Things You Don't See in California
Well, it's been exactly one year since my family packed up and left California. Last year at this time Geoff and Coie dropped me off at Sewer Flats and drove back West to finish things up. Boy was that a crazy month and a half. Poison Ivy, falling cupboards, raw sewage leaks, a car crash, electrical systems going haywire, etc. It's kind of nice having a blog to look back and remember. Anyways, I am glad we are in TN, but it is definitely different.
For instance, a while back when I was shopping, I actually witnessed a man park his horse in a Walmart parking lot. Me and Geoff also saw something else you wouldn't see in Cali…. we were driving to town and there was a work crew cleaning up in the middle of a busy road. When we got closer we noticed it was two girls, and they had on a large orange vests that said, “I Am A Drunk Driver”. wow. Hello Southern Justice. Other new things have been sweet tea, humongously enormous yellow spiders that make 'zipper webs', june bugs, REPENT! signs on the road, rain in the summertime and complete strangers who talk to you in the supermarket (that last one still sorta weirds me out).
But I have to say, by far and large, the biggest thing that has shocked me since we've moved to TN, is the new group of very very very good friends we've made. We have a whole circle of people that feel like family. God has really blessed us; it's been an amazing year. |
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September 6th, 2006 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments No Responses to ' Things You Don't See in California 'Leave a reply |
on September 6th, 2006 at 9:11 am
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Thanks for adding me as a friend, Jen! :o)
I think its wonderful to be able to look back at the last year and see how God has blessed your family!
Amanda
on September 6th, 2006 at 9:45 am
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Happy 1 year anniversary in Tennesee!
We are so glad you are here with us.
Blessings,
Maria
on September 6th, 2006 at 9:54 am
Good Morning!
Here is Las Vegas I would be so for those “drunk driver” vests! We have far to many drunk drivers who cry in there drinks when they get caught…. I would love to see all of them cleaning up and wear “THEIR” sign! *smile*
Have a great day!
on September 6th, 2006 at 10:06 am
Friendly Strangers!
I have always had a little of that Southern hospitality in my blood…. maybe because I was born in Kentucky, but maybe just b/c I am a nosy chatterbox! LOL!
When we were stationed in Northeastern US, people would get really offended if you spoke to them without a hand-written invitation! One example… I was in Walmart and two women were discussing with each other a shampoo they had previously used that had the wonderful scent of green apples and they were trying to remember which one it was. Well, I happened to be using one with the scent at the time and offered the information happily. They literally glared at me, turned back to their conversation with each other and one ACTUALLY said to the other… “Who invited HER into our conversation?” WHACK! I felt like I had been hit across the face or at very least transported back in time to Jr. High School!
And it was NOT a one-time occurence… even in our church! It seemed like people were born there, lived in one house all their lives, married a childhood friend, bought the house across the street from their parents, put heavy drapes on their windows to keep themselves in and strangers out and never traveled out of the state! (Even when in New England travelilng to another state may only be a 30 minute drive across the border (i.e. from Connecticut to Rhode Island or Massachusetts!)
HOWEVER, once they got to know you (this could take a few years of concentrated effort on the stranger’s part) they are the most fiercely loyal and compassionate people you could EVER know!!!!
I never did stop talking to strangers in the grocery stores and Walmarts and even in my very stranger unfriendly church and I eventually was rewarded with some of the dearest friends in the world. Now that I live back in the Northwest, I actually miss them very much and am glad that they take the time to extend a handwritten invitation to interfere in their lives now!
on September 6th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Hi Mrs. Igarashi!
Yeah. Sounds like an interesting sort of state to me. And the ‘I’m a Drunk Driver’? Yikes! But I’m so glad you have that wonderful circle of friends!
How is Emmiko? We’ve been praying for her and I’ve been begging Mommy, “Has Mrs. Ig sent you news? We heard that you didn’t go to the doctor’s appointment. Does that mean she’s gonna be fine? I SOOO hope so!
Love you, and God Bless!
Mariel
on September 6th, 2006 at 11:41 am
We're glad you're here!
Stop over in Blount County sometime and you can meet a whole new group of transplants and other assorted homeschooling weirdos and our Cujo-dogs!
on September 6th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Yay!
Congratulations on surving the year! I have to admit, I kinda wish I lived down south… but not in the summer… oh well, Minnesota’s got its upsides.
Have a good one,
ali
on September 6th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
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I love those “Repent” signs… it’s been a long time since I traveled down south. Should do it again sometime :). Having gone from Ontario (Canada) to Cali back to Ontario in the last ten years, I can relate to the culture shock. Though here it’s quite a different culture from what you’re dealing with, too.
