A chapter ends

It took just one week from the time I set up a search to the time I had accepted a new position in TN. I thought it would take 1.5-2 months. First I thought it would take time for an opening to apply for and then the process of interviewing and so on. But this took a week. So instead of going to TN for a visit at the end of April I am moving. By May 1st, slightly over 2.5 years from when I bought my house, I will be a TN resident.

Luckily the tickets I had bought to fly to TN where purchased for the most part with points I had earned on US Airways. So all I lost was about $40.00 in taxes and fees. Now instead of taking a train to the airport I will be driving away from NY.

There was a lot to do. I had to finish yard work, clean out the NY house, set up a zillow page click here for house info, and pack up the car.

First thing that had to happen was finishing the fence along our pool. Originally it had been a black chain link fence and my neighbor had a wood fence right behind it. However age had taken a toll on the wood fence and it was falling down; also these horrible horrible horrible wisteria vines had taken over. We bought the green privacy strips that would make the fence look like hedges. Normally the pieces thread nicely through the chain links however at some points the wisteria had actually grown around the fence and made it difficult. I had about 2/3rds done but I knew the last third would take a long time and had been procrastinating on it. Now it was time to get it done. My Mom cleared wisteria vines from the fence and I followed behind her weaving the strips. It came out looking great and we had been pretty much on target with the amount as we had about 10 extra pieces.

After finishing the fence my Mom and I decided to head to the east end to get some more Montauk Daisies. We had bought some from a south Hampton nursery when I bought my house and planted them by my mail box. Now we wanted a few more to plant because the quality of those was so good and when Meg eventually builds her own house we will be able to spread them out and bring some to her house for a NY connection. After stopping at the nursery and getting three plants we continued east towards Montauk for one last visit.

Montauk is the very point tip of the southern fork on Long Island and where my parents first meet. My Dad was bar-tending at the Tattler, a bar in the center of town, and my Mom was getting a break from the city. A couple of years ago we had gone to have dinner at the Tattler, now called O'Murphy's. This time as we drove by it was completely closed down. Even though it hadn't been the same restaurant for years it was sad to see it closed. I consider it a sign that we have over stayed our welcome in NY and need to go.

The next day's project was to clean up the yard. Nothing major here. I rolled up the last of the garden hoses and got rid of some left over construction debris from home repairs. We also had 12 concrete blocks to get rid of and my Mom was pretty sure the garbage special pick up would not take them. So I turned to my new favorite website Freecycle. I posted that I had 12 blocks to offer along with a picture. The next morning someone expressed interest. Unfortunately while I was out the blocks had been taken. I got in touch with the person who wanted them and luckily had other blocks that she was interested in. The whole offer/need for free is a nice way for a community to come together to help each other.

Then of course there is saying good bye. The wonderful thing about the internet is it keeps us close to people even when the distance between us is great. But it certainly doesn't replace seeing people face to face. For example I talk to my sister and cousins in Atlanta almost daily on facebook. But there is going to be something very different and special when I can actually see them with my eyes and reach out my hand and touch them. On the flip side though I have friends and coworkers here that I am going to really miss. Because just like facebook is a poor substitute for personal interaction with my southern family it is certainly going to be a poor substitute for interaction with people I have grown used to seeing 5 days a week.

In an effort to combat that I got an address book so that I can send cards, letters and post cards to various people during holidays or just if I see something that makes me think of them. I think it will be nice to actually hand write letters and I hope for people receiving them it will be nice to get something in the mail thats isn't a bill or magazine no one really wants.

Then there were things I had to do and places I had to visit before I left.

1. I went to a diner to get breakfast for dinner. Breakfast, no matter when it is eaten, is my favorite meal. I ordered an Athenian Omelette, a staple in any NY Diner menu. Of course it has different names but it is always something involving spinach and feta cheese, sometimes tomatoes, in an omelette with home fries and toast.

2. I went to Nathan's for the best fries anywhere.

3. I had an egg sandwich from a deli.

4. I went for a little trip to Flanders, NY to see the Big Duck, a small shop in the shape of a duck. It was built in 1931 and was originally a duck farm.

