The fleeting things are beautiful

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I don't feel like writing, or doing much of anything these days. Up until a couple of days ago I was baking and cooking like crazy, organizing, making lists and daydreaming about my new life on the island. And then I had to say goodbye to Holly and since then I have just wanted to curl up into a ball and eat chocolate. I have not let myself cry up until this moment. I have been strong, I have been focused on what the future holds... Truthfully, I loath having to give her up. Her presence has been such a blessing in my life this past year. As most of you know I was brutally lonely my first year in the Chilcotin. I felt invisible, unwanted and a bit of an outcast. I liked the people around me and desperately wanted to have friends yet, for some reason or another, never felt as though I did. In my opinion it was an exclusive club and I felt like an outsider. Thankfully, that began to change as new families arrived and the dynamic changed. I began to feel more like myself, happier, welcomed and appreciated. Nathaniel and I started to talk about extending even though he had already been granted permission to move to Naniamo. A couple of months later, in January, I met Holly for the first time when she and her husband came to meet our crew. I liked her immediately. Over the following weeks she pursued my friendship with such intensity that I was blown away. Usually I'm the one that pursues people, so it was immensely refreshing to have the roles reversed. I loved the fact that she took the time to get to know me even though she knew full well that I was leaving in a couple of months. To make a long storey short, after many thoughtful conversations and after weighing many pros and cons, we stayed. When it all came down to it, Nathaniel wanted to stay because he appreciated and respected his boss, and I stayed because of Holly. And now we have to say goodbye. Normally we would have bid another farewell at our transfer party next week, but Holly and her man have left for a much anticipated vacation overseas and will not be back until after we have moved. *sigh*

It has been a good year, a GREAT year. I am so glad that we stayed. I think that it was a good decision for so many reasons. Here are just a few things that I will miss doing with you Holly..... at least until we hang out again.

1. Playing dress-up in your closet and creating outfits.

2. Discussing fashion and home design

3. Swapping magazines

4. Road trips into town together (errands, shopping a joe fresh, getting our hair done, clothing shopping)

5. Eating yummy things (namely pizza from Red Tomato Pie)

6. Watching our "shows" together and discussing them afterwards

7. Middle of the day conversations about how our day is going and lamenting about our children

8. Baking (whoopie pies, cake pops......)

9. Long, in depth conversations about everything under the sun while we hoofed it up and down those hills pushing our babies.

10. Exchanging stories about traveling and dreaming of far flung places we want to still visit.

11. Just hanging out in our pj's drinking tea after the babies were in bed

12. Etsy, pinterest, asos, forever 21 (our mutual love of online shopping)

13. Rose and her blog (need I say more)

I could just keep going but  I must retire to bed.........