Pat had ALWAYS said he'd never live in CA. He never even liked visiting CA when he traveled for work. I had never been there but wasn't in much of a hurry to do so because I had family that lived there (I thought) whom I didn't care to run into. Well, in July 2005 Pat landed an interview for his "dream job" which happened to be in CA. He interviewed and had an offer towards the end of July. We were at a time in our lives when we had no real obligations (no house, no kids in school, no sick parents) and were ready for something new. Things just fell into place. I was at a point in my career where I was ready to leave my job. His new company paid for us to break our lease (just a month). It just seemed "right".
We drove across the country with one dog in tow and had a great, uneventful trip. We found a HUGE house to rent in our price range (even though that was a bit of a headache). Things were good.
In the fall of 2006 we bought our first house. We didn't want to stay in LA County as prices and taxes are too high so we looked just a little outside Lancaster at a town called Rosamond. It is TINY. There are a few stop lights and a couple fast food joints and ONE grocery store. We found two houses we loved and made offers on both. One offer was countered and we accepted. We were going to be homeowners! We got settled and everything was great! Sometime after we had moved in Pat decided to join the local Masonic lodge. I didn't know much about them but I trust him to make a good decision so I agreed. He went to the lodge, met the guys and started the paperwork. I joined him for a dinner or two at the lodge and met some wives and the guys. Nice people. Now, I don't make friends easily and neither does Pat. We are both pretty quiet people, believe it or not. But I started going to the monthly lodge meetings with Pat and got to know the ladies. Come to find it out, one of the brothers, and Pat's coach, lived around the corner from us! We fast became friends. And as we spent more time there we got to know his coach's biological brother (also a Masonic brother). After establishing a friendship we were invited to the 2nd brother's house for a party. On the way there I remarked that the neighborhood looked familiar. It should have as just around the corner from our friends was the second house we had made an offer on! I find that pretty amazing. Either house we would have bought in Rosamond would have been about a block from this family. And, to make it even "spookier", the house Pat really wanted (b/c it had a pool) was on the same street as the mother of these brothers. Coincidence? I think not! I can not tell you why but for some reason I truly believe we were supposed to meet this family. And I feel this so strongly because in the short amount of time we spent with them we became very close. I love that family every bit as much as I love my own biological family and extended family. I can not imagine my life without them. Leaving them was the hardest thing about leaving CA.
In July of last year (2010) my CA Family, as I've grown to call them, suffered the loss of one brother. I think of him every day. I do not know why but again I BELIEVE he is still around us. Not long ago I was upset about something that could have caused a nasty fight between Pat and myself. I fell asleep on the couch and dreamed Brother Dave and I were having a chat, just like old times. And he told me not to be too angry. I had no idea what that was about when I woke up. But a couple hours later when I got the news that would have caused the EPIC BATTLE, I remembered his words. And just today, again while stewing about an issue (funny in that it was related to the previous issue) I was walking the dogs when I heard a sound that immediately transported me back to that street in Rosamond. "AUUGGGAAA" ! That's the only way I know how to spell it. It's that sound those freaky old horns on old vehicles made. Brother Dave had one of those on his kart. That sound will always be associated with him in my mind! But why would someone here have that horn? I can not explain it. I can only say that it make me stop to think about Dave and what he'd tell me if he were here. And I calmed down.
I do not know why we were supposed to meet the Willerford family from Rosamond, CA. And I may never know the whole reason. What I do know is that I was supposed to meet them and I am so very blessed for having them in my life. So thank you Fate or The Universe, or whatever, for making that happen!
