As you probably already figured out, we're moving. After three years of being a stay-at-home-daddy, Hans is rejoining the workforce, and, at least until the kids are in school and housing is settled, I am back to my favorite job of being Mommy. Before all of that becomes reality, though, we have to get ourselves relocated. From Orlando, FL to New Orleans, LA.
Moving's not such a big deal for me anymore. Since Hans and I met, we have moved: from Statesboro, GA to Raleigh, NC; from Raleigh, NC to Tampa, FL; from Tampa, FL to Boca Raton, FL; from Boca Raton, FL to Orlando (Winter Garden), FL. For those of you keeping score at home, that's 4 moves in 13 years, the last of which was five and a half years ago, so 4 moves in 7 years, three of which were with kids. The kids, however, were much younger for the last move. This is the first move since they have had established groups of friends that they have known for a long period. This is the first time Aliceon has had to change schools, and Heather has even been aware of the process. So for the girls, this is a pretty big deal.
Fortunately, the girls spend a large chunk of the summer in Georgia with my parents every year, and as luck would have it, the brunt of this move is happening while they're out of town. So they were home for the goodbyes, and for the packing of their rooms, but all the tedious and mundane tasks are taking place safely behind the scenes while the pan for gold and ride the zipline with their maternal grandparents. Still, we're seeing the little signs of stress - Heather asks every time I talk to her whether we've found a house yet, and when she's going to get to see us. Aliceon, on the other hand, is dealing with things in true Aliceon fashion - ignoring the issue! I'm not sure how that's going to work out in the long run, but she is her father's daughter, so she'll likely be just fine.
So, with the littles safely ensconced in their North Georgia enclave, Hans and I trudge through the thick mire of sorting through neighborhoods, houses and paperwork. The first day was exciting - "Oooh! New adventure! Let's see if we can find an awesome house for super cheap!" The second day, reality started to sink in a bit - "Hmm... Okay, let's see if we can either lower our standards or increase our budget just a bit...." Today, the third day, was more of a, "Let's get through a few houses, try not to bite each other's heads off in the process, and find somewhere inhabitable that isn't a week's drive away from work for Hans." At least, that's how the day started out. It did get better, though, and while no decisions were made on a specific house, things were certainly narrowed down, and we have a much firmer idea of our priorities and where we're willing to compromise.
Once that was established, and after looking at our last house of the day, we hit the road to cross the Mighty Mississippi River for about the 14th time in three days. No, seriously. I have seen, and crossed, that great, rushing, muddy river more in the past three days than I had in the previous 13 years I have been coming to the area. Each time, though, as we crested the bridge (the Mississippi River Bridge, not the Huey P. Long - you can't see much crossing the HPL right now, especially with your eyes shut tight in terror!), I looked out over the city and took it all in.
I know there are many out there that think New Orleans is a dirty city, an ugly city, and sure, she may have her moments, but looking from the top of the bridge, across to the north and south, I have to compare her to an aging supermodel - from a distance, she's still supremely beautiful and striking. When you get a little closer, you start to see some of the wrinkles, the imperfections and fine lines, but they're not ugly - they're character. They tell the stories of thousands of people, thousands of lives. There's a will and determination you see as you drive around. Yeah, there's the seedy bits, as you find with any metropolitan area, but there's just something else - a welcoming feeling. Driving around, even in the worst parts of town, no matter how much we joked, we actually felt safe. People smile. People wave.
Does New Orleans have her problems? Of course! She's a great, bustling city filled with people from all walks of life. But like an old Victorian home, she's got great bones, and the potential for great revitalization! All she needs is some elbow grease and some loving care, and she's starting to get it - we saw that first hand today.
I think I'm going to like it here.
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