To say that the last three years living in the middle of nowhere, in the heart of redneck USA, has been difficult would be a serious understatement. We settled in this small town with a population under 1,000 because of it's affordable housing and easy commute. While we always knew the move here would be temporary, and despite our endless efforts to make the best of it, each week became a little more difficult to stomach. Dealing with religious zealotry, bigotry, racism, classism, and gossip did quite the number on us. The one beacon of hope was the little house we found our refuge in. This place we truly made a warm and loving home. This was the place we welcomed our daughter home to. The place she took her first steps in, the place we set up our first Christmas tree as a family. This house is filled to the rafters with memories of laughter, love, and tears. And we will miss it always, but it's time to go.
Recently the stars aligned and fate has opened a new door for us. Or perhaps I should say that we have truly begun to brick our own path in life. All three of us are at long last able to jump into the real world again. Our next location was going to be Ned's choice (he twice moved to towns of my choosing, thanks to my radio career) We had a few places in mind, Charlottesville-Virginia, Asheville-NC, and Orono-Maine. All quite a distance from my family particularly my mom. Some who have been in similar motherly situations would say "that's not far enough for me" But when my mother had her nervous breakdown and her counselor asked what it was that brought her happiness. She said she could think of only one thing, and that was Stella. (not her own two children by the way). It's been awhile since then but I know that sentiment rings true today. After much consideration, much soul searching we realized that a few more years near them could be tolerable if we just found a town we liked.
Enter Greenville. We had begun choosing Greenville as our "big city" destination when we needed more than just what our local grocery store could provide. One day while driving home Ned tells me "why don't we move to Greenville?" After much research it seemed like a great choice. Home to a respectable university(good public schools), Mass Transit system, Museums, Parks, Recreation, a respected Hospital, and Pizza Delivery! (yes we live in a town with no food delivery service - OH THE HORROR) Obviously we became as educated as possible on the pros and cons of moving to Greenville. No way in hell we were going to make the same mistake again.
And since making this decision EVERYTHING has fallen right into place. The fates are giving us constant high fives on our choice. After getting back from my best friend's wedding in Florida. We dove into finding a place. I make a few house viewing appointments and send Ned to Greenville to check out a few places on Wednesday. I get a call from him after he looked at the first house. "I'm not feeling this house, but let me tell you the landlord is awesome, she's driving me to see two other houses. I'll call you later" about twenty minutes later "call and cancel those other appointments, I think I found the one...or maybe two, and have I told you how awesome Melissa is?"
He comes home full of excitement. With a grin that I thought was stifled by our small town long ago. He tells me all about Melissa and her husband Randy. Tells me how they too are cancer survivors. That she loves real beer (Ned's a bit of a beer snob) That he has a sneaking suspicion that they are dead heads (serious points in Ned's book) He loves them and he loves the two houses he wants to show me on Friday before we enjoy a few beers with Melissa at the bar thats just a few blocks away (what this isn't a dry county?? seriously we're in heaven!).
Friday can't come soon enough, He and I take the trip down and I meet Melissa, I'm instantly at ease as it feels like we are meeting an old friend. She shows us this great little place (the first one Ned saw) and while standing in the kitchen Melissa starts to talk politics and I seriously want to kiss her but I figured it's our first date I don't want to scare her off.
We see the last two, the ones that Ned likes. They both have all the personality I love in an old house. And best part about it they are in Melissa's neighborhood. Out of the two there was one that just seemed so right for us.
With this great little front room with a mantle and old fireplace.
A large inviting dining room (perfect for our many upcoming dinners amongst our new friends)
with a beautiful french door leading to the kitchen that's so sweetly vintage.
And the perfect room for my studio - the only room in the house with carpeting.
After choosing a house, Melissa takes us to Ham's where much to our delight most of our neighbors are hanging out. Ned and I must have looked like total dorks as we were smiling like a bunch of jackasses. Meeting these great people just made us more certain that our moving choice was the right one, all across the board. Here were some particular highlights of the evening.
*Ned discovered his new favorite game "Cornhole". (seriously he can't wait to play it again) It's kind of like horseshoes for drunks.
* I made a new BFF in the wonderment that is Jamie, any woman who says things like "acrobatic nipples" is my kind of people. Seriously folks I see lot's of crazy stories involving Ms Jamie and I in the future.
*Our new friends Melissa & Randy are some amazingly cool people. We very much look forward to getting to know them.
*After living next to a 93 year old lady for the past three years I forgot what it was like to live next to kindred spirits, to be around like minded people, to be able to laugh and speak our minds and not worry about a damn thing. This is perhaps THE thing that excites us the most about this move.
So the past few days has been a whirlwind of bubble wrap and liquor store boxes. I'm scared, excited, nervous, and relieved. Most of all I feel happy. Hello old friend it's been awhile.
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