As I left Culpeper to make the six-hour roundtrip drive to my future home for the third time in a week, I soaked up the sunshine through my windshield. The morning’s tumultuous storm clouds had dissipated and the bright warmth of optimism shone down, making me smile.
I can officially say that I am no longer unemployed, although this week I finally received my first unemployment check (cash money!) from the government. I don’t start for another week, but I have accepted a job as a reporter in Danville, VA. I’ll be covering state politics, education and entertainment, so it will be a great opportunity to work on some different beats. Plus, I’m looking forward to covering more hard news than I did in Culpeper. Although, I have mixed feelings about going back to work for the same company that just laid me off, and for newspapers in general. Not anything against the company, but the economy is not going to get better anytime soon, nor the newspaper industry. It’s a scary world for print journalists, but all I can do is move forward with the hand I’ve been dealt and make the most of it, which is what I do best.
I start a week from Monday, but I’m nowhere near ready to make the move. I haven’t even begun to pack, and I’m spending my last weekend in Culpeper in Richmond… whoops. But mentally, I am ready. I’m ready to move on, to make a fresh start. Ready to meet new people, make new connections. Because if there’s anything I’m good at, it’s adjusting to a new place and becoming part of a community. I moved to Culpeper not knowing a soul here, and I built a life for myself that I’m pretty proud of.
But I always knew Culpeper wasn’t a permanent home, and like Mary Poppins, it’s time for me to move on. But that doesn’t mean my heart doesn’t ache to leave some of the people I’ve met. From those that I’ve known since I first moved here a year and a half ago to those who I’ve only known a month or two, I am a better person having known all of them. They have helped make me the stronger person I am today, and there just simply is no way for me to properly thank them for supporting me. All I can do is say they mean more to me than I can put into words, and I will miss them. A lot.
I’ll miss the familiar faces on East Davis Street, whether I’m in the coffee shop or the wine store or a friend’s office. I’ll miss the tree-lined walk up East Street from my apartment to downtown, passing the comfort of the brick Episcopal church I attended less than I should have. I’ll miss pretending I live in a treehouse this time of year, when the branches outside my third-floor apartment are green and lush and all I see when I look out the windows is foliage. I’ll miss the breathtaking silhouette of the Blue Ridge mountains at dusk as I round the corner on Aberdeen Drive to go to my friends’ house when they make me dinner. I’ll miss holding my coworkers hostage with my unnecessarily detailed accounts of the weekend’s events, although I’m sure I’ll do the same in Danville… sorry in advance.
I’ll miss the people the most, but that can be remedied with the wonders of social media.
But like the title of this post states, Danville will be a fresh start. I’m already thrilled about my new apartment, which is a couple hundred bucks cheaper than where I’m living now. And I’ve already made a few connections there, thanks to CB the lawyer (not to be confused with CB the law student) who went to law school with two attorneys practicing in Danville. Apparently there’s a fairly active young professionals group there, so I’ll check that out in hopes of making some friends, or at least someone to watch “The Office” and “American Idol” with.
I’m moving out on Saturday, and to say goodbye, my friends are dedicating their weekly open mic night at the Pub to me on Wednesday. I’m pretty much their band’s groupie, so it’s only fitting. (If you’re around, please stop by. The more the merrier, and the music ain’t bad, either.) It’s gestures like this that make me so sad to leave and realize there’s no way I’ll ever find friends like these again. I’ll make new friends, of course, who will fill a new place in my heart. But they could never take the place of my Culpeper, Richmond or MP friends. No one ever could.
So goodbye, Culpeper. Come visit me in Danville; it’s only three hours through some of the best scenery in the state. And with all the money I’ll be saving on rent, I’ll actually buy a big girl bed for myself and will have a real bed for guests instead of the god-forsaken air mattress…
Not everyday’s been so easy and they’re tough to plan, so when the good day comes, you’ve got to do as the good day demands. — Stephen Kellogg
Oh and P.S. thanks to my readers… in two weeks I’ve already surpassed 1,000 hits! I have no idea how that compares, but I’m thrilled.
Tags: American Idol, apartments, coffee shop, Culpeper, Danville, economy, friends, hard news, hope, Jobs, journalist, lawyers, mary poppins, moving, newspaper industry, newspapers, optimism, reporter, Richmond, roadtrip, Social media, the office, unemployment, wine
I moved from a really good job to a new adventure about 15 years ago. I still miss the folks who were my co-workers, but the move was a really good thing for me. I also think, “How could I find friends who are as good as these?” Every time, I find some really good friends. You will be fine…
You are doing what you do best, and better than anybody else. I’m sorry it’s going to be tough to say goodbye, but you have all kinds of things ahead of you. Plus you’re only 1 HOUR AWAY. Awesome. love, CB the law student
Oh man, I used to live in VA. You have described here everythin’ I miss about the place — the gorgeous people, the gorgeous mountains and the gorgeous weather. But you’re still in VA, right? And what’s more, you’re closer to North Carolina and its beautiful beaches! You ever been to the Outer Banks? Oh my goodness, I went there once, and it was somethin’ amazing. Just incredible! I highly recommend it. Good luck with er’thag!