At the Chinese place today I was asked if we were new here…same went at the Hollywood Nails earlier in the day……. Sometimes I’m not sure if they ask me that question because of my accent…or because I’m still not sure of all the road names and have to say ‘that’s the road with the so and so on it..right? I’m at that in-between stage…I can’t really say Yes anymore can I? We’ve been here for an entire school year and all but one national holiday! We’ve each had a birthday celebrated here and it has been over a year since my first visit. So,,,,I’m thinking ‘it just ain’t right to say yes’ anymore. ’.

School was officially over yesterday. I am now the mother of an 8th and 5th grader. I guess I’m lucky to have the wee ones…they help meto not feel ‘so old’. On the last day of school there was an awards assembly…it was the first time at a school function that I’ve felt like I belonged. I could look around the gym and up into the bleachers and pick out moms that I have had conversations with. I could kind of match up kids to parents and I bet that I could match up most of the teachers to their grade levels. I know where the bathrooms are in the building…I know how to get to the upstairs classrooms…I know where the art and science rooms are. When I sat down in a row of seats I felt happy that I ‘knew’ everyone there and they ‘knew’ me and the wee ones.

Man,,,,,I guess it is safe to admit…..this time last year I would have never ever thought I could do this. Deep down inside I was clinging to my front porch beer meetings with Bret and that damn For Sale sign on my front lawn. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I was leaving ‘home’. It was to be the first time in my life I would be living in a state without any relatives and every last person would be a long distance call. I had entrusted my husband to find us a new home and a new life. Well, we got both and I am still so proud of the home he found for us. Talk about having ‘faith’ in your husband…the first time I saw this place was the day we moved in!!!!

I have to laugh at myself when I think of the things that just really blew my mind when we got here. For starters; those damn flies…(and by the way they are back). I ordered the newspaper right away so that I could get familiar with things and the weekly insert is actually called ‘The Country Peddler. I spent many an early morning and early evening hour trying to figure out and memorize the channel numbers for NBC-ABC-CBS-Food and HGTV and of course the holy grail Noggin. I had to get used to the local newscasters and the fact that the weather girl has a dog with her when giving the weather report and the fact that you can see the concrete block wall behind her when she talks (no green screen). I had to get used to the fact (and you’ll think this is CRAZY) that murders do not occur on a daily basis around here. Nor do they occur on a weekly basis. I tell you, that is one of the weirdest/best things about this place. I mean, I hated it back home when it seemed like the media had it in for us Eastsiders - always reporting the bad and not the good. The only helicopters I hear are the Huyes from the local Armory and they don’t fly at night and shine lights all over the neighborhood.

I had to get used to some church things as well. Fr. Jerry starts every Mass by asking if there are any visitors and then asks for good news from the community. When the children gather at the alter to be released for Sunday school we all reach out our hands to offer blessings over them. Each week we celebrate with a different music style. One week it is the women’s group and the next it’s the Brothers Holy (our rock/contemporary guys). We have coffee and donuts EVERY week and our baptismal font looks very much like a hot tub and its right up on the alter.

I miss my Meijers store..but thankful to have Aldi and Kroger. We’ve got an auto mechanic that knows us by name…hmmmmm not sure if that is something to be tooting my horn about……the Mall isn’t Easton by any stretch..but there is a pretty cool Carousel inside that you can ride for a buck. Speaking of the mall…I’ve been assigned to Children’s department at Macy’s. Not my first choice but I’m happy it isn’t women’s wear. I’ll keep an eye open for handbags or even a commissionable position in fragrance or makeup. I start training next week!! Yippy!!!! I celebrated with a pedicure today!!

I’m still totally freaked out by the fact that we have no pool to join…. but I’ve got Mr. K enrolled in swim lessons at a local fitness club and the girls and I have made friends with folks that have memberships around town…so…I’m thinking we are going to be just fine. (Although, I’ll be jones’n for a walking taco since I won’t have any swim meets to attend) .I did purchase myself a lounge lawn chair today….that along with our little kiddie pool and I should be fine.

Yeah, I think we’ve done well this year. Despite our setbacks here and there…I have to say that I like it here. I really and truly like it here. It ain’t HOME…but…….as Twila Paris says in one of her songs….’this is where I’ll stay, until He moves me on….and I will listen to His voice’.

So as we launch into our summer lives…I have to offer thanks to my family for supporting me in this journey. Thanks for coming to see me each and every month. I want to say Thanks to my new friends here…I have been made to feel welcome AND secure. I have to offer prayers and blessings for my EMO family…I think about you all each and every day when I look at a plaque that one of you sent me in a care package that says ‘ Good friends are like angels, you don’t have to see them to know they are there.’ I have to say thank you to Bud…who calls me every day and EB who calls every other week..even when she is in PARIS or some crazy country on the other side of the world!!! I want to thank all of YOU who allow me the opportunity to rant and rave publicly, who continue to read my musings and overlook my glaring grammar and spelling mistakes and even if you don’t agree with my political views….
Danke!!!

Oh, and BTW..we are starting a weekly newspaper as part of our summer fun. If you’d like to subscribe…just say so…we want to include an ‘ask the Bteam’ column…so offer up some good questions!!