Edmonds Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

On a sunny August morning a few decades ago, my brother and I stood in front of several friends as we prepared to get into the family station wagon and drive to our new home more than 2,000 miles away.

The image is still vivid in my mind … all of them leaning against or sitting on the white sedan that my then first (ex-) boyfriend, Keith, had used to drive most of us around (he was the only one with a car).

My friend, Jessica, stood by the front of the car, wearing a pale blue top and looking sideways at everyone else, as if she is wondering if they understand the gravity of the moment. K...