The Star City

it's my last monday in Roanoke. i'm a little weepy.

when i made the decision to move to Roanoke i was taking a huge leap of faith. i was leaving a career  that just didn't make me as happy as i could be, therefor i decide that i needed to start the next chapter of my life in a cozy little Southern town in VA. I swore up and down that i would never live in VA after my tumultuous relationship with Nofolk and a new found hate for vanity license plates but, sure enough - almost 3 years later i called Roanoke, VA home. The star city.

This place was good to joe. it was also good to my visits here when i lived 4 hours towards the eastern shore and then 4 states south in sunny, humid florida. This place felt like "home" when i would visit. the downtown was alive but still had that southern flair, there was plenty of great restaurants to try out some delicious eats and there was always great conversation everywhere we turned. i really loved the town that joe called home. i remember being jealous about the events he would attend like First Fridays, Microfestivus, St. Pats and whatever else was happening downtown. i knew that when i decided that Roanoke was going to be a new home of mine too, it would be a perfect fit.

turns out, it was. well... for another three days, it still is but i'm in a "was" kinda mindset starting this week. i remember sitting at joe's "going away party" and listening to him thank his staff for making this place a home. he mentioned that the staff became a family to him and that roanoke would always hold a special place in his heart. tonight, i couldn't agree with him more. this place is pretty "b.a" as some would say. (hint:badass) and hell, they couldn't be more right! my family knew i'd love it and joe said it would be hard to leave. they were both right and well, i miss everything it is already.

when i take a little time to appreciate this place, my heart is light. i think that i have a new little love affair with a new little city and everything it has to offer. from the company i kept and the relationships i'll take with me forever, the downtown outside lunch spots, my favorite dive bar, the music and entertainment scene, the coffee shops, shopping spots and of course some of the best views i've ever laid eyes on. i've learned and experienced a lot in roanoke and needless to say, i'm gonna miss this little star city.

roanoke got into my bones. it shook me. no doubt about it. so roanoke, don't forget to be awesome. i can't wait to be back.

the people you meet and the places you go

Oh the places you'll go by Dr. Suess...the classic graduation gift wrapped up with a crisp $25 dollar bill intended for "books" (that however, would surely to go towards a few cases of beer or a fancy bottle of vodka and mixers as soon as the parents drop you off) hell, i think I got that book too - not too sure where it is now, but when i sit 4 years removed from college - that book is actually a lot more relate-able. I've been some pretty great places however I've met some much greater people.

College is a life changer. it forces you to meet people. to socialize and to get over whatever image you and others had of you in years prior. College literally is the chance to start over. for me - i fell in love. i fell in love with my school, my friends, my city and everything that makes you bleed garnet and black. it was the perfect transition into the other places i would go and the other people i would meet along the way. i actually think because of my love affair with Carolina, it's a part of me and people that I meet now, appreciate that. they get a little glimpse into what makes me happy and who i've matured into because of the places I've come from.

when it comes to the people i've met along the way, i would without a doubt not be who i am today without the friends i've made over the years. relationships and friendships alike are such a special thing and as i get older i tend to cherish them much more. sure, when i was a senior in college i wanted to over dramatize every friendship i made. i can't count the number of -"we'll be friends forever" conversations, or the number of late night drives i made in that town in fear that i'd lose a lot of what i fell in love with over the course of four years. the true friendships i've made are special. sure, they are separated by plenty of miles for the most part but they are only a phone call, a snapchat, a text or a piece snail mail away - and i love that. the best friend i have from home who probably knows me better than most is unlike any other friendship i have. what could be more special about that? the girls i have from Kappa, the guys that i can still laugh with whenever a reunion occurs or the girlfriends i have who literally keep me sane with our phone catch up sessions on the regular are such blessings and they are each so different in their own respect. during my time here in roanoke a friend of mine has taught me so much about positive attitude that it's actually contagious. literally - i couldn't count the number of times that i have come home from work annoyed by his happy-go-lucky outlook on life. (i'm terrible haha) now, as i pack up to leave... it's become an inspiration. through experiences in his own life he has made it a mission to live positively and through some great insight and even greater laughs along the way, i've learned to appreciate Roanoke a little bit more due to his reminder to live life with the mindset that positive thinking = positive results. as a matter of fact - the Civic Center will be hosting a positive thought a day for the next thirty weeks for the thousands of people that drive by. Today, although simple it read "be kind to animals". it may not mean much, but it is a positive thought and it will certainly evoke at least a little "happy" in those that drive by and are lucky enough to catch it on the rotation. thankfully, today...i did. so, for a realist like me, a positive attitude and a inspiring friendship is certainly a blessing to be able to take with me in the places i'll go.

people you meet through out your time spent in different places teach you different things about yourself that you otherwise probably wouldn't have figured out on your own. they force you to ask difficult questions and make changes....or not. they are perfect sounding boards for the things you may have going on in your own head and can usually provide the voice of reason that you leaned on them for in the first place.  some are forever friends, and some are just for the now but that's okay too. if they have made you feel anything, they have taught you something ...and that's pretty damn great.

home is where your loved ones are

home really is where your loved ones are. it is where there are hugs at the front door, lights on in the bedroom and kisses goodnight. needless to say, coming back to roanoke the afternoon after moving Joe proved to be fairly difficult as i sit on the middle cushion of the couch with no one poking me to move over.

