Observations after leaving my home of Michigan for North Carolina (I should have done it a long time ago).

 1. As a nation, we have become so homogenized that I don't even feel as though I left the North for the South. Malls, strip malls, stores, restaurants--all the same. Target, KOHL'S, Ben and Jerry's, Lowe's. Local dialects along with cuisine are disappearing, too, as more and more areas become "gentrified." Where I'm at, I'm surrounded by people from New York and New Jersey.

2. The best part of the trip? Hmmmmm---leaving Indiana. I always hated Indiana (sorry Hoosiers) where I was raised and where I taught school for 20 years. So flat and often dreary. Two nights before I left, I dreamt of rainbows for some reason. Well, just about the time I was approaching the Indiana border and driving out of a torrential rainstorm, a full rainbow appreared. I was very excited and take it as a good sign. When I entered Kentucky, it was all sun and beautiful green, rolling hills.

3. The real hero of the trip? Chalk, my cat. This is cat that was feral and adopted me. After almost five years, he was just really, really beginning to get comfortable with my apartment and surroundings.

A week before I left, we moved into  a strange house (he LOVED it!!! (more later about that). And then he let me stick him in a carrier for a ten-hour drive! And the next day, too. He was so brave. My sister has two dogs, and he hates dogs, but he perseveres and hasn't tried to run away or anything. And he still licks my nose in the morning. Now that's a friend.

4. The second hero of the trip? My old 1993, Toyota Corolla. I really thought I'd have problems but all I had to do was fill it with gas and some oil. I feel very, very fortunate. Thank-you, car!

 5. Highlights of the trip: Without a doubt, the West Virginia Turnpike. Breathtaking mountains with every turn. Even Chalk gazed out the window impressed. Virginia and northern NC were pretty spectacular, too. Because I followed a storm front, rain clouds hung to the tops of mountains. Someday I'm going to live in one of those little hollows and write a book about it.

Now that I've finally left Michigan, I don't feel so bad. The people of North Carolina have been extremely friendly and contine to give me tips about jobs, etc. Chalk and I are fortunate to be with my sister and her family. We're all having a good time, actually. I know I have no "home" to go back to, but I'm not looking backwards.

I put in a few resumes, one to a learning center that needs tutors and pays pretty well, so I have my fingers crossed on that one. I've also applied to a day school. Right now I'm working a few days a week at a small gift store. It doesn't pay much, but it's money I didn't have and I'll spend it on some new paints to get started on new canvases.

 I miss PBS, NPR, and Lake Michigan (and stiff winds that blow off of it). But I'm down to one glass of wine per night which sure beats sipping away a whole bottle just calm myself down. And I haven't had any Xanax since I arrived. 

MOTHER UPDATE: (new readers, please read older posts) I haven't really talked with my mother since I made a quick stop in Indiana on my way to NC. She was terse and angry. She's called at my sister's several times now but we haven't conversed. It's killing her that my cat isn't tearing apart my sister's home. Around Mother's day I expect her to become particulary conciliatory--she's not one to lose out on a gift.