The owner of the farm got the idea to build the Big Duck after a trip to Bedford, PA where he saw a coffee shop in the shape of a giant coffee pot. It is built out of concrete over a wooden frame and the eyes are taillights from a Model T, apparently they glow at night but that sounds kind of creepy.

5. A last slice of pizza will be a must have and is the plan for tonight before we hit the road.

I'm happy and excited to move to TN but there is one person that it really hurts to leave behind. My Dad is buried in Pinelawn Cemetery in Farmingdale. Last Friday was his birthday and I went to Pinelawn yesterday to say my final good bye. I've been thinking about this a lot for the last two weeks as I prepare to move. It really hit me as we were driving in Montauk. Part of me knows that I don't need to be near his grave to feel close to him. I can feel him every day in silly little moments that remind me of him or even my own mannerisms that make me think "I am my Father's daughter". And I know this would make him happy. When my sister and I were kids he worked in NC for a while. At that time he wanted to move south. So now, 20 years later, I am finally listening to him and moving south.

It's was always a family joke whenever someone would come up with a good idea my Dad would always say "I'm glad I thought of it." obviously even if he didn't. Well in this instance he is definitely smiling down on us and very rightfully saying "I'm glad I thought of it."

Baseball Caps

The baseball cap isn't just for baseball anymore!

I was packing some stuff up and I came across some of my old baseball caps.

The Yankee cap is my first Yankee cap. We went to several games one year, thanks to $8 bleacher seats. The bleacher entrance was, in my opinion, the best entrance into the Old Yankee Stadium and perhaps, the best entrance into any ball park. In order to get to the field from the bleachers you had to walk up a ramp. So as you turned out of the dark tunnel under the stadium first you were hit with the smell of the freshly cut grass and the sight of a bright blue sky. Then as you walked up the ramp the stadium slowly opened up to you until finally there you were looking from center field to home plate.

 I saw a lot of good games with this hat. In particular one beautiful July afternoon. July 18th to be exact. The Yankees were playing the Expos and on the mound was my favorite pitcher, David Cone. David Cone was in control from the very beginning and early on the crowd knew something special was happening.  I think it was in the third inning when my Mom turned to us and said he is throwing a perfect game. There were a couple of heart stopping moments. Paul O'Neil made a spectacular catch and Chuck Knoblauch overcame his throwing woes for a day to make perhaps his best throw as a Yankee. The last out was a pop up to Scott Brosius at third base then David Cone put his hands up and dropped to his knees. It is a moment I will never forget.


The Mighty Ducks hat is my first hockey love. I watched that movie over and over.

The Joe's hat is a piece of Highlander memorabilia. Thanks to amazing parents I have the entire tv series on vhs. It was definitely my favorite tv show as a kid. We also had a replica Duncan MacLeod katana sword. One day when I was home alone I heard a noise from my parents bed room. I took the sword and my dog on a leash and walked through the house. Obviously no one was in the house.

In the back is a hat from the FBI. I spent half a summer working as a summer hire for the Manhattan office. It was amazing to be an FBI employee. I worked in closed files and escorted people around the building who didn't have clearance.

The green hat is from the Viking Star Ship out of Montauk, NY. We went whale watching when we were younger and I got the hat. I have to go back this summer before I move (we have a list of must dos).  Not only did I see a whale but we also had dolphins play behind the boat. Oh yeah and a sun fish who has a fin like a shark which can be unnerving to a child with a good imagination :-)


The last hat is from the zoo in Asheboro, NC. When I was younger my Dad worked in North Carolina for a year. We went to visit one week and discovered perhaps the most amazing zoo ever! They were still constructing it but one part that had been finished was the African plains. It actually made you feel like you were really there on the plains. It had beautiful wide open areas where animals could be seen roaming. By now it is finished and I think it will be well worth the drive one weekend to go back and see the finished zoo. Not only does the hat bring back good memories but it is perfect. It sits perfectly just above my ears and the material is soft and light so it doesn't get to hot.