365 Days

It’s been a year. A year since my marriage ended. There were a few months of back-and-forth, of course. It’s not easy to separate lives that have been intertwined for 17 years. But in the end, it was a mutual decision. My divorce will be final on 7/26. I’m not sad, but it does seem a little sad. It’s almost like I’m this third party looking in at the situation like, ‘Oh – that’s sad that they don’t speak anymore and the kid doesn’t really want anything to do with his dad and he just disappeared from their lives.’ But I feel little to no emotion when I think about it. Maybe I’m in denial. Maybe, on the way home from the court house next week I’ll have some catastrophic breakdown and have to pull my car over because I can’t see through the tears. Maybe.

7/26/18

Overall though, the 365 days from then until now have been some of the best of my life. My job is the best it’s ever been. There are some days where I genuinely feel guilty about taking their money…please note I said some days. My step-daughter moved in with me and has been a godsend, helping me with bills and being a support system for my son (her brother) while we went through this. I’m working on a new book that is in fact the best thing I’ve ever written because it’s essentially about a woman who leaves her husband and finds herself. Clearly, I have a lot of material for this one. I am in a relationship that continues to grow and strengthen as we learn more about each other every day. Truthfully, I’m impatient and pushed it along faster than I should have. We were already living together when most people would have just been getting to the ‘let’s meet each other’s friends’ stage. The first three months don’t even count in my book. They were a mess. A MESS. But we managed to get it together around the first of the year, and now nothing could get between us. It’s a good feeling to know someone has your back. A good feeling to know you’re included in every aspect of their life. I’d forgotten. Along with him, came a brand-new set of friends/family that I am truly blessed to have met. Just good people. Just good, real people who made me feel like I belonged with them. I love them as much as I love him.

Life has a funny way of putting your stubborn ass right where it needs to be. You may think things are so wrong, things aren’t the way they’re supposed to be…but they don’t call them growing pains for nothing. Trust in your journey and don’t fuck with people who aren’t interested in walking along with you. If people want to leave your life, let them. Don’t chase. Don’t beg. Just let them go. You’re just clearing space for a blue-eyed boy who will love you with everything he has. Or..that could just be me. Maybe yours will have green eyes. 😉

What’s In a Name?

You might notice a small change around here. Just a small one. I’m going back to my maiden name and have been strategically changing things as I go. I’ve been Christy Trujillo since 11/3/01 and I must say, it was a tough decision to go back to Babich. Especially because I have six books published under my married name. Truthfully, they’re not that good so… at least there’s that. I did speak with someone once who told me my real literally success would come in my 40s. The book I’m working on now could be that book. I’m writing it under my new Pen Name (Christina Wulff) but who knows how that will all shake out. Also, I now have a different name than my son, which is odd. People have kids with people they’re not married to all the time these days, but I’m old-school Southern so that’s not a thing for me. Most everyone I know, knows me as Christy Trujillo, or CT, which is what most folks call me. I have a serious identity there. It’s MY name.

But the truth is, it’s not my name. It’s his name. His name that he gave me and not mine to keep. We’re not that bitter couple, there’s no resentment there, but still. It’s not who I am anymore – Mrs. Trujillo. And I certainly don’t want to be Ms. Trujillo, that’s just sad. Especially because he may very well give that name to someone else and then she will be Mrs. Trujillo.

So, Christy Babich it is. Hi. Nice to meet you.