Home Sweet Home

I moved to NYC in February. I can't believe it has been six months. My new job has been refreshing and challenging. I've learned a lot about myself including things I enjoy, things I'm good at but I've also learned my weaknesses. After a very full, busy, productive summer I was anticipating visiting friends and family in North Carolina. I spent a lot of time in Mooresville with my family. My brothers and I rode motorcycles and four wheelers and I got to eat familiar food. I sound like I've been living overseas or something. In many ways adjusting to New York has been felt like living in another culture entirely. Also, my grandfather has been very sick so I also spent a lot time visiting with him.

It was such an interesting trip taking in the south with my newly earned urban eyes. I visited my dear friend, Carrie, in Waxhaw. We joke that we live very opposite lives these days. Her and her husband just moved to a beautiful new house even further into the country.

It was weird for me to experience a bit of culture shock entering my old life in North Carolina. Weird things caught my eye. Like the sky! I could see the whole sky...even the horizon. I didn't even realize I was missing it. Another moment happened while driving down to Charlotte to see my house and some friends down there. I passed a sign on the side of the road. It was hand written and said, "Goats for sale." Just six months ago I would have passed that sign without even noticing it. I couldn't believe my own reaction. The sign literally shocked me and caught me off guard. I even called my roommate in New York to tell her about it.

It was so great to be with my family even though it has been a difficult season for us all. With my grandfather (Papal) being so sick and losing my cousin a few months ago, being home had a somber undertone no matter what I was doing. We had a family get together for my grandfather's (Paw Gene) 91st birthday and again, it was wonderful to see everyone but we all intensely felt the loss of Darin. It is amazing how one person can have so much impact and influence. I have an incredible family. I've been so amazingly blessed by each one of them. It was very hard to leave.

Once I got back to the city I didn't really skip a beat because I landed and had to head to the office. It wasn't for two days that the city hit me like a ton of bricks. Just today I wished I had my camera with me to take note of all I was seeing and experiencing just in a simple walk home from church. It is just inexplicable all that is available in this city...the good, the bad, and the ugly.


Tonight after church I went to the park. I live pretty close to where John Lennon was shot and I love to go to Strawberry Fields after working on long Sundays and listen to this mod podge band play all Beatles music. They are just a bunch of local musicians coming together to play and everyone sings along.

I joked while being down south that I felt like Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama but being back in New York it rings true once again. At one point in the movie she says, "I'm happy in New York. But then I come down here and... this fits, too." I feel the same way. I feel content being a country girl enjoying the Alexander Farm but I own more heels than any other kind of shoe! I guess for now I'll just embrace that I'm both a country and a city girl!


Maybe next time I'm home I'll where my pink heels on the four wheeler!!