We met on the day his divorce was final. He was still wearing the clothes he wore into court that afternoon. We knew immediately that we would not be "just friends."
He had many plans already put into place when we met. Closing his Adult Family Home business and moving the two special-needs adults he cared for ("the ladies") to a new home, selling almost everything at an estate auction, selling the farm property. I drove up every weekend (aside from the original planned first-meeting weekend when he stopped in Madison on his way to visit a friend in Indiana) and we spent every minute we could together, caring for the Ladies and preparing for the auction. It was a beautiful time of year, and we managed to enjoy it despite having so much to do. Time went by very quickly.
His plan had been to go to Australia, via Alaska (where his parents live) as soon as the farm was sold. In mid-September, after the auction, he came to stay with me in my little apartment in Madison. We decided to take the Alaska road-trip anyway-- we would drive out, leave/sell the car as had been his original plan, I would fly back and he would return to Wisconsin with his parents who would begin their southern roamings at the end of October. We spent the first 3 weeks in October on the road and in Fairbanks and had an incredible time. We drove and camped along the way with no real itinerary. It was a wonderful time.
Back in WI the farm sale was having some unexpected twists. We spent a couple weekends up there, tying up loose ends. It finally sold at the end of November. Meanwhile we were just enjoying our little routine in Madison-- he walked me to work each morning, picked me up in the afternoon. In between he worked on various projects, did some housekeeping and went running or biking. He accompanied me to the stable to ride, and helped tack and groom my horse. Life was pleasant and very comfortable.
I don't remember when we began talking about me going to Australia with him-- it just evolved. I had five months of sabbatical leave accumulated, and I put in a request to use it starting February 1. We tried to figure out a plan for the trip and returning-- whether or not to sublet the apartment or keep it, who could take my elderly cat. When the sabbatical request was denied, there really wasn't much question of whether I would go to Australia or not. I turned in my resignation on Feb 1, and gave 4 weeks' notice.
So here I sit, in the office I have had for 10 years, in a building I have worked in since 1988. It is my last day here. I have been saying a lot of good-byes, turning over projects and responsibilities and still tying up a few loose ends in my life. This weekend will be spent packing and moving everything into storage. Monday we fly out of Madison. I do not know when I will be back.
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