I’m Moving To California

For the last twenty-two years, I have lived in Ohio. I grew up here. I went to elementary, middle, and high school here. I went to college here. I got my first job here. I learned to drive here. Pretty much every “first” that I have experienced in my life has been in Ohio. In less than two weeks, I will move out of Ohio. This won’t be the first time I have “moved” out of Ohio. In 2018 I spent the summer in Dallas, Texas, working an internship with Dish Network. Four years ago, I always knew that I would come back to Ohio. This time it’s different. I’m leaving for good this time.

Back in January of this year, I took a trip to Denver to visit one of my best friends from high school. That trip would end up being life-changing. On that trip, I met a girl. I met the most beautiful, unique, intelligent, funny, loving, and passionate person. After that trip, we kept in touch, but I never thought she was all that interested in me. I was already crazy about her, though. I planned another trip to Denver shortly after returning. I went back to see her at the end of February. We had a fantastic week together. By the end of the week, I was madly in love with her.

I left Denver and her for the second time in six weeks and was distraught. I knew I had to be with this girl. I was back in Denver for just a few days, less than two weeks later. I confessed how I felt about her, and we decided to take things one day at a time. It wasn’t going to be easy. We were 1,000 miles away and had a time difference of two hours. But an old saying goes something like this: “What is easy is not worthwhile, and what is worthwhile is not easy.” She was more than worthwhile. We accepted the challenge and have been intertwined ever since.

A few days after I left her again, we were on the phone, and she told me she had something to say to me. I was prepared for her to tell me she didn’t want to continue dating, that the distance was too much, and it was too difficult. Instead, she told me she would plan a trip to Ohio to come to see me and visit my part of the world. I was smitten. I had to wait a month for this to happen, but she would be worth the wait.

So I waited. We talked every day; text, phone calls, snap chats, facetime, abundant. The time flew by. The month passed, and she flew to Ohio. I picked her up at the airport in disbelief. I was able to actually hug her and hold her. She was actually in Ohio. I thought I was hallucinating. Thankfully, I wasn’t. She was here. We had a magical week together exploring Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana. We did so much together that our time together seemingly lasted less than a day.

I dropped her off at the airport and broke down crying. I was devastated having to say goodbye to her again. It felt so unfair that I couldn’t physically be with the girl I was in love with. That morning I booked another plane ticket to Denver. I was going to spend her birthday with her. I just had to wait another three weeks.

So we waited. Three weeks felt like an eternity; I felt like a little kid waiting on Christmas to come. Luckily, we communicated so well that we got through it. We both kept as busy as possible to not focus on how long we had until we could just be in each other’s arms again.

The three weeks passed, and suddenly I was back with the love of my life in Colorado. Every time we’ve seen each other at an airport, it has felt like a dream. The most beautiful goal. You know, the vision that you have, and you don’t want to wake up from when your alarm clock goes off? That is what it felt like.

We spent her birthday week together. The weather in Denver was gorgeous, and my heart was so happy just to be back in her presence. She calms my soul. We had a busy week together. We danced, played tennis, went to Estes Park, countless restaurants, walks, and everything in between. My life felt like a movie.

Then I had to leave her again. I woke up that morning and asked her if I had to get on the plane. Being rational, she said, “yes, baby.” I obliged.

I got home that night, and we talked on the phone.

So she is about to start law school at USD in San Diego. She has been planning on moving there in June for a while now. This was another complication to our love affair. We would now be even farther apart and have an even more significant time difference. Ever since I met her, I’ve known that eventually, I would have to move to California if I was serious about her.

That night we talked on the phone. We talked for probably three hours. We missed each other dearly. We both had very emotional days. The distance was starting to take its toll. Saying goodbye had not gotten any easier. So we decided to move to California together, create a new adventure together, and accomplish our dreams together. Significant life changes like this can be scary, but it’s a lot less scary when you have a teammate like the one I have.

So now we wait. As of now, we only have to wait for less than two weeks. There’s so much to do between now and getting out there that I know the time will fly. The first week since we decided to move together has already flown by.

I’m saying goodbye to my hometown. I’m saying goodbye to my parents and my sister, my best friend, and my coaching jobs here in Ohio. But I am also saying hello to a beautiful new adventure with the love of my life, my new best friend. I’m saying hello to an exciting opportunity that will allow me to pursue my dream of coaching at the highest level. I have a lot of work in front of me and many new challenges, but with her at my side and me by hers, we will accomplish everything.

-Footy