have said but I'm not sure any of them would have really made a difference.

It reminded me of the time when at about age 6 or 7 I was playing on top of a picnic table on our patio. My dad wasn't standing far away drinking beer with his buddies. I remember clearly him turning to me saying "Mijo, stop jumping on that table or you're going to fall and break your head." Two minutes later I fell off the table and broke my head. Things are a little fuzzy after that, I remember a ride to the hospital and lots of blood. The next thing I know 6 stitches and 2 clamps later we left the hospital. On the way home, rather than telling me how sorry he was for allowing me to fall and hit my head my dad looked me straight in the eye and said, "See, hurts don't it. Well now maybe you won't do that again."

No matter what you do George I wish you all the best. And if you do fall and break your head I hope it leaves a cool scar because (you know it's been a long day when I decide to quote Nietzche) whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger.