Addison & Jace ::: en route

I’ve been working and packing for most of the day today, and I’ve had Friends on in the background. It’s one of my all-time favorite shows, and it’s often watched in my household. It provides a reassuring kind of background noise.

I suppose, though, that now is not a good time to watch season 10. Season 10 always makes me sad because season 10 is the end. The end of an era, as Monica says when she and Rachel stop living together.

At the end of season 10, Monica and Chandler move out of the city and into the suburbs, away from their friends. Not far. But still away. And it’s sad. We no longer get to be with these characters, and although the last episode tries to leave you with a sense that things will stay the same between the six, you know it won’t. Things change. People change. Life changes. It’s a sad reality.

That’s where I am today–in a sad reality. I am so excited about my new job. I am so excited about Denver. I am so excited about this adventure with my incredible wife.

But I’m also really sad. I am leaving my family. In fact, yesterday I told my mother goodbye. She’s traveling to New York next week to spend some time with her mother so she was my first goodbye. I can’t tell you how hard it is to think about my mother being so far away from me. I love her so much. She and my dad still take care of me way too much. I suppose I need to grow up, and moving to Denver will make me. But, god, will I miss my mom. And my dad too. They’re amazing people. And I’m leaving them in South Carolina while I head to the wild wild west.

It isn’t just my parents, either. It’s my sister, my brother-in-law, and my nephews. I can’t believe they won’t be 30 minutes away. I can’t believe I won’t babysit for the boys or have dinner with Allyson and Matt. Having them so close has been a treasure, and it’s one I’m losing.

Saturday is South Carolina Pride, and Addison and I will attend the march together. We will join with our friends and walk the streets of Columbia as proud lesbians. Although I know we’ll meet new people and make new friends in Denver, it’s so hard to think about leaving the ones we have. In the past year, we’ve grown so close to so many people, and it is those people that make Columbia what it is. I’m thinking of Rachel saying goodbye to everyone on Friends when she was planning to move to Paris. Addison and I will be saying goodbye. But we won’t be turning back like Rachel. We’ll be moving forward, even though we know it is going to be so difficult.

On Saturday, we will be walking with SC Equality, and this will be my last official act as a Board member. I am so thankful for SC Equality and the effect it has had on my life. Without it, I wouldn’t have realized that my true calling is to work in the GLBT movement. Without it, I wouldn’t have met some of my best friends. Without it, I wouldn’t be who I am. It shaped me, and I hope, in some way, I shaped it, too.

I promise that I’m excited. That it isn’t all sadness. But the last episode of Friendsjust finished, and I’m wallowing after watching it, as I always do. I’ll rebound, and I’ll find my excitement and my energy again. I’ll remind myself of what Addison and I are gaining.

But for a moment, I just want to be sad. Sad for all we are leaving.

And I am.

-Jess

You’re going to think we’re crazy. And we won’t disagree.

You’re going to think we’re really dumb. And we won’t blame you.

You’re going to think we’re seriously the two most confused and most confusing people you’ve ever known. And we’ll admit we probably are.

We’re moving. Again.

I know what you’re thinking. Didn’t you guys just move to Asheville? And didn’t you just come back to Columbia after moving to Asheville and tell us all that you’re sticking around?

Yes. Yes, we did.

But, yes, we’re moving again.

Do you think we’re nuts? So do we.

But we’re moving anyway. And this time we’re going big.

We’re moving to Denver, Colorado.

Take a moment. Let the news sink in. Shake your head, scream if you want. Wonder why we’re freaking crazy people. Ask yourself why you decided to be a family member / friend / colleague / acquaintance of two absolutely idiotic lesbians like us. Consider if it’s worth all this stress and aggravation. It probably isn’t.

Now, let me explain as best as I can. Addison and I were not looking to leave. Back when we moved to Asheville, we wanted to move. In fact, we wanted to move to Asheville. We liked the mountains and the community, and we thought we’d like living there so I looked for a job there. We wanted to move; we found a way to do it; we did it; nothing worked out; we came home.

Today’s story is a little different. The wife and I weren’t really looking to move; I mean, we hadn’t committed to living in Columbia for forever and ever, but we had just returned from Asheville and were ready to take things easy, at least for a little while. Addison was loving life as a teller at Wachovia; I was working for myself as a freelance consultant, and I had both a long-term contract and several short-term projects. Things were good.

But then they got great. I was offered a job as Online Communications Manager at One Colorado in Denver.

This opportunity came a bit out of the blue; I was talking with the organization about a short-term freelance contract, and then things moved to the next level. And, my friends, let me tell you, this is my dream job. One Colorado is Colorado’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) equal rights organization; they work day in and day out to advance equality for GLBT individuals and couples in the state. And now I’m a part of the team.

If you’re an avid reader of this blog, you probably remember that I have interviewed with a GLBT organization before. That opportunity didn’t go my way. But this one did. Finally. After almost two years of wishing, wanting, and hoping, I have landed a job at a GLBT organization. I am now a career activist. My work will make a difference.

I am so incredibly excited.

I’m also really terrified. We’re moving far away from the city we know. We’re moving far away from our family and friends. We’re moving again…so soon after the epic fail that was “the Asheville plan.”

But we can’t let fear control our dreams. Working at a GLBT organization is my dream, and if I don’t go for it, I’ll regret it forever. No matter how scared we are about missing all that we’re leaving behind, we must move forward.

So we’re plowing ahead into a world of not-yet-figured-out details. All we know is that I will have a job and that we will be living in Denver. The rest remains to be figured out. Where will Addison work—can she just transfer to another branch within Wachovia / Wells Fargo, or will she have to launch another job search? What will we do with our house in Columbia? What kind of apartment will we get in Denver? Do we need two cars or one in a city like Denver? How do we sell all the furniture that we really don’t need?

Big questions, big stress, big excitement.

Everyone we talk to seems to express a mixture of sadness and excitement. They’re sad we’re leaving but happy for us and our new adventure. And the one thing everyone seems to say: “You’re really going to love Denver.”

We think so. We hope so.

Stay tuned to this blog as we work out the details of our move, pack our shit and haul it across the country, and start a new life in the wild, wild west.

-Jess

So I’m not really unemployed anymore. I’m working for…myself.

Seriously.

I’ve started J. Woodrum Interactive, LLC. It’s a freelance interactive marketing consultancy, and I’m the President / Principal.

Through my consultancy, I’m helping a variety of clients with website development, social media, and online communications. In fact, I already have one client.

Yippee! I have something to do during the day now instead of make Addison’s lunch and clean the house. Life is good!

-Jess