I have been in Roanoke just over 7 months and I am already feeling the effects of living the solo life until we are all situated with the big move up to Massachusetts. Sure, there are some perks like getting to buy my favorites at the grocery store or not having to worry about the silly little chores that living with another person include however, i can honestly say... i feel a little lost without my crew. i actually miss henry banging into my knee with his bone, gibson getting hair all over the couch and joe making fun of Chopped on the Food Network from the kitchen. 

with all of the heartache that comes from the transition and getting things settled over the next few months it makes me so much more thankful for what i have and who i share my time with. it also makes me realize even further how difficult it must be for those that lose someone they spent every waking moment with day in and day out. sure, i've spent close to 5 years in a relationship however only 9 months of the time have we actually been able to see each other and experience the company of one another throughout the normal work week or fun filled weekend.

as i sit here anxious about this empty house, i can only think how hard it must be for others who suddenly lose the ones they love and have spent 20, 30 or 60 years of their life with day in and day out. it's a reminder that life is short and you just never know what you may come home too after a long day at work. it's a reminder that what you know as routine which therefore provides you with a sense of security could all one day be gone. it makes the little things a little bit more memorable and the big things much easier to miss.

i am excited for what is ahead, for what the summer may bring, then the fall and ultimately the "harsh winters" have in store for us up in Mass. but i'll tell ya what - being back with my boys, makes it already feel like home.

+previously written

the coffee shops...

there is something special about small, fun, quirky and independently owned coffee shops. i love them. every single place that i visit, stay, live or simply wander through, i have to hit the local coffee shop.

in Carolina it was Carolina Cafe, and every time i go back... i realize that the secret must be out. the place is always packed, especially on a Sunday after the Gamecocks play (win) at home. the place has homemade everything and is always delicious. my favorites have to be the breakfast bagel sandwich, the chocolate milk and the iced coffee - all perfect for a hangover or the perfect food in tote for a stroll on the horseshoe.

then there was Norfolk - Borjo... oh how i miss Borjo! the scones were out of this world, the cinnamon buns were bigger than my face, the local art was always a conversation starter oh and after five they served drinks... yep. fact. the chicken salad was amazing and the best part...it was literally ten steps from my work. Oh and the coffee! the coffee was some of the best....nothing crazy however, their ice... their iced was crushed and what could be better than an afternoon walk down Monarch Way with a cold, crushed iced coffee? the answer is nothing. I miss Borjo, but I actually miss the company I kept at Borjo more.

next up, tampa... tampa kinnnndaaaa sucked when it came to coffee shops. i was pretty bummed to find no local stops, no local favorites or have to hit spots in the AM. however, for what it is worth my love of Panera came from Tampa. they knew my name, they knew how to toast my bagel and their coffee came with free refills. so, i'll take it. nothing special, but panera - i love you anyway.

now, Roanoke...Roanoke is a special kind of place. it's artsy, it's eccentric and better yet you're still in the south so expect that southern hospitality with well, let's call it "liberal flair".... i love it. Roanoke is home to two favorites... Mill Mountain and Cups. Now, Mill Mountain seems to be a staple in the region with a few locations and an ever changing coffee selection and standard sweets and samples to cure any hangover. The specialty drinks may be priced a little higher but that never stopped Joe from going all in with the Carmel, Mocha, whatever... for me it was the coffee. plain. hot. coffee. with cinnamon please. ;) then you have CUPS. cups is special to me. it's in the center of historic Grandin Village and it's slogan is "my other office is CUPS"... how cool, right? It's got hilarious owners, ever changing local artwork, comfy couches, tables made from old VHS tapes and plenty of drinks to choose from. Oh and bring your own cup, store it here and they will keep it clean and waiting for you.... how awesome, right? and don't forget - the wifi, free! it's a perfect coffee shop, in a perfect little town.

I can't wait for my next coffee shop love affair and from what i hear, there are going to be a quite a few to choose from. so, look out Amherst, a new local is coming to town! oh and for what it's worth....if I had a coffee shop full of everything awesome, it would without a doubt be called "The little bean"... um, how awesome? maybe one day...