Three years.

Three years ago this week, we moved to Arkansas.

The first night in our little rental home home, a Christmas parade marched by the living room windows. It seemed magical and happy, and we couldn't believe there was a parade on a Monday night! Last night was that parade, a lovely small town tradition.

I have spent the last three years trying to be happy with the area, but truly, the Midwest is different and I prefer it. I don't miss the Midwest simply because it is "home". It is truly different, mostly in how people interact with one another.

For example, when we were going home for Thanksgiving, we walked into a gas station in Illinois. The cashier greeted us with a big hello, then THREE people struck up conversations with me in that little gas station.

Why did this shock me so? Many places I enter here, I am met with NO eye contact, no hello, not even a thank you. My dear friend Julie, a transplanted Buckeye via Minnesota, jests about writing a book entitled, "I Am the Invisible Woman", because that is how she is treated here. It is just bizarre. A guy I know, Rob, has purchased coffee/gas every week for three years in the same gas station. The attendant has yet to say a single word to him. Rob has challenged himself not to speak first, to try and make it fun, because it is so weird.

I could give a lot of examples of what I don't like. But that is not what this post is about. I am turning over a new leaf. For my children, for my husband, for myself. I am going to try to put my roots down, to find happiness, to learn how to grow veggies in this God-forsaken soil. (rocks, rocks, rocks!! sand, sand, sand. this used to be the bottom of an ocean, yes, I can see that clearly!)

That is my new commitment. I hate to suck it up and think we are going to be here a while, but it appears that way. To any local who might be offended by this, it ain't personal!! I am sure the Midwest has its faults, I'm just not able to see those.