It's Not Goodbye, It's See You Later
You ever fly on Southwest before?
Excellent hospitality I must say. Amid the world going through this pandemic, SW implemented a social distancing on all flights so that the middle seat is always open because THEY CARE about their passengers. Yessss, I’m throwing shade at the “other guys” who have decided NOT to follow these guidelines.
As I write this on this lovely Boeing 737 that just left Hartford, CT, it’s pretty nice having the whole row to myself. Ohhh you fancy huh? It also still amazes me how easy it is for these pilots to get the bird in the sky within 30 seconds. Luckily, we have 2 Marines flying this baby so that makes me feel GOOD. This ain’t their first rodeo.
Just wrapped up an incredible 10 days back on the east coast and maaan was it a reset that I needed.
Having gone almost 9 months without seeing my parents or sister, it was time. It’s only so long I can go without seeing them and 10 days was everything I needed.
Touching down in Hartford the Thursday that I got there I was ready to rock. I was a lil disappointed that Hartford’s TSA didn’t have the red carpet rolled out for The Bearded Man’s arrival but it’s okay, we’ll work on this moving forward.
My father aka The Bird Man aka Bird came swoopin’ in to scoop me as soon as I walked outside. Nothing better than a 90 degree hot, sunny & humid day in New England.Ya gotta just looove it!
A Bird Hobert classic move, he already had a cooler in the front seat with water, gatorade and snacks as he knew I’d be hungry and dying of thirst after flying through the night on a red eye. My father don’t play no games ladies & gentlemen - he came prepared.
Pulling down our street and into my driveway is always this exciting moment of “Here weeee go!”. Always so happy to be back to where it all started for me.
Walking in my house to give my sister a big hug when I saw her felt great. I’m sure she appreciates this type of love MUCH more than the noogies I used to give her or even the little bruises on her legs from me kicking or punching her when we were little shits. Ohhh the times have changed.
Being able to greet my mom at the door as she came home from work was absolutely priceless. As my father likes to say - she’s the heart & soul of the family and I couldn’t agree more. Although she still calls me a wise ass from time to time which in her defense I probably deserve it, it’s always a good feeling to see and hug my mom. Bring out the tissues, it’s gonna be a tearjerker.
Those three people are my rocks. They’re the ones who’ve impacted me the most in my life and have been there by my side every step of the way. They’ve seen me on my highest highs as well as my lowest lows. They’re the most supportive family I could ever ask for and I damn well hit the lotto having them in my corner.
So what happens when you go 9 months without all being together? Well being a Hobert it’s simple - it’s a party to say the least.
Although we had to pull back on the throttle quite a bit due to Covid, social distancing and doing our best to not to be part of the problem, we spent a lot of time together. Now of course that was obvy the whole point of the trip but a lot of instances when coming back, time can easily get cut.
You grab dinner with friends you haven’t seen in awhile, you hit your old local bars to cause trouble & then spend the next day in bed recovering.
Now I’m alllll for a good time but it comes at a cost - a lot less time with the fam & that’s not something I have much of nowadays. I try to maximize every minute I have with them.
Needless to say we still found ways to crank up the HEAT, drink a wee bit too much Captain Morgan (thanks to my sister aka Captain Lyss) and ate endless amounts of home made appetizers and meals. We indulged and I don’t regret a second of it.
Common question I got on this trip home - “Do you ever see yourself moving back?” and that’s a tough one. I tend to dodge this question most of the time because I don’t have the answer.
What kills me the most about not being home is all the small moments that I may have took for granted growing up. Celebrating my mother, father & sisters birthday in person. Watching golf and sports with my pops on Sunday. Hitting the mall with my mom to run UP the credit card bill. Bothering my sister about what boy she might be talking to now or who she will be talking to next week. You know, the good stuff.
There’s all these small moments I miss out on because I choose to move to the other side of the country. Yes it is my fault & I’ll be the first to admit it BUT it doesn’t mean I’m just going to pack my bags, sell my stuff in LA and move back home. That time hasn’t come yet or maybe it never will? I really don’t know.
It must also be known that my sister no longer lives at home as well. She’s crushing LYFE in Charleston, South Carolina and even brought her boyfriend to intro to the family this vaca. Lucky for them, he’s also from our neck of the woods, Western Massachusetts. Overall he’s a great guy and gets a thumbs up from me. He’s got The Bearded Maaaaans approval.
Back to the good stuff.
At this moment in time I feel like I’m really juuuuust starting to get my footing in LA and I’m sooo excited for what’s to come in the future. I say that with absolutely no idea what the future has in store for me but that’s what excites me the most! The curiosity of not not knowing exactly where I’m going. It makes life kinda fun to be honest. If I can promise you guys & gals anything though… wherever I’m going, I damn well will love it. If I don’t, I will QUICKLY find a way to change it.
As my father just recently retired after 32+ years working for the state of MA and my mother will most likely retire within the next few years after 30+ years of Banking, I would love to have them come be part of my life in CA more often along with my sister.
Now of course the world doesn’t revolve around The Bearded Man and I would never expect them to pack up and leave where they’re to start a new life in Cali. However my goal is to get to a point in my life where I can put them up and make sure everything is taken care of when they do come to visit. Hold me to it, I will find a way.
That’s a bucket list item I realized while back home on this trip talking to my mother about her and my fathers finances. I truly cannot wait for the day where I can call them up, ask them what their outstanding debt is on their credit cards, car note, mortgage etc and pay it all off. It’s not a wish but a reality. I pinky promise that’s not supposed to sound cocky. I’m just confident I WILL find a way to make it happen and give them back everything that they deserve.
I’m not motivated by money to buy “things”. I’m motivated by money for the freedom it can provide & the ability to take care of the ones you love the most.
Making two trips back a year doesn’t do it justice. It is just an appetizer, a little taste of home. Before we even get to the main entree we’re already packing our bags to head out. Booooooo. We always want and need more time and believe me, I’ll find a way to make that happen.
I also recognize how fortunate I am to still have both parents healthy and alive today as well as my sister.
I’m not sitting here worrying about if I ever will move back or how I’m going to be able to see family and friends more often moving forward. I’m waaaay too focused on being present and in the moment and right now the moment is only getting better in LA baby. The oven is still only on pre-heat.
Hugging my mom & dad on the curb of the SW terminal to say our goodbyes is when it all really hits me. We promise each other that no tears will be shed because it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. Of course I’m sitting here solo dolo tears running down my face 30,000 feet up as I write this. #NoShame
Let me say this. Whoever and wherever you’re in this world, I advise you to really take the time to enjoy any and all interactions with the people you love the most. It’s too easy to take it all for granted in the moment and I’m guilty of it.
Just taking a moment to think about it, time continues to pass by quicker each year we get older & I’m trying to make every minute COUNT!
Thank you to all the great people I saw on this trip back, all the incredible memories, amazing food, endless supply of White Claws & Captain Morgan and for my families constant support even while being 2,500+ miles away.
It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.
With love always,
The Bearded Man