#Reverb11: Travel

Travel (Inspired by Tara Hunt and Gwen Bell): Think of a place, trip, or event that really resonated with you. Tell us about it, how you felt, what you did, who you were with, etc.

Back in June we took a day trip to Chattanooga. We wanted to go to Publix (if you’ve shopped at a Publix, you understand why), and I had a gift card for Dairy Queen. It was the five of us: me, my husband, my older son, my 4-year-old daughter, and my younger son. At this point, the boys were still 8 and 1.5 years old respectively. It took us an hour to get there because we traveled that back roads, trying best to avoid I75. We did eventually have to contend with I75 and I24, but we mostly enjoyed the scenic route. This is going to sound silly, but all we got at Publix was orange blossom honey, mascarpone cheese, and maybe a couple of other little items. We enjoyed a nice dinner at Dairy Queen, which cost maybe $2 after I used the gift card — not a bad deal. The trip back home wasn’t exactly fun because the younger two kids got car sick. Way to handle a mostly free meal, huh? We’ve only been to Chattanooga just that one time mostly because we’re waiting on the kids to get stronger stomachs.

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Reverb 10: Community

Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

I really haven’t stumbled onto any new communities either on or offline this year. Most of the amazing communities I’ve discovered have been mainstays for years, actually. However, this is incredibly relevant in regards to my move on the 28th. I will be leaving the state of Florida to live with my aging and disabled in-laws — really, there are so many conveniences for both my family and my husband’s parents with regards to this situation. Aside from moving to a new state, the community itself will be much more rural than I am accustomed to. Apparently it’s within commuting distance of several cities — Chattanooga, Tennessee, for example — and preserves the historical battlegrounds from the American Civil War. I’d imagine the land itself tells many stories. My husband visited the area back in October and reported back that Southern Hospitality is alive and well in Northwest Georgia. I’m particularly used to living in portions of Florida that should be referred to as “New New York” and “New New Jersey,” so this seems a little intriguing to me. Living in Gainesville usually produces encounters with college students and disenfranchised locals, two seemingly opposite groups of people. However, this is what I’ve grown accustomed to.

In 2011, I will be starting life anew among a very different community filled with very different people. I really don’t know how to process this change just yet, but all the signs around me seem to shout, “this is a good thing!” The message that life will turn out okay reverberates through my daily routines. I’m maintaining an open mind and listening to the thoughts flowing around me. A fresh start among new people might be just the thing I need right now.

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