And here we are, my very first blog. Ever.
I decide to put down some of my random thoughts / brain rapid fire on paper in case anyone is interested in reading. Since my mom doesn't use the internet, I'm not sure how many people will read this (ha).
Home is...
where the heart is.
wherever he lays his hat.
where you walk around naked.
where your husband's job is.
The last one (ok, two) applies to me at the moment. I live in a small town in Central Pennsylvania. After a year I'm ::kind of:: getting used to it. How did I find myself here? Me, a lover of cities and fast-paced life? A Philly girl for 5 years? A self-proclaimed foodie? Like many people, I followed a boy. This boy just so happens to be my husband. Luckily he's cute, or I don't know if I would have stayed this long! Dave is doing his Dermatology residency here at Geisinger Hospital. Amazing hospital, just happens to be in the middle of nowhere. I could discuss what it's like to be the significant other of a doctor (and subsequently surrounded by doctors), but I think I'll save that for a future post.
It has taken me a while to figure out my place here in Danville, PA. What do I do here? Who are my friends? Luckily, I have some amazing people in my life that will trek out here to visit me. I need that touchstone to remember who I am. I have found some folks here who seem to accept the crazy package I come in, which has also made me feel more connected to this place.
Here are some of my noted differences as I made my transition from city to country girl...
1. People. Philly folk are scrappy, gritty, and mean in the most fantastic way. In Danville people are super nice. For example, after getting my car's oil changed, I realized I didn't have my wallet with me. They let me take the car home to get my wallet and trusted me to return and pay, without leaving anything for collateral. It was mind boggling!
2. Noise. My life in Philly was filled with honking horns, garbage trucks, yelling drunk people, helicopters, motorcycles, gun shots, etc. In Danville, it is quiet. Maybe you hear a random cat fight, but that is as wild as it will get. (Note: Now I'm a spoiled brat and expect silence, go figure!)
3. Food. The food scene in Philly is amazing. If you can dream it, you can probably eat it. Chefs are like celebrities in my world. In Danville, people recommended we try "Applebees" or "Bennigans" when we first arrived. Most of us displaced foodies have come to making everything ourselves, which is actually quite enjoyable!
4. Mullets. These exist in both places, but in different contexts. In Philly, mullets are mostly sported by the hipster community. In Danville, anything goes baby.
5. Wildlife. In Philly you mostly come across an aggressive, savvy squirrel at best. They are to be considered armed and dangerous, just like most people. In Danville, everyone you know has hit a deer, fox, groundhog, or opossum. If they haven't yet, they will.
6. The view. Philly: tall buildings. Danville: cornfields.
7. Shopping. Luckily (or unluckily?), my office in Philly was near a big shopping area. H&M. Zara. Victoria's Secret. JCrew. Express. Urban Outfitters. Steve Madden. Anthropologie (sigh). In Danville, the nearest "mall" is in Bloomsburg 10 miles away. I have strategically put quotes around mall, as it is mostly empty stores and the high points are Bon Ton and JC Penny. Walmart is the hot spot, and if you really want to commit, you can drive 20 minutes to Selinsgrove for Target and Kohl's. This is where I will say that I *should* have saved money by not buying things, however, online shopping is a drug of choice around here and I am hooked fo sho.
Why is this list 7 and not a round number like 5 or 10? Because I like odd numbers, and I was going for quality, not quantity. A-thank you.
There are some other ways that I am personally different from my former Philly self. Mostly that can be captured in the following statement: Since I work from home most of the time, I don't dress as cute anymore and mostly wear jammie-like attire (showering is less frequent as well). To hit this home for you, here's a scenario: Dave came home at lunchtime to find me in what I had worn to bed, and I said, "Come on, I brushed my teeth for you." and he said, "Well, I guess that's the least you could do." These are the moments where I realize that I really love my husband, and it would seem that he really loves me, considering the previously mentioned exchange.
As you can see, there are some big differences. I like to laugh a bit about the changes I have accepted over the last year. While I miss the city life, I am now enjoying the country life - the fresh air, greenery, the ability to afford our first home, local produce, drive-in movie theater, dive bars with minibeers, our awesome dinner club, and most importantly: the wonderful people.
I think the kid will be alright after all. Especially since it's only for 2 more years [wink].
