A ‘Memory Checklist’ for Our Last 6 Months in Charlotte

Instead of purchasing each other gifts for Christmas, Ryan & I have a long history of getting each other creative or meaningful handmade gifts. There were a few years where I gifted him ‘pie of the month’ or ‘baked good of the month’ which was really just a red file folder with a printout inside, to be filled in as I made an apple pie in February or the best French silk pie ever in June.

He followed suit with ‘date of the month,’ which was especially important when his kids were still with us and making time for each other had to be more intentional.

So when this past Christmas came around and we had just 6 months left in Charlotte, I created a memory checklist of all of the important places we should visit at least once more before we leave this summer:

Our second date (which almost never happened) was at Lang Van. Ryan proposed at the airport park. I lived in a tiny shotgun apartment on Thomas Ave when we first started dating- and I first told Ryan I loved him in frosting on a cupcake from Sunflour Bakery.

Our entire relationship has happened here.

As you can see, now that we’re in March, we’ve checked a few things off the list. It hangs on the fridge and has been really helpful for those times when we have a spare Saturday afternoon or weeknight evening.

Ryan even called ahead to have a special cupcake waiting for me at Sunflour!

As I write, we have just over 3 more months left here. I’m already feeling nostalgic for this place, and we haven’t even left yet.

And even with all of these amazing memories, and the nostalgia, and the sadness of leaving friends and family- I also know deep in my bones that it is time to leave. I ache to be out in nature, hiking, instead of battling traffic on I-85.

I’ll miss Charlotte. It’s been my home for over 30 years.

But adventuring feels like home to me too. And it’s time for that now. It’s been time.

Today’s challenge: If you were leaving your home within the next 6 months, what would be on your memory checklist? Let me know in the comments below!