Being Home

Driving around yesterday two thoughts kept coming to me - first, the phrase "that's just not right" appeared after seeing several major changes in the area, second, I admit I miss the small town, country feel.

Major changes to the home town. It has been 12 years since I lived here, and change is constant, change is good, etc. It's just weird to see a Lowe's where a horse farm used to be. Or my elementary school is now a Christian Academy and North Coventry Elementary has a brand new building & location. Meadow Brook Dairy's old freezer is now a country/antique knick knack shop. The high school has additions and the fields are nicer than before. Just weird stuff. It's all good and obviously more of a shock when you don't live here anymore.

Back roads. I grew up on these back roads. Twisty, hilly, narrow - just plain fun to drive (unless it snowed). Last night I made the determination that a "major" back road means there is a middle line painted. :) Don't ever expect side markings to be painted -- those are called ditches. I borrowed Pam's car yesterday to drive around and take some pictures. It felt like I had never left. It's nice to drive and have nothing but trees or fields on either side.

The architecture is more fun here too. Well, any older town has more diverse architecture - especially in the houses. Around here there are alot of old farm houses. A new development sticks out with the cookie cutter houses, aluminum siding, etc. Though, the houses aren't as cookie cutter as in Arizona. I'd have to have money to maintain an older house if I ever live here again; the outside architecture is one thing however I love the layouts too. The older houses are just different.

Yep, I could live in a small town again.

Going home....

I'm on vacation this week. That's why I have time to set this up and keep typing. Some people would say I didn't really go on vacation because I came home to Pennsylvania. Those people think to be on vacation means going somewhere exotic or somewhere new. I think going on vacation means not going to work everyday and relaxing. So here I am.

I have come home. Though I wasn't born here, I lived here for 17 years. It's home to me. There are many times I miss it. Home is Pottstown, Pennsylvania, 30 miles west of Philadelphia, very rural still. It's green, has windy roads, houses are more than 15 feet away from each other with no 6 ft concrete walls, fields still dot the landscape, the power plant still fills the sky with steam clouds, it’s laid back, beer & liquor aren't sold in grocery stores, you have to drive to find a Starbucks, 'going to the store' means AT LEAST a 10 minute drive, going to a club means going to King of Prussia or Reading possibly to Philly, neighborhood or 'hole in the wall' bars are abundant, and you're an Eagles fan.

I look forward to many things when I come home. First and foremost seeing friends. I went to high school with most of these friends. We survived OJR and the last 20 years we've known each other. We're still there for each other.
Pam and Tom - my beach buddies and my favorite Parrot Heads. They got married last year in Barbados -- I was in the wedding (remind me to tell you how long it takes to get to Barbados from PHX). They are wonderful people. Pam and I became friends 20 years ago this fall. We're both crazy enough to understand each other. Our beach trip this year is Key West.
Cindy - my other beach buddy and dancing buddy. She bought her house last year. It was a long, long process but she wanted this house for a long time. It was the house of another friend and perfect for her. We were in the same class, friends in high school, but close friends after college. She's coming to visit me in October! Look out Phoenix!!! ;)
Joe and Debbie - my TV buddies (both work for local stations (network or cable) here). I've known Joe since I was a freshman. He borrowed a quarter from my mom after a football game to get a ride home. He got me to audition for a play my sophomore year -- that took me out of my comfort zone! I didn't get the part however started working backstage and by time I was a senior I was producing the plays. Oh, and Joe's my good friend who came home from college to go to my prom! I get to meet their baby girl this trip.
Rob - my volleyball buddy. He and I knew each other in high school but didn't really talk much. After college we renewed our acquaintance via his weekly volleyball games. They were games for anyone and everyone who showed up to play. A few more years went by with little contact, then one trip home we started talking again. This time we went past acquaintance and created a friendship.
Jon - my Meadowbrook buddy. We became friends working at Meadowbrook Dairy. We've had some long strange trips (June 1991, Meadowlands, Grateful Dead -- need I say more?) and have survived them all.
Amy & Mike - my Monkees' buddy. Amy and I have been friends since I was a freshman. Her parents were band chaperons and we met after a game when my parents met the chaperons for dinner. We bonded instantly over having moms who just couldn't stop talking. Amy and Mike are getting married this week! I'm in the wedding - that's the original reason I booked this trip. Hmmmm....should have brought some of those high school band trip pics to put up at the reception.
Dolores - my Outsiders buddy. We've known each other since jr. high. We've been through good times and bad. And alot of crazy times too. The girl is always on the go somewhere. I can't keep up with her! She bought her first house recently too - moving on up!
And then there are the friends not living in town -- Beth and I were roommates in college. She's now in Hershey, married with a beautiful girl and a baby due any day now! One of these trips we will get together - I still have to meet the family! Craig and Amy are in York Springs. Craig and I also had many long strange trips -- December 1991, Washington DC, Amex Xmas party - we viewed the sights at 1am! S.Scott & Andrea are in Brooklyn. S.Scott and I worked at the Fox movie theatre way back when. He's taught me much about life, individuality and how to enjoy each day. They too have a baby girl I need to get to NY to see.

