I had a farm

I have always had heartache when thinking about Karen Blixen and her Out of Africa story. She left Denmark to run a farm in Africa – fell in love – had a beautiful life – and lost everything.  She had to leave Africa and she never ever returned.  Never.  She had a good life back in her homeland/Denmark – became a renowned author – but still I wonder what that was like for her.  I mean think of the distance – Denmark is 5000 miles away from Kenya – FIVE THOUSAND!! The weather, the people, so many differences. And she had so much, such a full life, and then never returned.  It’s really a sad story to me.

I have learned that when I have said “never” in my life – at least in my recent life – it is a sure sign that whatever I’m saying “never” to will happen – as if life just likes to fuck with me and then laugh.  I said I would never move from Palm Harbor after I moved there in 2014, I said I would never leave my boyfriend, I said I would never quit my job and very recently I said I would never move back to Pittsburgh.  Robin, a work friend at Stetson, before I quit the job that I said I would never quit, said she was worried I would move back to Pittsburgh.  I immediately replied, without hesitation, full conviction, no doubt, that I would NEVER ever move back.

So I’ve accepted a job with UPMC in Pittsburgh and am moving back over these next two weeks.  It’s a good job, in the city, in the Steel Building. I’m looking forward to redeeming myself after this last job and putting Stetson way behind me – except for my friends.  My friends, the people I have met along the way, going all the way back to highschool, have always been the best part of whatever experience I’ve had.  High school, Edinboro, Bradford (Di!!), even going back to confirmation class in 8^th grade – that’s where I met Jean – best friends to this day. Every job I’ve ever had I’ve made friends – so I’ll quickly forget the recent work drama and just hang on to the friends I’ve made here.

Speaking of friends, I’ve lived in this apartment now 7 months.  I have not had one visitor.  Yesterday I started turning my little place upside down to start packing.  I’m really good at this moving stuff and well I’m putting everything out (on the floor) so I can organize in a way when I unpack I don’t have to make all these trips to the store or open all the boxes before I find the shower curtain hooks.  Anyway, so Christine, a friend from work, we had plans to meet for dinner last night – wouldn’t you know she came over to my apartment first.  I mean O.M.G. I actually had things just dumped out onto the floor.  Oh well. We had a great time anyway.  Here’s pictures from our dinner.

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Oh here’s a funny story… you know this couch I bought back in August?  Remember the big reveal?  So happy I was to get a couch after living in that apartment with only a chair over a year?  Well anyway, I was sharing with Barb that this couch has always made me “itch” and on occasion I get these marks, like little white blisters that itch – so there’s visual evidence of something odd – then well I’m just not happy with that itchy crawling feeling and I was thinking of leaving it on the curb even though it’s not even paid for yet.  I hate to move this couch that makes me itch to Pittsburgh.  Barb told me to contact Wayfair.  I said no way they’ll do anything I’ve had it since August.  I wrote to them anyway and was expecting no response or some sort of response like “try a bug bomb” but the next day they refunded all my money and said they would come pick up the couch.  Can you believe it?  Not only did they refund my money they put it back into my account that day.  You know how usually they say allow 10 days to never to get the refund.  It was in there that day!  I scheduled the pick up for this Wednesday – the day before I drive the truck up. They would have come earlier but I was working at a temp job and not here to let them in.

I had a temp job last week with an attorney – civil and criminal.  Talk about a different experience.  Copying and answering phones is not different but the clients and the content is different than anything I’ve experienced before.  It was kinda fun but we had to lock the door a couple times because of these crazy clients. That’s how I spent last week.  They offered to keep me full time, but those lawyers don’t pay.  But it was a nice confidence booster.  I need some confidence boosters in all areas.

So I’ve rented a Penske truck – 16 footer – I’ll have to hire movers to load it – But then I’m driving it, by myself, in the middle of January, to Pittsburgh. Where are those wonderful children when you need them? I’m thinking of driving to Virginia and getting the rest of our furniture there at my mom’s house – only a kitchen table left and some bedroom furniture still in Virginia– I think there’s going to be room in the truck – but I’ll find out after it’s loaded.  No couch will free up some space for sure.  I’ve rented a storage unit on Mt. Nebo Road – I’ll unload there on Sunday – fly back to Daytona Beach Monday night and then drive the car up towards the end of the week. I’m thinking of trading the car in but I’m still undecided. Everyone knows how I love my car but not sure it’s up for the commute or will do well on those Pittsburgh hills. There are so many logistics to figure out but it’s coming together.  I start my new job on Monday the 28^th!!

I’m going to stay with Diane until I can figure out where I’m going to live.  I thought for sure I’d live downtown.  It’s really expensive but would be so convenient to both boys and to work so I was sure that I’d do that.  I probably said I would never move back to Sewickley. That must be why I’m thinking of that option now. Maybe I’ll pay half the rent by living in Sewickley and get a horse!  Now there’s an idea! I just have to look into the recesses of my mind and find out what I’ve said “never” about and I’m sure that is what is going to happen.

One thing I know for sure, I will never come back to Florida.