Teen Years

Reflecting on the news that the Graffts are moving to Redding, I remembered when our family moved to San Diego from Albuquerque, NM, when I was 14. The idea then was that my father's friend had lined up a job for him and all we'd have to do would be to just show up and everything would be OK. That was a big mistake: we hung on for a month before making a similar, abortive move to Santa Fe, NM, where we hung on for yet another month (both times enrolling in, and being forced to leave school systems). Eventually, the sale of our house in Albuquerque fell through, and we moved back home, back where we started, penniless and traumatized about our ability to do anything right in the world.

The Graffts have advantages that we lacked, such as a flexible job, compatible school system, and a supportive church. Their future is bright, and I'm optimistic everything will be all right with them. Nevertheless, the news brings back the memory of old demons: old, but still living demons.