Besides friends, I like to drive by the house I grew up in. Then I get Meadowbrook ice cream and a stop at Parma Pizza is in order. Have to drive around, enjoy the landscape and see the changes. Go past the high school to see how different it is now. A stop at St Peters Village to sit on the restaurant deck and enjoy a drink or go play on the rocks. If there's time, I visit the King of Prussia mall and get lost. A side trip to Amish country is fun too -- it's good to be reminded of simpler times.

This trip I'm going on a shopping excursion to Kohls. Is this a store not in Arizona you ask? No, I visit Kohls frequently in Phoenix. Why then would I take time to visit Kohls here you ask? Because PA doesn't have sales tax on clothing! Now I realize why visitors always go shopping when the come here. I have room in my suitcases......

Normally the weather in PA in April is nice. Spring comes and it sits in the 60's. Normally I could wear shorts and a sweatshirt or jeans and short sleeves. BUT, not this trip. It's freakin' cold this week!! It's supposed to warm up later in the week, but right now it's 40 something and windy which makes it feel 30 something. Brrrrrrrr.......

This vacation is starting out right. A good flight. A get together at Cindy's house with almost everyone listed above. And now a relaxing Monday afternoon. Wow, "relaxing" and "Monday" in the same thought. We'll see where the rest of the week goes.

Airplane thoughts

The other night a very good friend told me I'm bitter. I didn't like hearing that. Especially because I feel I try not to be. Everyone can be bitter at times, usually right after something stupid happens in his or her life. The key is to not retain that bitterness. But it seems I've retained the bitterness. My friend will be providing me more feedback on this topic -- he just doesn't know it yet. I want to fix it. In the meantime, I had a 4-hour plane ride to think about life.

There are many milestones in life such as the obvious ones like birthdays (16, 21, 30, etc), graduations, marriage, births, deaths, and so on. My parents divorced when I was 7; I was part of the "latch key" generation. I was married in 1995. My stepfather died in 1994, his father soon after, my maternal grandfather in 1996, my paternal grandmother in 2002 and maternal grandmother in 2003. I remember my 16th birthday fondly, my 21st birthday was not what you're thinking (but not bad!), my 30th was spent moving into my first house, and my 35th was spent with wonderful friends at a party hosted by my best friend. High school graduation was bittersweet. College graduation came too soon (2 year degree). This year will mark 15 years with American Express.

Then there are the not so obvious ones such as the day or moment when you have a revelation and make a change in your life. I finally decided to live my life to be happy, not to satisfy everyone else. Imagine that, taking care of me. Sadly, this revelation led to a not so happy milestone.... divorce. A book I'm reading gives the statement "it is better to have a good divorce than a bad marriage." Some of you reading this may not agree and we can discuss points of view if you'd like. However, having now lived through my own and being a child of divorced parents, I now totally understand that statement.

That was a year ago. Over the last year I've had a "metamorphosis" as I was told last night. My friends tell me I look good, am more confident and am stronger than I was before. (I have good friends :)) The metamorphosis statement comes from the things I do now -- some new, some old just with more availability. Things like: traveling more often, going to the beach, planning visits with my family, drinking beer, and eating sushi! A few friends of many years fell over when I told them I like beer and sushi. This comes from one who cringed at the smell of beer and thought anything that swam should not be eaten. I've also made some new friends and strengthened some old friendships.

Many years ago, S.Scott told me "college is the Pause button on the VCR of life." I think I hit Pause back then and the VCR ate the tape. I've moved on to a DVD.... it may be a bit scratched but it still plays.

Ok, got this far....

Now I'll have to sit down and type. First I have to go warm up -- it's freakin' cold in Pennsylvania today!