Dearest Charlie,
I figured I’d sit down and catch you up on everything that’s been going on since March 29.
It’s been… a lot. Not one big thing, just a bunch of moving parts all at once.
I left Louisiana and started heading toward New York for this job. I didn’t rush it - I broke the trip up so I wouldn’t push myself or the car too hard. I made it to Dallas, Georgia and stayed a couple of nights to rest before going any further.
Traveling like this by myself is… different. Quiet. Lots of time to think. Lots of time to talk to you in my head. I’ve had to figure things out as I go - money, gas, where I’m stopping, how far I can make it. A few people helped me along the way, which I’m really thankful for. A tank of gas here, a little cash there. Just enough to keep me moving.
But I’m not gonna lie… I wish you were here. Even just to sit in the passenger seat. Or be on the phone with me helping me think through things like you always did.
There’s been some stress - mostly about money and making sure I land on my feet when I get up there. I found a little furnished cottage in Ellicottville. It’s about a 30–45 minute drive to the job site, which doesn’t bother me. What did make me stop and think was the cost - $2,000 a month and a $2,000 deposit.
That’s a lot. More than I was expecting. So I’ve been trying to figure out what makes sense… what I can handle… what I’m willing to risk. At the same time, I’ve been dealing with all the other stuff - onboarding paperwork, insurance issues, prescriptions, and my knee acting up at the worst times.
Come to find out, my health insurance doesn’t even cover me out of state. That one hit me sideways. So now I’ve got to be extra careful and have some kind of plan if something goes wrong. It just feels like a lot of details all at once. But… I’m handling it. Not perfectly. But I’m doing it.
And I’ve had a few moments where I just stopped and thought, “Charlie would know exactly what to do here.” You always did. You had a way of making things feel simple… manageable.
I miss that.
I miss you.
But I’ll tell you this - I’m doing it.
I’m making the decisions. I’m figuring things out. I’m moving forward even when I don’t feel 100% sure about any of it. I don’t always feel strong… but I guess I am. So that’s where I am right now. Kind of in between. Not settled. Not certain. Just… moving.
And hoping this next step turns into something good.
I wish you were here to see it.
Love you,
Me
