Now that the decision to go to my parent's in Shreveport was made I could relax somewhat. I had very mixed feelings about leaving but I knew that since the children and I had been taken to a shelter, I needed to stick with the advice they had given me. Basically it was that I shouldn't return home. I had no time to mourn the loss of our home so I just continued to stay in the proactive mindset. My mind was humming. I called Savannah and Sean's teachers and told them that the children wouldn't come back to school and that they would never see them again. I was especially emotional when talking to Sean's teachers, Sylvia, and Mrs. Livingston because they had been there for us since Sean was first diagnosed with autism. They were the early intervention pioneers in our lives. They worked extremely hard to pull Sean out of himself and hone his communication skills. They taught me too. They were tough. They were consistent and truly fine examples of how all teachers should be. I was afraid to make the transition without them. I prayed for Sean's future teachers to be as patient and understanding. Setting up my support system as soon as I got settled in Birmingham, more specifically, Mountain Brook was priority. I had miles to go in a short time before then.
Pat's husband Jack (of Jack's Homemade Margaritas) took my car to be serviced before I made the ten hour drive to Shreveport. I had an old Corolla that hadn't been serviced in some time. My car was never the car that got all the attention so it was quite neglected and costly. Jack made sure it was ready to roll. He never took a dime from me. What a blessing of security.
The night before we left was bittersweet. I was ready to start a new chapter but I didn't want to leave my loving friends. Besides that, Pat was throwing a big birthday celebration for Jack at the end of the month and I didn't want to miss it! I didn't want to say goodbye this way but it had to be so. I don't remember if I slept very much at all that night but the next morning I was looking at life in a new light.
I packed the car with the few things I had taken the night we abruptly left, so all that was left to do was say, "Goodbye." As I hugged Pat, she gave me a wad of cash with a look on her face that said, "Take it and shut up." so I did. I began to cry but Pat said, "You're going to be okay."
And I believed her.
