We Are Here!

We made it!

There have been lots of surprises and culture shock since I last posted, but we are here and, most important, we have internet access!!! Okay, I’m kidding about it being most important, but it sure is nice. I hadn’t realized how big a deal “normal” was to me until T. and I drove the 25 minutes to the Big City today to try grocery shopping at the Super Wal-mart and I walked into that big, ugly store and felt right at home. I’ve never even liked Wal-mart, but I knew my way around that store, and the grocery prices, unlike the jaw-droppingly high prices we’ve found at the local grocery stores, were pretty close to what I’m used to in Florida. It was so wonderful that I filled three carts (I bought enough for three weeks, plus some other stuff we needed). I only got lost once on the way back, and the ice cream was still quite edible.

This house will be food for my blog for a long time to come. It has many charms, such as hardwood floors and big rooms, and also many minor and not-so-minor peculiarities and challenges. We keep bumping into new things that need work, but I guess that is typical of an old house. The really amazing thing about our new home is how friendly the neighbors are. Our next door neighbors in the Victorian house loaned us two queen sized mattresses for almost a week while we waited for our furniture. They had a cookout for us, where we met their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, who is just the age for K. to play with. When the wretched movers finally showed up (they charged us three days more storage than they’d said they would, and left almost everything piled in the back room), our lovely neighbors showed up with a delicious hot dinner, including plenty to share with the undeserving movers. People have stopped by and knocked on the door to welcome us, and many wave when they drive by. At church last Sunday, where we and some other guests made up a good part of the congregation of thirty five, everyone, including the well-dressed dog sitting behind us, left their pews to greet and hug everyone, not just those within arm’s reach, during the exchange of the peace. Sure, we have a delicate well, an antique air conditioner, a leaky and mildewy basement, and tons of other silly things, but we are living in a gloriously beautiful place with the friendliest, most welcoming people I’ve ever met, so I think we’ve done okay.

** You can't see it in the picture, but T. thinks our new riding mower is the most fabulous thing ever. He was laughing and smiling the whole time we let him drive (with the blade up), and proudly told our neighbor tonight "I drove a tractor!"