One Month In

Well, I’m down in Carolina for about a month now. On a calendar it might not seem like much time but, I realized, over the last few days that all the changes, well beyond anything geographical, have been very dramatic, may be profound and, hopefully everlasting. I usually lean toward slow and steady changes that advance only with time. Looking back, I may be wrong.
My first hint, besides total strangers saying hello and talking with me (I still can’t get used to someone like me, an old poop, being called sir), was visiting Cary’s “Lazy Days” or was it “Cary Days” or “daze” (It doesn’t matter). The mere idea of closing down most of the downtown area for something like this was almost beyond my comprehension! Aside from that, I found myself amid those 50,000 or so people, waiting patiently and silently for someone, ahead of me, to move out of the center of the lane. Back North, I’d be saying, with great vigor, “EXCUSE ME!” But I didn’t. I wasn’t even getting impatient! What’s happened to me? Despite the sea of humanity, air of humidity and discomfort of sweaty clothing, it was a wonderful day.
I had further evidence of my new, southerned infused, less stressed, life style. That took the form of something as simple as a haircut. During the Cary Days fair I found an honest to God, no frills, barber shop. That’s a dying breed in New Jersey. Up there all you’ll find are hair stylists and salons. Stylists and salons allow you to do two things: Call two weeks ahead for an appointment, three weeks if you want a specific person, and paying 40 dollars extra for the privilege. I walked in, sat down and was treated as if I’d been coming in there since I was seven years old.
Then there was the young man, coming home from work, while I was at the barbeque area, who started to talk to me like we were old buds. We spoke of the local job market, the good fishing areas, why you don’t take golf seriously. Just like we had been friends for years.
Yesterday was my sternest test. I found out that I may be the victim of identity theft., In my former, northeastern life, I would have been a nut case, ending in the ER with highly elevated stress levels and blood shooting out my ears. That didn’t happen! I just went about my business to start to get that mess straightened out. No yelling, no screaming…… just get it straightened out. Having a really remarkable lady by my side sure does help a lot. I know for sure that she’s higher on the food chain than I am.
The final hint was a quick five second moment. I was putting gas in the car. That in itself is something new to me. In Jersey, we can pay God-awful taxes, put up with rampant corruption, run large companies, make millions on wall street, maybe even be the inspiration for the Soprano’s, but we’re not allowed to pump our own gas. Anyway, I got out of the car, started the process and looked over to someone doing the same thing. I nodded and, without thinking, without a hint of satire, but with true feeling of friendship , I smiled and said, “how ya’all doin?” I'm home.