It gets harder every time I have to say goodbye to her.
On her breaks from teaching math full time, Rocio has caught up to me in numerous places since I left on foot from her Atlanta home, and our relationship has blossomed beautifully as we’ve spent ample time with one another across the miles.
She just spent nine wonderful days of her spring break with me, walking with me from Durham to Henderson. She has class tomorrow, so she had to go back to Atlanta today.
Had it not been for Road Angel Sejal Patel (driver seat), Rocio would have had to return yesterday. Sejal and her husband hosted us for a pair of nights at their inn in Creedmoor, and she offered to pick Rocio up this morning and drive her to Durham, to catch the first of her two buses back to Georgia. The extra day was so valuable to us!!
I cherish every moment with Rocio, and taking pictures when she left actually helped minimize the tears in my eyes, as I partially put myself into “work” mode, documenting the goodbye, instead of feeling the full ripping sensations of the separation.
I ♥ U, Rocío Sotomayor!!!
“But it’s probably OK if we walk through early enough, don’t ya think?” I asked.
Especially when told “stay away from that part of town,” and it appears I have to walk through anyway, I shop for the answers I need. Rocio & I were warned to stay away from Andrews Avenue, in Henderson– told of all sorts of violent crimes that happen there. That said, given that there was no easy way around, and given that ironically I seem to be most fascinated by the idea of spending time in such areas, I seek a window of opportunity to make it through anyway. And for Andrews Avenue, I found it!
“Go early– don’t be caught there after 2 PM. Go early, don’t get off the main road, and you should be fine.”
We followed the advice we were given, and though we definitely did find some painful small-city urban scars on our 2-mile stretch of Andrews Avenue, we also met some friendly locals, in a part of town which can use extra smiles.
Mission accomplished.
More to come…