One Way Ticket

I'm still here, folks. Just kind of in a state similar to that of a deer caught in headlights.

Despite what you may be thinking - that the end of the Harry Potter series has thrown me into a state of paralyzed shock brought on by my inability to wrap my mind around a world that's no longer looking forward to the next book about a myopic wizard and his crazy hijinx and clashes with pure evil - it's actually for a different reason all together.

I've been pretty hesitant to discuss this on my blog, in the event someone from my family stumbles upon it and drags it into the large Court of My Family's Unsolicited But Very Public Opinion, but it's such a major thing that I can't dance around it anymore.

My mom is moving to Southern California to start a new life. She touches down next Thursday night. Though I'm excited for her and happy that she has finally - FINALLY - taken the steps needed to give herself a fresh start and live the quality of life my brother and I had always hoped she'd achieve after years and years of having nothing but deserving so much more, my heart is pounding at the thought of all the possibilities, both good and bad.

I'm worried. I'm a worrier, in case you didn't notice.

The conclusion I've come to is that you just don't know until you know. I hope for all the best things and fear all the worst. In my head, there is a constant refrain that is simply... protect.

Protect.

Protect.

Protect.