Fish Out of Water

So… It’s week five of this “grafting” experiment. So far, the verdict… IT’S OK.

You see, I moved here from Chi-town at the end of July. The idea was to kind of do a “re-set”… To move somewhere to start over with a new job, new place to live, new outlook. Mind you, there was nothing to run from… life in the Chi was great. It just seemed like there was a need for one of those “stop the world I want to get off” moments in life. After a year of unemployment, a first ever experience in my life, and deepening commitments with no financial pay-offs… it seemed like the right thing to do. So, when I was recruited by an East Coast company that offered me more than anyone else had ever offered — financial, opportunity, etc. — I jumped. I decided to “graft” myself into a new life. Give it a whirl.

After five weeks of this new life… I go back to what I said earlier… it’s OK. Not great, not amazing, but not bad or sucky either. Just OK. I can make this work for a while, for a time, for a season. Not sure how long this season will last… but for now, it will be fine.

A couple of things that really suck though about Philly (that’s where I ended up):

Traffic. Not only are people madmen here, it seems like no one obeys speed limits — average speed on the highways (and everywhere else for that matter) is about 75mph. And when they aren’t speeding, they’re rubber-necking. I have been in about 10 traffic jams caused by rubberneckers in the last week… and none for anything of significance. One time it was all caused by one dude who had his blinkers on at the side of the road. That was it! Their nuts, I tell you, nuts!

Layout. This city is historic, and has its beauty and all, but who the heck laid it out? Did they forget that people need some basic services to survive — like a grocery store or a gas station. I swear to you I can drive in concentric circles from my place for about a good mile and not run into a gas station or grocery store. THIS SUCKS!!!!! 

The biggest thing I hate though, is being away from my friends and family. Who knew that moving would be so hard emotionally… incredibly hard… dramatically hard! I miss just being able to hang at the drop of a hat with my peeps. I miss that so much.

I do feel like a fish out of water here. Not because I can’t make it work out… but more like because I really like what I had in Chi. We’ll have to see what turns out… how soon before I can make that work out again. For now, I’m grafted… a fish out of water… making it work out.