Labor Day, part three

Labor Day weekend marks three years that Jon and I have been in Raleigh. We moved here Labor Day weekend 2005 on faith. We had dreams to buy our first home and start a family. We had hopes to meet friends and create a life in a place we loved. We drove almost 900 miles in one day, leaving behind a life in Chicago that didn't fit us.

One year later, Labor Day 2006, we were living in our dream home and had 3 month old twin boys. A lot can change in a year.

This Labor Day, my best friend from college, Mike, is getting married. We have known each other for 16 years. In that time, we've moved to many cities, had our hearts broken many times, had family ups and downs, and faced medical issues.

He's become Dr. Vogel and I've become Mommy. We're no longer the 18 year olds who sat on the bridge of Millikan Pond all night discussing our lives and how happy we were to find each other as friends. We're no longer the 22 year olds hugging good-bye at graduation, unsure what our lives would hold for us. We've found our careers and our life partners, and we still have each other.

Since I moved away from home to attend Caltech, I've never been near family. Along the way, I've found friends who became my family. I've found the people who accept my flaws, listen to my crazy ideas, and make me feel grounded. I've always needed that network. This blog, a crazy idea I thought would last a couple of months, has helped me create part of that community as a new mother.

This weekend, my mom is graciously coming here to watch the boys so we can attend Mike's wedding. And as part of our trip, Jon and I are going to meet two of my blogfriends along the way - Megan and Joanna. This trip has so many levels of meaning for me. Seeing an old friend on the happiest day of his life, spending time alone with my sweetie, meeting my virtual friends who enrich my life. I am a lucky, lucky woman.