After months of sorting through three houses, endless decisions, and countless boxes, September felt like a gentle pause — a time to breathe, reconnect, and truly appreciate the people and places that have shaped our lives here.
Our first stop was Chattanooga, where we spent a lovely weekend with my son Stephen and his wife Maria. It had been far too long since we’d had unhurried time together. We shared dinners, laughter, and stories over good food, discovered a cozy bar and restaurant tucked inside the old Chattanooga Choo Choo, and wandered through a bustling weekend market. The air was full of that early autumn promise — still warm, but with the faintest whisper of change.
Next, we made our way to Rockwood, TN, to spend time with Bex and Laura at the lakeside cabin my ex and I built all those years ago with the kids. Stepping onto that familiar deck brought a flood of memories — evenings by the fire, the smell of sawdust when the walls first went up. We spent a peaceful day by the water, just being together, and later Laura cooked a delicious dinner that somehow made the day feel complete. It was one of those rare, perfect moments where past and present sit quietly side by side.
Between family visits, we’ve been soaking up every chance to see friends — to laugh, reminisce, and simply be with the people who have filled our lives here in Tennessee. One evening we joined Amy, Kevin and David at The Mill & Mine for a Fleetwood Mac cover band, singing along to all the songs that seem to have followed us through the years. Music, it seems, has a way of stitching time together.
This coming weekend, our dear friends Arnold and Janet are hosting an “And Away” farewell party for us — a last gathering before we set sail on our next chapter. It’s bittersweet, knowing how many goodbyes lie ahead, but also comforting to be surrounded by such love and support.
In just two weeks, we’ll leave for New York, where we’ll board the Queen Mary 2 to begin this new adventure — a voyage not just across the ocean, but into the next phase of our lives.
Today, we had a video call with the boatyard, watching as work continues on “And Away,” our narrowboat. The last few repairs are nearly done, and after a long wait for the paperwork to be finalized, she’s finally — and fully — ours. Seeing her take shape, knowing she’s waiting for us across the sea, feels like the closing of one story and the quiet beginning of another.
The days are moving quickly now, each one layered with excitement, nostalgia, and gratitude. It’s strange — how the heart can hold such sadness and joy all at once. But perhaps that’s what this moment is meant to be: a beautiful mix of endings and beginnings, tied together by the people and memories we love most.
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And Away... 
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