Are you a Ducks or Beavers fan?

"Neither... I'm a Buckeye!"

A customer came through my line today and that was his greeting, as was that my reply. Proudly pronouncing my firmness in bleeding Scarlet and Gray. It seems to be the little things that remind me of home. The guy tonight then proceeded to tell me that he had just finished a job on a bridge that had come out from Ohio to work on it. Everywhere I look, there's something to remind me. I enjoy these moments. Just the other day a gentleman came to my register wearing a Brown's jersey and it made me smile. We chatted for a few minutes about how beautiful it was out that way, and how he found himself lost on some back roads but knew that if he just kept driving east he would, and did, eventually find the interstate again.
I had the day off yesterday so the three of us decided to make a trip to Goodwill to see if we could find a few things cheap for the apartment. Jasmine drove herself due to wanting the windows down, since she isn't sick now, and so she followed Chris and me in his truck. We stopped to grab some Chinese after the shopping exploit (we now have a dish rack!), and after that made our way back into town, just enjoying the drive itself. The land here reminds us both of home in some way or another, and everything seems to have so much character. I said something to that effect and he agreed, following it with "Are you sure it doesn't just seem that way because we're here together?" All I could do was smile and ask, "Perhaps, but does it really matter?" The fact of the matter is, we've found a happiness. A place to be ourselves and not feel the need to put on a mask for anyone. I look at him daily, I see the light in his eyes, the joke on his lips, and I can't help but smile. The future is uncertain, but I know that as long as I can call him my friend, all will be well.

And yet, there are still things that I come across in my day to day, that break my heart. There are parents, people, individuals that I would like to smack, yell at, and some just beat down. I had a couple come through my line this evening with 3 little ones. The oldest, a girl about 6 or 7 perhaps, was trying to help. All she wanted to do was put the merchandise onto the counter, and put the bags back into the cart. Yet, for some reason, the mother just kept repeating the same few phrases over and over at her. "Just shut up! I don't want your help. Just stop. I said shut up!" And if that wasn't bad enough, not only did the guy she was with just stand there all but oblivious, the little girl wasn't phased at all. She just kept going on, doing her thing. How sad is it that a child, any child, would be so used to being talked to that way. Does she ever feel like she's something more than a burden? Does she have any idea what its like to be loved? ... I just...I don't understand.

The Journey, Pt. 2...

So where was I...Oh yeah. So... My car fully loaded with everything imaginable, we climb in, say our final "See ya later!'s" and we hit the road. The trip was amazing... and beautiful... and scary at times. Never again do I want to drive all the way across Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, or Iowa... It's just not pleasant. And someone please shoot me if I ever get an idea in my head that east Oregon is a good place to be. I promise, it isn't.

But, 3 days later, we're close! Almost getting rammed in Portland. That was a fun experience! I think people out here mistake the two O's on my license plates as being bull's eyes. We get into town, and find the place... All we can think is, "It will look better in the morning... It has to look better in the morning...Right?" And boy did it...

I've been here 3 weeks now, and I know a part of me is falling in love. Ohio will always be Home Sweet Home... but this place. The vineyards, the people, the coffee *grin*... Its growing on me. I drive to and from work and I see mountains, vineyards, pastures... The small towns I pass through have so much character, and so many shops that I can't wait to take mom into when she comes to visit. It rains quite a bit, but much like Ohio, the weather can change every 5 minutes. Pouring, to bright and sunny, to bright and sunny while pouring..

I miss my family, my friends, my puppy...But when it all shakes down, I like it here. I think I'm gonna be ok.

The Journey...

When I decided I was going to move to Oregon, a 2400 mile/36hour adventure, the first thing that came to mind was "What is my family going to say?" I knew they would be supportive, and they were, but I was so worried that it would break their hearts. Somehow, they knew that it wasn't them I was leaving, I was just...leaving. Close to 4 months of planning and saving later, not knowing I actually had a place to live until hardly 2 weeks before the big move, and nights of crying myself to sleep wondering if I was making the biggest mistake of my life, my car was loaded up and I was ready to go.
Lemme tell ya, the loading was oh so fun... 4 space saver bags, 7 boxes, 6 bags, and a laundry basket later, there was honestly barely room for us to sit in the front seats. But, I had the best traveling partner I could ever as for. Corrine, without a second thought about coming with me, climbed in and said "Let's go!".... And so, we went...

(I'll have to finish this later.. work time!)

So.. here I am.

I've always said that a part of me has been the heart of a gypsy. Or at least that's how its felt. From the time I can remember knowing what "traveling" was, I've wanted to go. Just go. There have been times that I felt so trapped where I was and just knew that I would always be there. But so much has changed since then.

I suppose I should start at the beginning....

I'm Sarah. In November, I will turn 25. I was born and raised in the wonderful state of Ohio, where no matter where you are inside the state, you are no more than a 5 hour drive from 2 of the best amusement parks in the country (Paramount's King's Island and Cedar Point), two of the nation's best zoos (Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, yes it's one of Jack Hanna's, and Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden), and the only stadium that has the privilege and right to bleed Scarlet and Gray, the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes, The Horseshoe. (Not that I love Ohio or anything.... *eyeroll, grin*)
In February, I ended a 5 year relationship that I just knew I would spend the rest of my life in. It wasn't until I had called the wedding off at least twice and was spending many nights crying myself to sleep that I realized there was no way that I could be happy with him. So, to be fair to us both, I gave back the ring, and moved home. I have no ill feelings towards him, and we're still friends. I just couldn't honestly answer him when he asked if I was still in love with him. What kind of life would that be for anyone involved? So anyway, I moved home and was blessed with a position at Wal-Mart in Richmond, Indiana. My days were spent working, spending time with my family and sometimes with friends, and playing WoW (World of Warcraft). Yes, I'm a geek at heart and proud of it. It was through WoW that I met Jasmine... or Vampireshade as she's known in game. She was moving back to here home town here in Oregon from spending a year in Washington state. The conversation went something as follows: "Hey, so, I'm moving back to Newberg in a few months. Wanna come live with me?"... "Um.. ok!" and that was that. So, I waited out my 6 months and transferred. I now live in Newberg, OR... and have been for close to 3 weeks. In the posts that follow, you'll get to hear my story.