Home Sweet Home

Well, we made it. After many goodbyes and an incredibly lengthy, two-day drive, we are finally in the Garden State. So far, so good. It is still pretty warm even though we are thoroughly aware that there is a winter here and it will be coming soon. At least one of us is gainfully employed even though the commute is a killer. And we are living in a really nice house for pennies on the dollar (thanks mom and dad). For Zoe it's like Christmas; grandparents, no school, staying up until 9:30 and a backyard that is a hell of a lot bigger than our apartment deck. Sadie is even happy and will most assuredly will not be attempting to jump out of any windows any time soon because really, why would she want to leave and my mother would seriously kill her, and I think she knows that.

I am a little misty when I think of the fact that Zoe will never remember her time in Savannah. She'll have no recollection of her boyfriend Patrick from Calvary. She won't remember Oatland Island or Forsyth. She'll never know her first house. This is where she will truly begin her life.

So, I have tried to get that life started. Since we have been here we have found her a doctor, we have looked at new schools, and she has already made some neighborhood friends. I hope these small, but important first steps will get her new life on the road to a happy one, although I don't think she will ever forgive us for the winter for which she is utterly unprepared; she owns one sweater and no coat.

So if you find yourself in the Philly metro area, stop by for a visit. Oh, and we are in on the joke. . . we are located between exit two and three. We have no sweet tea or country fried steak but we can get our hands on a mean cheesesteak or a soft pretzel.

Welcome to New Jersey.

Cha. .. cha. . . cha. . . changes

This will be my last zoekat blog post from Savannah, the city where it all began and the only place that Zoe has really ever known. I could go on about the changes that have happened since she has been born here, that blog is hers after all. But I think I will save that for her birthday or my typical blog anniversary post. Because the reality is, in my mind, Zoe's life began when Mike and my relationship did, and really that was seven years ago.

So, this blog will be dedicated to the city and the people that created, nurtured, and made our family what it is today. It is dedicated to Paul, and the job that got us here, Carl, our first friend, and the Commons apartments, where we first lived. It is dedicated to the Sand Gnats for a year of a crazy work schedule and for five years of fun. It is dedicated to the Hammocks where the wedding planning happened and where the stinky boys fell after the bachelor party. It is dedicated to Suzy, Sarah and Tammy, the best of friends and Lauren and Kathleen, friends I don't see often enough. And with mixed emotions, it is dedicated to two hard-to-sell houses.

We'll miss the places and the scenes. The networking lunches and bars we've haven't been to in three years. It is dedicated to Coach's Corner and The Rail, Corleon's where we found out we were having a girl and the many bars in which I came to the drunken realization that I was 30. It is dedicated to Dr. Semple who delivered our girl and Casey and Calvary who helped her grow.

It is dedicated to eMarketSouth and Chili's and the people who made them both more bearable (thanks, Doy, Joe and Spy). It is dedicated to easy rides to the beach and picnics in the park. It is dedicated to Sean and Tara who joined us for a while and Kenny, Joe, Jesse, Billy and Royce who made it more fun.

It is dedicated to the neighbors we had, the friends we made and the fabulous weather we enjoyed. It is dedicated to the Y and playdates(you, Steph); slumber parties and showers. It is dedicated to Live Oaks and St. Patrick's Day. It is dedicated to Buy Local and Carriage Trade. It is dedicated to the Hostess City and all it's weird, wonderful quirks.

Yeah, this one wasn't all that witty or introspective in the life of a parent. Really, I'm feeling a little sad, a whole lot sentimental and not very creative. I just wanted to say good bye and this was the best I could do. So good bye crazy screaming man who walks through the squares yelling about damnation. Good bye Vinnie's. Good bye "I hate getting stuck behind them" trolley tours. Good bye to everyone we love that I haven't mentioned here. Hello new life.

Thank you Savannah. We'll miss you.