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My Desert Life and Brooms and Wine
It started with a broom in my hand, and ended with a glass of wine. My day that is.
Have you ever moved into a new home and contemplated having company? And that company family? That's what my day was about.
I moved from a small house in the suburbs of Chicago to a small home in Green Valley AZ.
My friends and family asked me "Why Green Valley? Well if you grew up watching Mayberry on television and you already know. Mayberry was a fictitious small town in North Carolina. A place of very friendly people in a simple, laid back kind of community. I was looking for just that after growing up in an overcrowded, flat, hustling and noisy big city. Working over 40 years as a registered nurse had also worn me out. Don't get me wrong, I loved living in Chicago for over 60 years. I also loved being a Nurse. Mountains and a peaceful, retired life are now my thing, of course warm weather and sunshine are great too.
Where I am now in Green Valley, there’s a kind of beauty and relaxed pace I never thought I could find. Unlike Mayberry though, it's an over 55 community, so much less traffic and noise.
The house I bought was ready to move into and only needed my belongings to be placed and arranged. I then went crazy for the southwest style of decor. This meant a lot of shopping!
I had brought quite a few boxes and some furniture from Chicago. I've spent the last two months shopping , organizing, unpacking, moving furniture and lots and lots of cleaning. Of course I have also been very busy making friends, going out to eat and "touring" my new neighborhood.
Finally, today, I had family over. My two brothers and sister in law flew in from the Chicago area last Thursday. They stayed with my older brother's daughter; my younger brother's and my niece, who like me had left Chicago and headed southwest. Carry and her husband Jeff are in their early thirties and live in Gilbert, AZ about 130 miles north of me. Theirs is a neighborhood of schools and parks and young couples, perfect for them and my precious great niece who is two months old and the most beautiful baby!!!
Preparing for my family in particular meant cleaning up til the last minute and I did . I literally put the broom in my hand back into the closet as I saw them pull up in my driveway. I come from a long line of "Felix Ungers". Felix is a character from a comedy television show that ran in the 70's; compulsively neat, his roommate and friend was totally the opposite. That was a little bit more like me once upon a time.
I was so happy and relieved that they liked my new home.
My family and I spent a wonderful day exploring the desert and mountain scenery and then having great Mexican food in a nearby restaurant. After they left, I cleaned up the fruit and dessert dishes and mugs from the coffee we had back at my house after dinner. Then onto my couch, it was time for a glass wine.
Next will be a visit from my kids and grandkids. More brooms and wine!
© Jodi A
Have you ever moved into a new home and contemplated having company? And that company family? That's what my day was about.
I moved from a small house in the suburbs of Chicago to a small home in Green Valley AZ.
My friends and family asked me "Why Green Valley? Well if you grew up watching Mayberry on television and you already know. Mayberry was a fictitious small town in North Carolina. A place of very friendly people in a simple, laid back kind of community. I was looking for just that after growing up in an overcrowded, flat, hustling and noisy big city. Working over 40 years as a registered nurse had also worn me out. Don't get me wrong, I loved living in Chicago for over 60 years. I also loved being a Nurse. Mountains and a peaceful, retired life are now my thing, of course warm weather and sunshine are great too.
Where I am now in Green Valley, there’s a kind of beauty and relaxed pace I never thought I could find. Unlike Mayberry though, it's an over 55 community, so much less traffic and noise.
The house I bought was ready to move into and only needed my belongings to be placed and arranged. I then went crazy for the southwest style of decor. This meant a lot of shopping!
I had brought quite a few boxes and some furniture from Chicago. I've spent the last two months shopping , organizing, unpacking, moving furniture and lots and lots of cleaning. Of course I have also been very busy making friends, going out to eat and "touring" my new neighborhood.
Finally, today, I had family over. My two brothers and sister in law flew in from the Chicago area last Thursday. They stayed with my older brother's daughter; my younger brother's and my niece, who like me had left Chicago and headed southwest. Carry and her husband Jeff are in their early thirties and live in Gilbert, AZ about 130 miles north of me. Theirs is a neighborhood of schools and parks and young couples, perfect for them and my precious great niece who is two months old and the most beautiful baby!!!
Preparing for my family in particular meant cleaning up til the last minute and I did . I literally put the broom in my hand back into the closet as I saw them pull up in my driveway. I come from a long line of "Felix Ungers". Felix is a character from a comedy television show that ran in the 70's; compulsively neat, his roommate and friend was totally the opposite. That was a little bit more like me once upon a time.
I was so happy and relieved that they liked my new home.
My family and I spent a wonderful day exploring the desert and mountain scenery and then having great Mexican food in a nearby restaurant. After they left, I cleaned up the fruit and dessert dishes and mugs from the coffee we had back at my house after dinner. Then onto my couch, it was time for a glass wine.
Next will be a visit from my kids and grandkids. More brooms and wine!
© Jodi A
