life delights in life

moving….

We moved to Florence for Troy’s job. I knew the south by way of Charleston (where I had spent many a summer with my grandparents who have lived there since the 60s)…so I assumed Florence would be like it. Upon moving here, I found I was sorely mistaken—and at first, in a horrible way.  Yet, as I became part of Florence I grew to appreciate the hidden charm.  It is a place so unlike the midwest.  

A husband considers himself successful when he can provide his wife with “help”:  housekeeper, yard man, nanny, and anyone else to make her job of running the house better.  Our neighbors actually found us quaint to do our own housework and yard work.  These southern men could not imagine yard work as a way to find zen as Troy does.  But, as we became neighbors and friends and coworkers with these gentile, lovely people…well, I came to love them and all things Florence.  

What is so bad about a child saying, “Ma’am?” Instead of “Huh?”  What is wrong with adding a Miss or Mr in front of a name to show respect?  It certainly was not how I was raised, but it is a way to show respect for those older and wiser.  Some people say the south is slow…but I find that it is only slow because time is taken to truly know the world.  And these southern people have such lovely, dramatic ways to describe common things or give advice or tell a story…and yes, these ways take time….but it is time well spent.  

• Sweet Tea (a staple and an art) which was a bit too sweet for one belle’s taste:  ”Honey, you might as well stir it up and pour it over pancakes!”  
• Advice given to a woman with marital woes, “Darlin’, my mama gave me this advice on my weddin’ day, and it has made my marriage of 53 years successful…’A woman must be a cook in the kitchen, a lady in the parlor, and a whore in the bedroom.’”

I probably have more to say, but I will have to save it for later.  I am just feeling very sorry for myself as I have to make this move back to Indiana.  I love Florence and all she embodies.  Selling this house is so much harder than the past two…and I am certain it is because I have been touched in a profound way by Florence.  Florence has a life and charm that I will dearly miss.  

FOR CARDSFANS AND FAM- Peace-Out!! R XO

Your music means so very much to so many people.  I, for one, “found” Ryan Adams because of the gorgeous music in a favorite film.  I just happened to find his blog while doing research on blogging and adolescent writing.  I think the soul I found in you is precious and fragile and vulnerable and so so human, but it is the music which touches my soul.  It always has been… and it means so so much to me.  

cardinalcave:

 i am so glad i made so so many records and so so many recordings that i cannot even count them.maybe one day that stuff will mean something to someone and people might be able to go to that music without me being the way. that music deserves its own chance to mean something without my dumb-ass story lessening it. 

angieknartzer:

What a busy day, finally home from a hard day at work…. TGIF

It was a crazy Friday…I think I just am looking forward to NEXT Friday too much!  :)