the red rose and the wild rose
Dec 24th, 2009 by JJ
My first post after getting back to dear old Blighty spoke of my challenges acclimatising. That didn’t last long; after a week or two I was really feeling back in the swing of the things and starting to appreciate what it was I had come home for. It was great to be back with friends and family, great to be back in pubs over 50 years old, great to be back in the culture that I knew so well. I loved getting out into the countryside too. Green fields and rolling hills like the view from my friend Letty’s kitchen or the wide-open spaces of the Fens at Andy and Jo’s new place in Cambridgeshire give me the most profound sense of comfort and belonging. Before you start to think I’m turning into John Major I was also getting settled into the energy and diversity of London and I enjoyed trips to Manchester and Liverpool as well.
In the very same week that I started to see what it was I had come home for I also had a profound realisation: that none of that mattered as much as being with Sara. I realised that what I really wanted was to be back in Calgary with her! I love her and I can’t imagine being with anyone else. We emailed, we talked it over and we decided to get back together again. We made it official too - by updating our Facebook relationship status! The plan is that I will move back to Calgary next year, probably in the latter half of 2010. I need to sell my flat here and I need to spend some time doing beautiful British things with beautiful British people before I go. And I want to repay some of the support that ThoughtWorks my excellent employers have given me with all these plans.
Ever since that decision was made I have felt a weight off my shoulders. I feel liberated and happy and a strange mix of calm and excitement. It just feels right and it has felt more right every day that has gone past. I’m so lucky to have met someone strong enough to take me back into her life after I left to find out what I really wanted to do. We both agree that I had to do it but it was tough on her and for that I am truly sorry.
Actually right now the calm is giving way to excitement. As I write this Sara is at Calgary Airport and Air Canada permitting she’ll be on her way to London soon! We’ve only got 5 days together but I haven’t been so excited about Christmas for years and years. Just imagine: everything I want for Christmas is flying in over the North Pole to arrive on Christmas Morning. How’s that for a Festivus miracle?
Merry Christmas everybody!
JJ,
Crikey, your post made me tear up, and not just because the holidays always make me emotional. It can’t have been easy for you to work through this, and I admire the candor with which you’ve articulated your thoughts in your posts here. I wish you and Sara the happiest of Christmases and a wonderful future together.
all best,
Petrie
Sounds like an absolutely lovely Christmas gift for the pair of you! Congrats JJ - looks like the you did indeed follow the plan of another ThoughtWorker coming to Calgary for the snow and finding a better reason to stay.
JJ, Sara - my heartfelt congrtulations to both of you, both for the joyful outcome and the courage to see it. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas together - may it be the start of a lifetime of wonderful Christmases and everything in between.
I’d lost my faith in happy endings - it’s nice to see they’re not extinct.
Happy Christmas - I am about to have my first G&T of the day, and I shall raise it to you two.
G x
Whoo!
we are So Happy to read this…and delighted with the picture..and best of all to think we shall see you here Tues…happy travelling..all the ice and snow has gone from round here in readiness. xxxxxx
JJ, Congratulations to you and Sara. Hope you both have a great new year.
Congratulations - that’s wonderful!!!! And a big welcome back to Canada - I wish Calgary was closer to Toronto.
Long distance relationships, man they’re tough.
Sorry to see you leaving blighty (again), has the ‘bush lost it’s sparkle for you?
I’m glad Christmas is over, roll on Festivus for the rest of us!!!
Lovely
Yey! Lovely post and lovely news!