Friday, November 6, 2009

King of the Road. Or Not.


Can you name this city?
I can do it in six notes. I mean letters. (Remember that show?)
City hint#1: a most delicious omelet.
City hint #2: the mountains.
Yes, it's Denver, the first city I fell in love with as a grown up.
I'm thinking about Denver today because my friend May recently did a fabulous post confessing she was torn between two lovers: San Francisco and New York. It made me think about all the towns I've loved before and the lessons each one taught me. Or should have.

And it made me curious about you. I'd love to know where you've lived and loved. Feel like sharing?

I'll go first. I'll try not to be long winded. Thanks to the Air Force, it's not a short list.

1. Denver, as shown above.
Lesson I should have learned? Don't be so in love with the mountains and Todd Ramsey that you neglect to ask how much the teaching job pays before you sign the contract.
(Still it was fun. Who needs money when you have love?)

2. Omaha, Nebraska

That's not my photo, but it's exactly what I remember.
Lessons learned? If you live near a corn flake factory, you constantly thirst for milk.
And Omaha's suburb Papillion might be spelled like the French word for butterfly, but if you pronounce it that way, Nebraskans will laugh at you.

3. Greenbelt, Maryland

Beautiful, huh? Our apartment complex wasn't in this part. We lived in a neighborhood which my sweet mother in law once called The Projects.
Lesson: When men are always huddling together, trading things in the parking lot of your apartment complex, you ought to move.

4. Washington DC

Lesson: It's exciting to live where everything happens. But ride the metro. Don't drive.

5. Raleigh, NC

Coming home can be beautiful, even while puking into the car's air conditioning vents on the way to your first day of work. Especially if it's because of morning sickness.
(But do sell the car. It will never be the same.)

6. Greenville/Greer, SC

There are cool people in every town, just waiting for new friends.
Small towns are great for kids.

7. Clermont Ferrand, France

Life is to be enjoyed. Eat! Drink! Write!

So now it's your turn!
Are you king of the road, or loyal to one knock out town?
I'd love to hear all about it.
Have a great weekend, y'all!
Love, Becky

15 comments:

AudreyO said...

Your post made me smile. My sister lives in Denver. Last week she was delayed by one day getting here as they had a blizzard. Yesterday she called, it was 77. Ahh the joys of Denver :)

Kat said...

This was a fun post! I love the pics that you added too. :)
I loved a little town named York when I went to England. It was awesome.
And I loved Breckenridge (did I even spell that right?) when we went to CO. :)

David Ebright said...

Hey you - Have lived in Pennsylvania (mostly) Kansas City, New Jersey & now Florida. Out of town travels - all over. Might be island hopping soon (work - not vacation). Can't wait to get home to St Augustine (in Delray Beach last 6 weeks). Strangest / coolest place? Iceland - during a volcanic eruption. Stayed in the same hotel as Pres Nixon & Henry Kissinger while they were there! My life really is as crazy as it sounds.

Anonymous said...

You got around! loved your little stories about each spot.

Renee said...

Becky you have lived in so many places. And I know how much you loved France.

xoxo

Diane said...

I've lived in Central New York almost all my life. I enjoy it. Close to beaches and things. Changing seasons, even though I don't like winter. Many attractions and close enough to many things. :O)

Veronica and Thomas said...

Denver is gorgeous! We live in Omaha. I knew I was in trouble when we first moved here and my store got their first shipment of snowblowers! One of my favorite places is Ocean City Maryland. I have a thing for beaches! I've never seen water so clean and there is always so much to do for everyone. Including bookies like me since its close to the island where the horses roam free!

judy in ky said...

I grew up in Ohio. It's boring and the weather is extreme. I lived in Chicago; nice city but too much traffic and the winters were brutal. Then I lived in Philadelphia; I loved it, as you can see if you read my blog. Now I live in Northern Kentucky; also boring and too "red" for my tastes. Next, I want to move somewhere close to the ocean where there is no winter.

CC said...

Gorgeous pics!! Makes me want to go on a road trip... except for all that driving!

Susan said...

I was raised in a small town, under 2000 pop. I grew up and moved to the "big city" (90,000 pop) thirty miles away. These are the only two places I've lived. I'm a stay at home kind of gal. I wouldn't have it any other way. My sister went the other way and moved to San Diego, population about 3 million. She loves it there.

Cathy ~ Tadpoles and Teacups said...

I've never been to Denver, but I've been to Bucksnort, Tenn.
:)

Adrienne said...

Those are some great lessons!
I grew up near D.C. - so true about the metro. :)

kj said...

Hello Friend,

Julie Ann of Heavenleighart.blogspot.com and kj of www.karenjasper.blogspot.com are conspiring to send our beloved Renee a holiday “We-Treasure-You” Chest from her devoted blog friends. The idea is that anyone who wants to can send a special gift or card to kj and everything will be mailed in one box., filled to the brim with our handmade presents, art, tokens, cards, store bought gifts-- whatever you would like to give. What ever it is will hopefully give Renee a wonderful surprise and let her know how much she means to all of us over the holidays and always.

If you would like to participate please email kj at karenjasper@comcast.net and she’ll send you her mailing address. We’re thinking your gift should not be much larger than a cigar box or if flat 11 x 14 if possible, so we can fit everything into one big box for shipping. If you just want to send a card, that is totally fine and you know it will be so appreciated! (If you also want to send something for Jacquie, that is great too).
We’re thinking everything should reach kj no later than December 1st. She will plan to mail the We-Treasure-You Chest to Renee the first week in December.
We’re excited just thinking of her opening her treasure chest and finding expressions of love from so many of us!
P.S. We will contacting people over a week’s time but please feel free to (secretly) spread the word. Anyone/everyone is invited to be part of this.

prashant said...

loved a little town named York when I went to England. It was awesome.

Work from home India

megan said...

I've lived most of my life in Texas and Oregon, and traveled a fair amount, also-mostly in Europe. Where I live now-the South of France-is the only place that has stolen my heart. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving here. Every day holds a new adventure. It is never boring, but also has that comfortable feeling of "home"!