Rachel
http://rachelstarrthomson.blogspot.com
on September 6th, 2006 at 9:59 pm
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wow! new look. way cool.
on September 6th, 2006 at 11:16 pm
Hi
From a southern girl who is now stuck in New England, I sure miss some of those things you’re talking about. (not the spiders) Enjoy that southern hospitality and some day you might be the lady talking to strangers! ha ha
~Becky
on September 7th, 2006 at 12:17 am
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I really like the new look; it’s cleaner and neater and softer. So you have my stamp of approval for what it’s worth! 🙂
Denise
on September 7th, 2006 at 1:51 am
sniffle…
God has been good to you and Gena both–and all your little ones. We still miss you though. Just in case you ever tire of Southern Comfort, I will hold up those REPENT signs for you. :+)
Kate
on September 7th, 2006 at 7:02 am
Oh Yea!
I sincerely hope this isn’t a One Year anniversary-so-I’ll put-my-old-template-back-for-a-week kind of thing.
What a year this has been. I never dreamed that I would be having another baby. I never dreamed that Dawn would be homeschooling. And I never dreamed that I would develop one of the best friendships I have ever had. Slightly more astonishing due to the fact that you pre-judged me to be a stuck up southern belle. Golly that’s funny. Almost as funny as your “don’t forget the cheese” message on my answering machine.
What an amazing year this has been. I am looking forward to this coming year being equally amazing. Especially once this bambino enters the world and I can feel normal again.
One of the best things that happened this year:
When God said no to that nasty elephant place, hohenwald and instead gave you the Igarashi farm.
~Annemarie
on September 7th, 2006 at 7:24 am
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This looks familiar — did you have this before?
Just wanted to let you know that I posted about the picnic. Please spread the word when tis the next time you blog. K?
Have a wonderful day!
Maria
on September 7th, 2006 at 7:55 am
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Yes, I can’t believe it has been a year also for me. I left Georgia with my son and dil to move to California thinking wow, TOS, JenIg and Gena live out there, not in the same area as my son wouldbe living but just in Cali. Then low and behold what a shock do I get when I get the next issue of TOS and it says you all or y’all have migrated south where I wish I could have stayed. Then I find out I really need to be in dumb ol’ Illinois again permanently. The year did go by fast though. And I am so glad for the mag, the blog, and you guys too. Blessings.
on September 7th, 2006 at 8:32 am
What happened to the green?
Are you remodeling? I can’t wait to see what’s next. That was weird to open your page and see this colour instead of green! I’m glad you are happy where you’re at now! you live a lot closer to us and that means we have a better chance of meeting you! LOL
Garo galu vaer (Have a Blessed day!)
Sincerely,
Jocelyn
on September 7th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
48-Hour Prayer Chain for the Godfrey Family
Could you please spread the word about Susan Godfrey?
In Him,
Amy
on September 7th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
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It’s really been a year already since you moved… wow… it flew by quick!
Sounds like a world of change, but a good change. =)
BTW – I had baby two weeks ago. I finally had some time to write about it on my blog as well as posting pictures of her. =)
Hugs,
Dianna
on September 7th, 2006 at 3:47 pm
Nice
I love your “new look”. It is really pretty! I really enjoy reading your blogs!
Jeni
on September 7th, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Check this out!
My new friend Lori is using Christian Kids Explore Biology and she took these awesome pictures of the jello cell they just made for science! Talk about an unusual recipe! LOL!
btw – when I lived in GA they didn’t even want my driver’s license when I wrote a check. Around here they want 16 forms of ID and a letter from your mother before they’ll take a check.
love ya!
mags* who really really really needs to start blogging again!
on September 7th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
whoops!
The link might help:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/2cupsOjava4me/
maggie
on September 7th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
I'm so glad you are here!
Jen, it has been a blast having you here … your family is wonderful and I hope that we are friends for a long, long time! We love you like family!
Kris
p.s. what happened to your blog design?
on September 8th, 2006 at 11:54 am
WOW!
I can’t believe that it’s been a year, already! Oh, how time flies when you have a sewer system that really works!
Yep, being first generation Buckeye from a family of Kentuckians, I’m deeply familar with southern hospitality! AND fried food! (If is ain’t fried, it ain’t food!) I have to admit that I’m one of those people who speaks to others in the store (Quietcajun – you can shop with ME anytime!); I got it from my dad. We’re the type of people that others say, “they never knew a stranger.” This might be good for my tombstone! 🙂
In our county (Miami) we have a community of Old Order German Baptist – they are like the Amish: buggies, same style clothes, no electric, etc. Our Wal Mart in Troy has a hitching post with a water bucket at one end of the parking lot! Way cool!
Come and see!
Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><
on September 9th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
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I hope you have liked your first year in East Tennessee. I am so thrilled to have met all of you, and hope we can spend more time together in the next one.
Loved the video, loved Emmi’s question. Sometimes when they pop up with those, you just have to wonder what has been going on in those little heads. Sometimes it’s fascinating. Sometimes it’s just plain scary! : )
We are back by the way. I hope to post some pictures later today.
Letitia
on September 17th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
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I’ve posted a picture just for you, Jen! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KimMurphy/203839/