Finding Your People

While talking to Ian this afternoon, he mentioned that lately things had been happening all at once - all good one week or month, all bad the next. Today was kind of like that for me. Luckily it was all good.

As much as I have tried to take in the differentness of Fayetteville and appreciate it for what it is, there is a point where you realize that you are "other" and it will take years to fully understand what things are about. I am a California girl, pure and simple. I lived most of my life there and it is a place I understand. North Carolina, particularly Fayetteville, is another world. I also try not to judge too harshly since my ways are simply different, not necessarily better. However, it was worked against me more than once to not be from around here and that can breed a bit of resentment. You'd think that living in a military town, there would be more acceptance and compassion for people from other places. Perhaps you have to be military for people to be a little more understanding about it.

My friend Peg once told me a story about when her mother and step-father moved across country from California to Pennsylvania. She said that after a while they made up code for people they met who they could relate to. I don't remember exactly, but it was something akin to PLU - People Like Us. I met some "us-es" today and it was a validating experience. I feel slightly guilty, but it was a relief to meet people who see some things the way I do: from the outside.

The first outsider I met is going to be my boss starting Wednesday. He is from Atlanta and has quite the caustic wit. (Check out some of the shit he says on the not quite finished website digitalblacksmith.com) I think my real job is to never give him reason to speak ill of me. When he doesn't think much of someone, it's funny but very pointed. I realize that doesn't sound very good, but I like the guy and think we will work well together. We have similar ideas about work, success, and professionalism. We seem to get each other and I think that is borne of "otherness".

The second "other" I met was my new chiropractor. I must admit that I picked her because she physically reminded me of my former chiro and she went to Cal Berkeley. There were other criteria, but those figured prominently. I could have gone to a closer office, but I just had a feeling about her. It seemed as if she were as happy to see me as I was to see her. We just chatted away about California and being new to the area. She was really nice and helpful and I look forward to continuing to see her.

I'm very optimistic about these new relationships and hope they last a while. I think 2010 is gonna be just fine.