“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” —C.S Lewis

In 2007 my husband and I packed up our lives and drove west. I drove Lucy, my trusty Ford Explorer, which was loaded up with our two cats (one of whom yowled the whole way), two dogs, and my seven-year-old daughter. I followed by my husband, who was driving a rental truck containing most of our worldly goods. We came to Oregon not because we have family here, or for a job, but because Ashland is a great place for families, it is beautiful, and, very importantly, it has a thriving winemaking industry.

   Some years before our move my husband Brian decided to expand his interest in winemaking from a hobby to something more. We planted a vineyard in front of our Virginian farmhouse, and despite the sweat and graft that it took to plant and care for the vineyard, Brian fell even more in love with the craft.       At that time Brian was working for a bank, but he was not, at heart, an office-going banker. In his true heart of hearts he was a dirt stained, grape juice sticky winemaker. So, when the time was right we up and moved so that he could follow his dream. He kept on working for the bank remotely while he worked as a volunteer for a local winery. About a year after our move he left the bank and started working full time as a vineyard manager and winemaker’s assistant. 

   When we told people that we were moving so that Brian could become a winemaker they told us that we were crazy. People don’t give up well-paid jobs to pursue a dream; such things only happen in novels. And yet we did it, and now Brian is a very well respected, award winning, member of the Oregon winemaking community.

   I believe that a lot of people are waiting for life to give them what they want, or they are too intimidated to make that leap into the unknown to pursue their dream. It is scary, and the outcome is indeed uncertain, but taking that step away from what is comforting and familiar to seek out what you want to be is worth all the discomfort and anxiety that you experience. Truly, it is. 

“Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. 

Everything you want also wants you. 

But you have to take action to get it.” —Jack Canfield

Art by Tim Gault