I am in a state of shock.  I just got an e-mail from my mother, letting her three kids know that she and my dad will be getting divorce within the next 6 months.  They've been married 33 years, this August, and have made it through some really rough times.

A while ago, my dad was contacted by an old high school sweetheart of his.  They were e-mailing and sending IMs back and forth, for quite a while.  Her husband decided that he didn't want to lose her, so he attempted to stifle the contact.  He then contacted my dad back, saying that he couldn't handle the hurt anymore, and allowed them contact again.  So, my dad is wanting to go back to her, saying that she makes him feel alive.

Originally, she and her husband, along with their 10-year old son, were supposed to relocate to Dallas, but since her husband is having a hard time locating work, that move won't be happening.  So, now it's possible that my Dad will be moving to Wisconsin, where they live.  I'm not sure what my mom is going to do.  She'll get half of my dad's retirement check, every month, as she "earned" it by staying home and taking care of her 3 kids.  She'll also still be the primary beneficiary of his life insurance.  But, she loses the medical benefits from the military, which isn't good for her, since she's diabetic.

My big thing, is this:  Greg and I moved down here, so that Bobby would be close to his Nana and Pop-Pop.  They were there when he was born.  They were there for the first 2 years of his life, almost ... in the same house as us, as we were unable to support ourselves in the new england area.  So, when it came time for us to decide if we were moving back to South Dakota, or coming here to Dallas, I chose Dallas.  I wanted Bobby to grow up very close to his nana and pop-pop, just as I did, especially with the attachment to them.  He will NOT be able to understand why nana and pop-pop don't live here anymore, and I am NOT prepared for his little heart to be broken.

Greg and I had decided 6 months ago, that even if they moved, we will not be leaving Dallas.  I still think this was a good move for us to make.  I have friends here now, and I do not want to uproot my son all over again.  Dallas will be my permanent home, no matter where my parents end up.  It scares me to think of not being close to my parents, but it's time to be completely on my own.  We haven't needed much financial help from them in the last year, and that feels good, but it's always nice to know that they're there in case we do need the help.

So, that's it.  My parents will be splitting up, after 33 years of marriage.  They may be moving out of Texas, but I will stay here.  Bobby may end up broken-hearted, but he'll pull through.

“Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better.” - Richard Hooker

“Don't fear change, embrace it.” - Anthony J. D'Angelo