Last Saturday my husband made the 10 hour trip from Georgia to Virginia to start a new job. For the last 2 years he has commuted to Atlanta, a four hour daily commute from our house to his job, which really sucked. But he had a job and it paid pretty well and I had a job and things were good. But then in November, Borders decided to close 200 stores, including the Waldenbooks I have worked at for the last 25 years. Yes, you read that correctly, 25 years! So we were stuck in a small town in Georgia that has lost thousands of jobs over the last 2 years and I was joining the ranks of the unemployed. We have had our home for sale for almost a year with no luck. My husband decided to apply for better paying jobs all over the country. The good news is he interviewed for several great jobs almost immediately. The bad news is they were all several states away. Follow me to the other side to find out what happened.
He was offered a fantastic job in Virginia with great pay, benefits, even moving expenses-who pays that any more? A real dream job. So we decided he should take it and move up there by himself until we sold the house. We spent 3 great weeks together in February and took the kids to Orlando. And then last Saturday he filled his car up with some clothes and not much else and moved to Virginia. He is staying in a hotel that costs half of our mortgage and still paying all our bills here in Georgia. And what seemed like a great idea a month ago, even a week ago, seems like the worst idea in the world tonight.
I know I am lucky to have a husband who has a job and a good job at that. I have a home and 3 healthy children. We don't need anything. But I miss my husband so much! I feel like we will never sell this house. I always thought I was strong but this week may have proved me wrong. Being a single, unemployed mom is a lot of hard work. I have so much respect for all the single moms out there, especially my mom who did such a great job. I know we will make it through this. We have decided to drive 5 hours each next weekend and meet in the middle and we have plans to see him in April, too. But I desperately need some encouragement tonight. I hope this was a good idea and that it will all work out. Thanks for listening-you always make me feel better!