The North Carolina Porch

To give you some history on how my addiction started~  it all started when my family and my parents (all but the hubs born and raised in Lakeland, Fl) decided we would all like to move to Appalachia about 3 or so years ago.  I went online to www.findmyspot.com  (go ahead and laugh...) and answered the questionnaire of what would make us happy in a place to live (outside of our beautiful Lakeland).  The results came back and our plan was that we (the hubs and I ) would fly to these places and check them out.  Because of the age of our children, we did this project  by taking turns going to places.  He went to Ballentyne near Charlotte and hated it. Then hubs dragged my Dad to Hickory and the pics of them at Krispy Kreme was my okay to book my own flight.  I flew to Charlotte and drove to Hickory for a two day whirlwind with a Realtor  and settled quickly on the house the hubs had liked the week prior.  Hubs left with a kid in September and I followed with the other child two days before Christmas after tucking in my last two real estate closings and selling my own home.  (All which were miracles!)

We met beautiful people there, we made friends with a family that has lasted, who we love.  I wrote back to Lakeland and told stories of the people and the local flavor and my front porch that sat elevated to see the hood and the hills.  I marveled at how the sky became pink in the winter evenings and how the bare trees were black against the pink of the sky making them look like lace.  In Hickory I started a personal journey that continues today.  My front porch was bright and friendly.  I could be found there in my spare time in the swing.  We were there for such a short time but we jumped right in.  Our kids were in school, baseball, basketball  and had friends that were different than friends here.  Maybe it was us~ maybe we had been stripped down to a less stimulated existence and our doors were open.  I noticed things there.. I noticed that the pack of neighborhood dogs chased the mail truck and figured out it was because the mail lady tossed jerky from it on her route as treats.  I met the 80 year old suspender wearing millionaire who wanted to buy you a baked 'tater and chat.  I met a great trainer and doctor through a contest I won that got me at a point that I would adore exercise and consider the practice of meditation (which I am bad at- I do not have a quiet mind, it is a struggle-at best).

We were meant to return to Lakeland and we did.  We were sad to leave North Carolina but were glad to come home to where we knew people and the days were warm.  I missed my front porch and what that porch brought to my life.  I still miss it.  For me, that kind of peace and welcoming changed alot about me.