Captain Hook delivered pizza Friday night, the weird upside down pie with the sauce slathered on top of the cheese. As a self-proclaimed pizza snob, I’m just getting my taste-buds accustomed to this backwards version of my favorite food. Central New York has a unique cuisine, and a wacky way of pronouncing everyday words like elementary. They say “El-E-men-TARY”.
(These are the moments I feel the failure of blogging. You really need a soundbite to fully understand the pronunciation of words like elementary, supplementary, complimentary, etc.)
This small town is the only place my daughter fully remembers living. Once in a while, she’ll get a fractured glimpse of our time in Maine, but this place, she knows.
Now we are moving to Virginia at the end of the June.
On all those past car rides from Maine to Florida, with screaming babies strapped in their car seats and “Old McDonald Had A Farm” playing on loop until Old McDonald started making up animals, we talked about Virginia. It always seemed like a cool middle of east coast state. Once, we said we’d like to move to Virginia – One Day.
Thirty days from now will be “One Day”.
Right now, I’m packing our dishes, our books, and our memories. I’m counting the cost of bubble-wrap and collecting free boxes. I’m preparing storytime lessons for a summer reading program I won’t be running, while at the same time planning a future in a state eight hours away.
It’s bittersweet, with the scale tipping on the sweet side.
I’m happy and sad and scared and stressed all at the same time.
My poor kids.
I’m basically a crazy woman cooking dinner out of the one pot that’s not packed.
My husband is the new pastor of a small red brick church in the south. I’m the new pastor’s wife, and the little red brick church is full of the kindest people I’ve been around in a very long time.
I am happy, but today, all I can think about is Captain Hook, or more accurately, the boy who played Captain Hook in this year’s school play, and the fact that I won’t know who the pizza delivery boy is in Virginia.
One day soon, I’ll have a new home, and more friends, and a wonderful life in a place where people drink sweet tea and eat biscuits and gravy. I’ll like that life, in fact, I’m pretty sure I’ll love it.
And someday, I know I’ll recognize the pizza delivery boy when he knocks on my door. I’ll give him an extra big tip, because I’ll know he’s starting college soon, and I’ll enjoy my geographically challenged pizza.
I know this like I know my address (the old one, because I can’t even pretend to know the new one yet).
I also know that Peter Pan is delivering Chinese food tonight, because I can’t cook in a kitchen full of boxes!
Now can I?
I hope you’ll read along as we journey south. I’ll pass the sweet tea and a biscuit, and keep you posted.
Six yea rs ago we moved from IN to SC to work in ministry. We have NOT missed the cold winters. If you can handle some heat, you’ll love you the South! Glad you haven’t stopped blogging!
I love your blog too; and it’s good to see you writing again. I hope you love Virginia; I’m partial to it myself! I know it must be challenging to uproot, but I’m glad you are! Loved your story of packing everything but the kitchen sink for road trips; I still do that today!
First, love your glasses.
Second, I’ve always said that too! To me, Virginia is the perfect state.
Glad to hear from you, you’ve been awfully quiet up north! Perhaps we’ll hear more now that you’re heading south;). I grew up in Northern Virginia myself, so I’m partial to the state, enjoy!
I’ve missed you! But so glad you are on to a God-glorifying new adventure! Having just moved from a medium-sized house to a small house, I will say that I AM NEVER MOVING AGAIN. Yep. Dying right here in this old house. But I’m older than you and more prone to exhaustion, I’m sure. Praying Blessings with a capital B on your family.
Remember, wherever you may roam, LFNY was once your home. I am sorry to see you go, yet so happy for you.
Thank you Joy! I’ll never be able to forget LFNY.
I’m happy for you and your family. I understand the bitter sweet part very well, though. I’m basically 12 months ahead of you, emotions-wise. It’s hard at first, but gets easier.
Alissa, are you loving your new home? Sounds like you are, and I’m very happy for you.
I don’t envy you on the moving part, we did that almost 18 months ago and I still have boxes to unpack. Can Hardly wait to hear about your adventures though.
Sydney, the thought of unpacking is nearly as daunting as actually packing. Once I get in, I like to unpack quickly though. We’ll see how it goes this time.
I agree with your Mom. I’ve missed your blog. Big new changes for you! I’ve always thought about you as we travelled through your present area–I almost never get to Virginia.
I’m a pastor’s wife. I must say, I’ve been pondering the question “What is, or what makes a pastor’s wife?” I’d be interested in your thoughts. Is is simply being married to the minister? Or is there more?
Wow. Good question. Lots of thoughts rolling around in my head. I think I’ll revisit it when I have more time to make sense of my thoughts. I may need more than one post to answer that question though. lol
You
So excited for you!
Thank you Debra!
I was wondering where in Virginia you are moving to. We live in Lynchburg and love it!
Judy, I emailed you!
Wishing you and your family tbe best and looking foward to your continued updates.
Thank you Diane.
Love hearing about your handling of life’s little and big stuff!
Thanks for reading Linda, and for taking the time to comment.
If anyone can find humor, adventure and a positive side it is you Tricia! Good luck with the moving aspect (always my least favorite part) but what awaits you is worth it’s weight in gold…..cannot wait to follow you on this journey.
Awww…thanks Barbara. I’m sure there will be a few funny stories that come from this move!
So excited for you. And happy I will be able to follow along!
Thanks! Looking forward to the adventure.
Tricia, don’t forget the Pecan Waffles. Have fun packing your things and your memories.
Oh, ya, the pecan waffles…and bbq!
Wow! Big changes coming for the Fringe family! Best of luck and any blessings in your new adventure!
*many blessings!
Thank you Jessie!
So happy you are blogging again.
Thanks mom.