The thing about starting over

The thing about starting over, is, well, starting over.  Everything is new.  There are the big things.  New city, new job.  At least this time around there is a level of familiarity for me.  While I haven't lived here for quite some time, I have at least visited.  And there is that growing up here thing.  Its amazing how much street cred that gives me when I tell folks that I moved back, "I grew up here, you know."  I guess after living in transient cities like Washington, DC and Miami, I'm just not used a community with deep roots.  Then there is the new job. Big learning curve but again, a certain familiarity with a theatre unlike diving headfirst into the medical "pool."

But it's the little things.  Doctors, hair dressers, dentists, pharmacies, favorite supermarkets, neighborhood hangouts, how to get places.  These are the things that make starting over both daunting and exciting.

Finding new doctors is just a pain, no pun intended.  Its a pain in the butt and a process I would just assume be done with already.  But I'm old and I'm gently falling apart and I need a couple of different doctors.  Maybe I will use some combination of a poll of folks at work and Yelp reviews to picky my next lucky medical professionals.  Suggestions?

Lucky for me I had found a new hairdresser in Miami about six months before I left, who "updated" my look.   That was her polite way of saying,  "Girl! You are an hot outdated mess!"  The folks here just need to follow her lead.  I found someone around the block from the theatre -- which means close to my new apartment -- and had good reviews on Yelp.  I went with it.  She was fine...  fine enough to be one less starting over thing for a little while.

When I was in Florida I really missed Trader Joe's.  But I'm sorry TJ, I've been cheating on you.  Ever since I was introduced to my first Wegman's, I feel like I have a new love.  It doesn't hurt that there's a Wegman's very close to my sister's house.  This too will change when I move into the city.

I even found a new book club. Now this is going to be a tough one.  I loved my book club in Miami.  That is where I found my friends.  These new folks were nice enough and the conversation was good.  We met in a bar so my Miami friends would have approved  I will give it a fair try. Those are some darn big shoes to fill but I promise to be open and fair.  Okay, at least open.

Starting over is definitely an adventure.  A little less scary the second time around -- especially with family around to lean on. I'll call it "graduated adventure."  Its a concept.  Sometimes you need to throw your whole life in a blender, and sometimes you don't.