Mayfull Balley

This is a letter to my Maple Valley

My friends

My flowers

My cold rushing waters

My bright red fall leaves

My carpets of pink petals

 

 

Oh, how I wish I could untwist my chest and dry up

Fact is, I'm so blessed to have lived here and to have been loved here

Even the 8 years are a gift, few have been given.

 

I've never ever felt quite this much true pain about leaving a place. You see, I have moved 36 times in 42 years. Yep. Its true. I went to 4 elementary schools, and 3 high schools.

 

I'm great at moving and closing up those painful parts F.A.S.T. before they overwhelm me

 

In fact, I've mastered it.

 

Until now....

 

Because of every single thing that made up my life with my family has flourished here. Bloomed and been nurtured into maturity.  All of it.

 

Band concerts

Halloween Costumes

Thanksgiving Dinners

Family Nights

Late Overs

Walks

Snow sledding

Making apple pies

Cleaning the garage

Running

Playing games

Laughing with friends

Crying with friends

Making flowers grow

Midnight bookworm hours

Flus and Fevers and Bandaids

Popsicle sticks in the grass

Painting bold colors

Baby Bunnies

Jokes

Writing

Wellness

Canning Fruit

Hugs and Kisses

Teaching

Scrambled Eggs

Sam the Dog

Piano practice

Basketball

Drums

Dolls

Sewing

Baking Bread

 

 

My life is made of a million of these 'things' here in Maple Valley

 

The problem is I can only take 6 with me physically.

 

The memories I will take as I race away in a painful few days of hectic 'checking' and fixing and survival mode, and intense adulthood. All those will be with us forever.

 

Its sounds so prosaic, but its true.

 

Forever is real.

 

I never thought I'd leave.

 

Fact is, in my heart and soul I never will.

(Mayful Balley is what Lily called this town when we first moved here)

Mayful Balley

We love you all

and

Take you with us

Forever