I'm in Wisconsin on a business trip. Even though I have never been to the midwest before, I knew when I was asked to come, that there would be culture shock.
Landing in Milwaukee, I look out the window and see green. Sure, there are trees in New England, but the amount of farmland was greater than I imagined. Besides, as we speak there is a Target being built around the corner from my house. An Ikea was just built two years ago, and a Kohl's, Olive Garden, and Smokey Bones, came a tad earlier. Lakes and trees and farms are a nice break from commercialization. It's serenity.
After renting a car, I decide to take highway some of the trip and finish it up going backroads. After an hour ride, I finally arrived in Edgerton but wishing I could drive longer. I love road trips, and prefer to drive than any other mode of transportation. What better way to see the countryside?
One member of our team owns property at Rock River Leisure Estates and so to cut costs, our meetings were held at the recreation hall and dinner was home cooked at his cottage. Another thing Massachusetts doesn't have? Lightning bugs.
Sitting around the firepit after dinner the first night, I looked up at the moon and reflected for a moment how much I missed home and wished Ken and Stephanie were there too, then sat back and enjoyed my surroundings.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Randolph
I miss Randolph. The town I grew up in has a strange look now. I am a stranger. Nothing looks the same.
I took the long way home from work tonight even though I live the next town over.
My first stop was naturally the house I grew up in. It was a raised ranch, white with black shutters in a neighborhood I envy now. Every house had a child my age. And after school in the summer we would all gather in the yard and play baseball. The tree was first base, the fence post was third and if you hit the Katler's front lawn it was an automatic home run. And when you turned 13 you were too old to play.
The house is still white. Two of the windows have the same black shutters, but the basement is now cranberry. Maybe the new owners tried the color out but couldn't figure out if they liked it and so they never got around to changing it back or updating the others. The front door is different and the driveway has expanded for more cars. I heard the also took down a wall inside. It's no longer my house. Driving by it's as if I never lived there.
I drove by the Tower Hill School where I went for first grade. The front door is boarded up and I wonder when the last time a class was held inside those doors. The playground where we played for recess is still in tact, though a bit rusty.
No more movie theater, but a few more Dunkin Donuts'.
Crime is up and education is down. The high school is said to be on the verge of losing its accreditation. How sad is that?
I thought about a 'what if'. What if I was forced to move out of my house for whatever reason. I would never be able to live in Randolph because it's not the Randolph I know. And that is sad.
But I'm still rooting for it to come through.
I took the long way home from work tonight even though I live the next town over.
My first stop was naturally the house I grew up in. It was a raised ranch, white with black shutters in a neighborhood I envy now. Every house had a child my age. And after school in the summer we would all gather in the yard and play baseball. The tree was first base, the fence post was third and if you hit the Katler's front lawn it was an automatic home run. And when you turned 13 you were too old to play.
The house is still white. Two of the windows have the same black shutters, but the basement is now cranberry. Maybe the new owners tried the color out but couldn't figure out if they liked it and so they never got around to changing it back or updating the others. The front door is different and the driveway has expanded for more cars. I heard the also took down a wall inside. It's no longer my house. Driving by it's as if I never lived there.
I drove by the Tower Hill School where I went for first grade. The front door is boarded up and I wonder when the last time a class was held inside those doors. The playground where we played for recess is still in tact, though a bit rusty.
No more movie theater, but a few more Dunkin Donuts'.
Crime is up and education is down. The high school is said to be on the verge of losing its accreditation. How sad is that?
I thought about a 'what if'. What if I was forced to move out of my house for whatever reason. I would never be able to live in Randolph because it's not the Randolph I know. And that is sad.
But I'm still rooting for it to come through.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Me Time
See what I'm doing right now? This here? This blog? This is my me time. My husband is somewhere else in the house and Stephanie is fast asleep. Aaaah. I savor this.
I was supposed to go out tonight with some friends. But Stephanie was having one of her terrible two moments and I wanted to make sure she was okay when she went to sleep. And can I also point out that I didn't receive any argument over it. I'm sure he was relieved I was staying home tonight. Last time I went out with friends, she was really overtired and extra cranky and so she fought and cried and didn't go to bed until 11. And so here I am. And he has breathed a sigh of relief.
Moms need their nights out. It is important for their sanity and for their marriage. And I know that you are all screaming that I should have went, that she would have been fine, that maybe I was spoiling her (and possibly him) by staying home. I know. But I also would have felt guilty if that wasn't the case. I'm that mom. Not only do I need to make sure she is okay, but I have to make sure he is okay, too.
Work this week has been stressful. An ad for our company was pulled because an item of clothing worn by the star was deemed controversial. It made national headlines. People complained because we ran the ad and 3000 more complained when we took it down. Sometimes you just can't win.
A night to be yourself with friends. Good food, good friends, good conversation. This is what tonight was supposed to be about. Forget about the stresses at work. Forget about the stress of raising a family.
Maybe next time.
I was supposed to go out tonight with some friends. But Stephanie was having one of her terrible two moments and I wanted to make sure she was okay when she went to sleep. And can I also point out that I didn't receive any argument over it. I'm sure he was relieved I was staying home tonight. Last time I went out with friends, she was really overtired and extra cranky and so she fought and cried and didn't go to bed until 11. And so here I am. And he has breathed a sigh of relief.
Moms need their nights out. It is important for their sanity and for their marriage. And I know that you are all screaming that I should have went, that she would have been fine, that maybe I was spoiling her (and possibly him) by staying home. I know. But I also would have felt guilty if that wasn't the case. I'm that mom. Not only do I need to make sure she is okay, but I have to make sure he is okay, too.
Work this week has been stressful. An ad for our company was pulled because an item of clothing worn by the star was deemed controversial. It made national headlines. People complained because we ran the ad and 3000 more complained when we took it down. Sometimes you just can't win.
A night to be yourself with friends. Good food, good friends, good conversation. This is what tonight was supposed to be about. Forget about the stresses at work. Forget about the stress of raising a family.
Maybe next time.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Can the 3rd time be the charm?
I've quit before and came back. Stronger, I thought. Until I faded away again.
But now I am back. Again. Stronger? I guess we'll see. But I'm not giving up so soon.
But now I am back. Again. Stronger? I guess we'll see. But I'm not giving up so soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
