Disclaimer: this began as a "Tips and Tricks" type of post but soon became a dramatic chapter from my hypothetical autobiography. The informative post, which has to do with moving, settling in, finding your place, etc. is coming! Let's just pretend this is setting the scene for it.

A little more than six months ago—six months and eight days ago, actually—I loaded up the white Toyota Camry that my mom had graciously gifted me and left California, the place I had called home since immigrating to the states in 1999, indefinitely.

Let me backtrack: three months prior, Lexi and I had entertained the thought of moving to Dallas. This was a city I had no positive preconceived notions of purely because I had never once desired to live in the red, heavily armed state of Texas. Ever.

Read more