The First Dispatch from Down South

It will be three weeks ago, this coming Wednesday, that we moved into the new house here in Charlotte, our voices bouncing off high ceilings and echoing around empty rooms.


My co-pilot for much of the drive south

View from our front porch rocking chairs



Since then we’ve purchased some furniture, met the neighbors, spent a very hot afternoon planting flowers, and (finally) got the internet connected. We’ve hung curtains and pictures, filled the kitchen cabinets with our glasses and plates. We’ve walked the community streets, driven the local area, and splashed in the pool. And it’s been good, and overwhelming, and hard, and exciting.

Hanging out at Bear Park

Nice way to spend the day

Halcyon Hive's first design change - new lights hung

Bob and I last made a big move, from Virginia Beach to Maryland, more than 16 years ago. And quite honestly I think I’d forgotten how hard it is to pack up all your possessions, and back out of your driveway that last time. To realize, almost suddenly and violently, that you will no longer daily see the friends you are leaving. To experience the odd sensation of not being able to jump in your car and know exactly where you want to go, and how to get there. To feel just out of place.

It's tough on the heart when you aren't in the same town as your daughter for her birthday. It hurts when the terrific picture of your old neighborhood friends enjoying fireworks makes your son cry for his old buddies. It jolts the first time you want to take a short drive to see your parents; and remember it's no longer a short drive.

Still, it just all takes time. It takes time to make a house feel like home; to change new acquaintances into comfortable friends. To lessen the sense of loss and change. I remember all that, so I take a deep breath when I’m feeling low, and I look ahead.  

We live in an area south of uptown Charlotte called Ballantyne, in a neighborhood named Ardrey. Both are beautiful. Ballantyne has just about everything – lots of restaurants, great shopping, Target, gyms, markets, doctors, movie theaters, salons, and on and on. I’ve heard many times already that you don’t have to leave the “Ballantyne Bubble”.  Living in Ardrey is like being on vacation. All the homes have big front porches and many are painted vibrant shades of blues, greens, yellows and even pink.  Our neighbors have been welcoming and warm, bringing over food, and inviting us over for drinks. Many days we’ve taken the two-block walk to the community pool, and met families who all greet us with a smile.

Two friends

Four friends

Riding the trolley

Find Bob and Owen!

Hello pretty Charlotte

Of course having our friends Le Anne, Marc, Rhys and Elloree here has been wonderful, and fun, and affirming. Le Anne helped me get the kitchen set up on move-in day, and we’ve spent hours shopping for new furnishings. They’ve had us over for dinner the first night we rolled in to town, and had a low country boil for the Fourth of July. And because we do want to make sure to explore our new town and break out of the bubble, we met up with them plus friends Heidi, her daughter Jordon, and Dale, to explore Imaginon in uptown, ride the refurbished trolley line, and eat lunch at a little Peruvian restaurant. Last Saturday we set off on our own to take in a Knights baseball game (the AAA team for the White Sox) and while it wasn't quite like cheering for the O's at Camden Yards, we had a great night.

Enjoying a night Uptown

Grapefruit shandy in a mason jar!

Cheering for the Knights

Look how tall my baby has gotten!

So yes, it’s good. And hard. And exciting and overwhelming. I suspect it will take awhile before I stop referring to Maryland as “back home”. I know we’ve all had moments of frustration; I think we’ve all had moments of sadness. But we've also had days and evenings like yesterday; when we had handstand competitions in the pool with the Kieffers (yep, all of us!), then back to our house for dinner and a dance-off. We still feel lucky for this opportunity, and optimistic for the future. Many thanks to all of you who have supported us, wished us well, and in ways big and small made this all possible. We have the spare room set up; and would love to have visitors!