Today’s my anniversary. Not with Sean – we celebrated 20
years of (mostly) wedded bliss in September. No, today’s my anniversary with
Michigan. Eight years ago today Michigan and I began our love/hate/love relationship
and we’re still going strong.
It started with love. When Sean told me about his job
opportunity here, I was excited for him. I was excited for an adventure for our
family. Of course, I was excited in Atlanta. Reality hadn’t exactly set in.
When we physically got here, all the love went, “Poof!”
To say I was not happy with Michigan would be a massive understatement. I
missed my family and friends and everything that was familiar. I hated that I
didn’t know how to get places and I really hated how freakishly cold I was. A
real low point came on my first birthday here – April 29. It snowed. Not. Good.
But eventually, Michigan and I turned a corner. It took a
few years. Finding a church, making friends there and in my neighborhood
helped. And before I knew it, I didn’t have to MapQuest Target or the grocery store or
Sean’s work each time I went there. (Let’s be real: I only had to MapQuest
Target once. Some things need to be committed to memory.) Amazingly, I knew my
way around. I knew the people around me. And the people around me knew me.
Being known makes all the difference.
Today I’ll be at play practice where I’m certain to hear
my name called about a thousand times. Some days all those, “Mrs. Duffy!”’s
make me crazy. Not today. Today, I’ll be thankful for each time I’m asked a
question or told a joke or am simply greeted hello. Because eight years ago not a
single soul here knew my name.
I still miss the South – I miss my friends and extended family.
I miss spring in March. I miss Chick-fil-A like nobody’s business. But life
here is good, too. My marriage is sweeter, my family stronger and we all have friends we'd die for. To have friends in two states I feel that way about - how blessed am I? Eight years ago I wouldn’t have believed it possible for me
to type those words. After all, I’d just left everything I’d ever known, loved
or held dear and moved 800 miles north. North! Who’d have thunk it?
So Michigan, happy anniversary! I was pretty sure we
wouldn’t make it – looks like I was wrong.
PS: If you'd like to do something sweet for our anniversary, could you please stop the snow? And made it a tad warmer? Thanks.
PS: If you'd like to do something sweet for our anniversary, could you please stop the snow? And made it a tad warmer? Thanks.
Michigan is a better place with all the Duffys in it...
ReplyDeleteI think you got your wish- sunny and 40 today... I'll take it!
ReplyDeleteI'm SO glad you came...my life wouldn't be same without you in it!! Michigan is better for having the Duffys in it!!
ReplyDeleteMG - So thankful you were some of our first friends! My dad still thinks you're the coolest. :-)
ReplyDeleteJudgeJudy - So thankful for the sun!
Irene - Glad we know you, too! Much love!
So happy for you and your happy anniversary. And, for the record, those of us in Georgia are missing spring in March, too. :-( And you -- I 'most always miss you, my friend. Wishing y'all a very blessed Easter!
ReplyDelete