Well, we are getting settled into our new life and home here in Ohio and are looking forward to taking our little fellow trick-or-treating tonight then coming home to hand out candy! I think the last time I did either was more than 15 years ago and I'm looking forward to seeing all the kids dressed up and having a fun time.
We have moved to a small town, "village" to be exact, and are adjusting to life outside the city. Here are some little things about living in this small town that have surprised us after years in a more metropolitan area:
1. We saw the local pizza place deliver a pizza to an older gentleman in his van outside the pizza place. Yes, the workers walked out of their place of business and delivered to the man right there! They chatted a bit and then both went their separate ways. I got a salad at the same pizza place and was sitting waiting for it. The worker brought it directly to my table and it was a take out order! Service like that is usually lost in the city.
2. We've had two separate people stop at our new home to help with outdoor work. One gentleman lost his sight but regained it and as a way of showing his thanks to the Lord goes around town and pulls weeds! Another gentleman with a golf cart (golf carts are all the rage here as a form of transportation) stopped to help shovel grass out of the sidewalk cracks. His shovel is all dulled and flattened from helping thus around town. And this was all before we moved in!
3. The first day we were at the house after getting our keys an older lady stopped by to say hi, congratulations on getting the house and tell us a bit about people who had lived here before! I think in the city we'd have thought she was nuts or had an angle...but she was just friendly. I saw her later and she said congratulations again. :)
4. We went to the post office to get a mailbox for this house (they are free since the post office doesn't deliver a block away :D ). Ever since then, even before I got the address change form, they have been separating our mail into our box, even though most of it is not addressed as such and doesn't have that little yellow box saying it's different. If all post office's were so thoughtful they probably wouldn't have the troubles they do!
5. The Methodist church across the street from us hosts a free community meal once a month. We've gone now two months in a row and think it's a great idea! Why don't more churches do this?
6. Those with disabilities, the aged, the infirm, etc are not housed away here. We've seen all of the above working at the grocery store, McDonald's, taking walks, visiting, etc. There is a morning gathering restaurant and everyone there is kind to those who may be different. It's neat!
We had our first night in our new home last night and are enjoying some of the little things here also:
1. When Ethan is napping in his room upstairs I can work on the computer, watch Hulu & play music without headphones, talk on the phone and do whatever I want because he's upstairs and not in the room directly next to me.
2. The bathroom is 6 feet from our bedroom. Pregnancy, nighttime...enough said. Ahhhh....
3. We have an open porch here on a pretty busy corner of town. It's fun to see all the traffic and people. Eventually we'd like to move out into the countryside somewhere but for now I'm enjoying seeing the sights and sounds of a small town.
4. Today I didn't have butter for lunch so Ethan and I walked three blocks to the grocery store. After 3 years in the countryside with no bus service and 3 years before that having to take a bus to run errands I love walking to the grocery store, post office and pharmacy!
Ok, those are the things just off the top of my head. Overall we're just happy to be getting our boxes unpacked and rediscover treasures like kitchen dishes and winter coats! :)
