Measuring

Sometimes I amuse myself by measuring my life off in segments.  The first eighteen years were spent in the family home in Coeymans.  Typical 1950s childhood with a whole bunch of June Cleaver-type moms around.   I was high-strung,  way too energetic,  made everyone crazy, but was one of the lucky ones who had a best friend right across the street.  TG for Lois.  We were inseparable, and as a calmer child, she is probably the reason I didn’t go totally insane.

Next came college and all the fun and adventures of living in a dorm, being (relatively) on my own, and oh yeah,  studying at a deeper level than high school had promoted.

Marriage, the first time,  involved moving from apartment to rented house to first purchased home, and of course, motherhood.  I was still in the general Albany area, so there were many high school friends plus family in my life.   I did make some important new friends (Ann, Sally) who became integral parts of my life.

Then, Ohio;  a new marriage,  two more children, and intense loneliness while I figured out how to make friends and fit into a slightly different culture.  Oh yes,  the Midwest is not the same as the east coast.  All that hugging, for example.  That really threw me, as we do not hug out east.   Heck, my parents never hugged me that I can recall.  And suddenly total strangers were grabbing me.   My instinctive step back probably didn’t endear me to anyone.    But I started growing up.  Maybe one has to be far away from family to do that.  Probably not everyone, but it helped me.

Next, Michigan.  Twenty seven years there, and I built a wonderful life.

Now, Florida.   I have better skills now, so it’s not taking so long to assimilate.  I believe this will be my last move, but one thing I have learned is that you never know.  The future will probably have a few more twists and turns.  Keeps life interesting.