Ok, my friend over at CityStreams had a post up today that had a link to a song by Trace Adkins called “You’re Gonna Miss This”.  I have to admit that I hardly listen to any kind of music that’s not kid-approved…which doesn’t usually include much country music.  So I figured this song was an old one I just hadn’t heard before, but it’s not; it’s a brand new single.  You probably all know it, and I’m just light years behind the rest of you.  But…in case you haven’t heard it, you can hear it and see the music video here.  It’s cheesy.  It’s sappy.  And he’s not my favorite singer ever, but I like the words-especially in the chorus:

You’re gonna miss this
You’re gonna want this back
You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you’re gonna miss this

As we get oh-so-close to the end of our time in Augusta, I find that I’m being overwhelmed by conflicting feelings.  (I’ve blogged about this before, but it’s a recurring theme in my mind so you guys are just going to have to hear it all again!)  When we first moved here, I HATED it here!  I hated my job. I hated that my friends and family were so far away(a whopping hour-and-a-half…I know, I’m pathetic!).  There were even times I claimed to hate Marshall for dragging me to “Dis-gusta”.  We had a hard time finding a church we liked.  And we met most of our friends through medical school-which was great for Marshall, but left me home alone a lot while they all studied.  I would always beg them to study at our house, and I would make all kinds of food and snacks to entice them to come back again.  I was so lonely.

Then I found my dream job.  I met my best friend Jesse, and consequently her family who took us in as their own.  We found a good church.  We had kids, which connected us with some non-medicine people.  Augusta didn’t seem so bad any more.  But after painting it in such a negative light, it was hard for me to change my perception of the town.  I think I probably could have enjoyed it much better if I’d just quit looking so far forward.  From day one here, I was always focused on day 2557.  Four years of medical school, three years of residency…2557 days.  525,600 minutes…times seven.

And as I prepare to move back “home”, I realize that in many ways, I know more about Augusta than I do “home”.  I know how to get from here to the zoo in Columbia(finally, after 3 mis-guided attempts).  I know where the best dessert can be found(Boll Weevil), where to eat the yummiest pizza(Pizza Joint), and where to get the coolest toys(The Toy Box).  I know who to call when I need a babysitter.  I know which grocery stores have which of my favorite items.  I know where the cheapest gas can be found.  And as I think about all the things I know about this place that’s been home for 7 years now, I’m amazed at just how much I don’t know or remember about home.  When I moved away from home 10 years ago, our little town was just a map dot.  We had a Huddle House and a Subway.  That was about it.  Now there are plenty of little restaurants, lots of new subdivisions, schools, and businesses.  My “little town” has grown up.  There’s still only one grocery store, though.  I sure do hope they carry my favorite pop-tarts and my favorite hummus.  I wonder if they’ll order it just for me if they don’t already have it in stock?

But I’m ready to go.  I am.  Considering how I came in kicking and screaming, it’s kind of ironic how much I’m going to miss it here.  I’m gonna miss this.  I might even want this back.  I’m going to wonder how it all went so fast.  These are good times.  And I’m glad that I finally realized-before it was too late-to look around and take it all in.  I’m gonna miss this.