Gearing Up for a Special Good-Bye

In 2000 — nearly a decade ago now — Polimom and Adorable Child returned to the Houston area.
We came with nothing.
A newly-single mom, I’d left my beloved tiny village in upstate New York;  there simply were no jobs in my field in the area.  So I headed south, where I hoped that my parents could help me get back on my feet as I relaunched my life — at nearly 40 years old.
Starting over from scratch was incredibly hard.   I had no money, no employment prospects… and in very short order, nowhere to live.
Those were dark days for me.  But within a couple of months, Adorable Child and I were up and running.  Just a little over a year after I arrived, I bought my first house, and shortly thereafter I took the big leap and began working for myself.
The success was stunning, and it was due — in no small part — to the individuals and companies who were willing to take chances on me.
I started that first job on the strength of my education, not my experience.  I rented a  townhouse before I’d shown up for my first day at work.  I bought a house within ten months of starting work, even though doing so took my last nickel.  I actually had to wait for the next paycheck to buy a refrigerator.
It’s been one success after another.   Yes, there have been iffy times, but every time a door closed, several windows opened, and on we went.
Such a story isn’t possible everywhere….   but it worked here.  Houston is a “Can Do” kinda place, where people are, as a rule, busy, ambitious, and high energy.   At each and every step of the way, my drive and motivation were met halfway — and sometimes more.
The Houston area has been very good to my family.  In fact, it’s been good to most of the people we know.  We all owe a great deal to this vibrant community, and now that it’s time for us to leave, we’d like to say Good-Bye in a meaningful way.
So… I think we’re going to throw a party.  A different kind of party.
Stay tuned.