We’ve officially lived in Columbia for five months now. At times, it feels like it’s been years, other times, I still feel like a brand newbie.
I asked a doctor friend once, when I might finally stop referring to Alpharetta as “home”. I have no family there. But yet, it became “home” over the almost 20 years I lived there. Ed and I got married in the Atlanta area. Brian and Sevan were born in Marietta. Our first two homes together were in Smyrna and Alpharetta.
So when will I stop saying, “back home, we did such and such”. Or, “in my homeschool group back home, we did xyz, etc.”
One thing my doctor friend said is that it really helps to get involved quickly and to make new friends. We’ve already been so warmly welcomed and loved, especially by the CHC’ers (our homeschool group).
Also, my friend said that after we’ve spent at least one of every season here, a good cold winter, fresh Maryland spring, LONGGG hot summer, and a beautiful fall, then MD would really start to feel more like home. (BTW, on that note, it’s actually cooler in Alpharetta than up “north” here in MD! What’s up with that??? We’re wearing shorts and sandals in October! But not white…it’s after Labor Day, after all, and some rules remain constant whether north or south!)
Thanks to CHC field trips, Children’s Month and Free Fall Baltimore (many museums have free admission in October), we’ve enjoyed Port Discovery Children’s Museum (interactive and hands-on to the nth degree); the "Top of the World" Tower on the 27th Floor of the World Trade Center in Baltimore, and the B & O Railway Museum. We went into D.C. for a field trip to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but the tour was full, so we simply diverted down the street to the National Air and Space Museum (now how cool is that).
Learning our way around and about the Metro has been a thrill for Brian and Sevan (formerly known as “Evan”).
Even as Chick-Fil-Moo, I’ve had the privilege of representing our store at a few local football games, setting up the CFA tent and selling on-site. Through this process, I’ve discovered four of the local high schools, and can even find their respective football fields and concession stands without getting lost!
I just found out a few days ago that my step-daughter is getting married soon. I met my future stepson-in-law once, several years ago, and I thought he was a great guy. He’s in the Coast Guard, and his ship just docked in Baltimore. Although we weren’t able to visit with him (he was literally bussed out within hours of his arrival at oh-dark-thirty), we took a hop up to Baltimore, and took a tour of his ship. What a neat experience!
I asked a doctor friend once, when I might finally stop referring to Alpharetta as “home”. I have no family there. But yet, it became “home” over the almost 20 years I lived there. Ed and I got married in the Atlanta area. Brian and Sevan were born in Marietta. Our first two homes together were in Smyrna and Alpharetta.
So when will I stop saying, “back home, we did such and such”. Or, “in my homeschool group back home, we did xyz, etc.”
One thing my doctor friend said is that it really helps to get involved quickly and to make new friends. We’ve already been so warmly welcomed and loved, especially by the CHC’ers (our homeschool group).
Also, my friend said that after we’ve spent at least one of every season here, a good cold winter, fresh Maryland spring, LONGGG hot summer, and a beautiful fall, then MD would really start to feel more like home. (BTW, on that note, it’s actually cooler in Alpharetta than up “north” here in MD! What’s up with that??? We’re wearing shorts and sandals in October! But not white…it’s after Labor Day, after all, and some rules remain constant whether north or south!)
Thanks to CHC field trips, Children’s Month and Free Fall Baltimore (many museums have free admission in October), we’ve enjoyed Port Discovery Children’s Museum (interactive and hands-on to the nth degree); the "Top of the World" Tower on the 27th Floor of the World Trade Center in Baltimore, and the B & O Railway Museum. We went into D.C. for a field trip to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but the tour was full, so we simply diverted down the street to the National Air and Space Museum (now how cool is that).
Learning our way around and about the Metro has been a thrill for Brian and Sevan (formerly known as “Evan”).
Even as Chick-Fil-Moo, I’ve had the privilege of representing our store at a few local football games, setting up the CFA tent and selling on-site. Through this process, I’ve discovered four of the local high schools, and can even find their respective football fields and concession stands without getting lost!
I just found out a few days ago that my step-daughter is getting married soon. I met my future stepson-in-law once, several years ago, and I thought he was a great guy. He’s in the Coast Guard, and his ship just docked in Baltimore. Although we weren’t able to visit with him (he was literally bussed out within hours of his arrival at oh-dark-thirty), we took a hop up to Baltimore, and took a tour of his ship. What a neat experience!
What wasn’t quite so neat were the loud and long blasts of the horn that freaked out both Brian and Sevan. The two of them high-tailed it off the ship with hands tightly covering their ears. It was kind of funny to see them trying to walk down a steep ship ladder without hands! (OK, that may sound a little cruel, but sometimes ya gotta laugh or ya gotta cry!)
Today, we discovered Woodbine, MD...the CHC'ers annual Fall Frolic. Hay rides, boo barn, fresh apple cider, hay maze, and pumpkin patch.
We were more than a little a-mazed!!!
Anyway, it’s all beginning to come together. Baltimore, D.C., Howard County, Columbia, mixed in with the memories and the people we'll always love "back home".
Ah...home sweet, homes.
2 comments:
if it ever gets cooler we will all have to go geocaching together - (i found my gps!)
Looks like loads of fun with everything so close by. I love the pictures! I am glad you still consider this home for now (The Alpharetta TPS, of course)
Love you all, Brooke
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