I'm not in Arizona anymore, Toto.

We moved to Kansas last December. My oldest son, who is in the Army, is stationed here and talked me into moving.  So, I packed up my house & put most of it in storage, quit my job that I had for 10 ½ years (almost 20 when you count the other agency I was with), gave my dogs away because we couldn’t take them, packed a moving truck with only the essentials and drove 1,500 miles away from my family and friends to move to a town that is less than a square mile.  Literally – less than a mile.

We’re in northeastern Kansas.  It’s very pretty, hilly and has tons of trees.  It’s not like the flat farmlands of southern Kansas.  Don’t get me wrong – there’s farms here, but it is so pretty.  Tree lined streets, old homes with wraparound porches and people are friendly.  They can’t drive for shit, but they’re friendly.

From December to July, we lived in my son’s 2 bedroom apartment.  It wasn’t horrible, but it was tight – we needed space.  In March, the kid’s dad came to live with us too, so we were even more cramped.  In July, we moved to Manhattan, into a 2-story house with a basement that technically is 6 bedrooms.  We can’t use the bedroom in the basement as a bedroom, but it’s great for storage & my son’s drums.  I like the house – it’s all hardwood floors that creak every time someone walks.  The bathroom upstairs has a claw foot tub – which I absolutely love.  I’ve always wanted one.  Not the best for taking showers, at least not this one because of how it’s set up, but still.  It’s a claw foot tub!

This is the first summer I haven’t been in Arizona all summer.  To be honest, it’s been nice not feeling like you walk into an oven when you go outside.  And we haven’t had the A/C on all summer either.  I was worried about adjusting to the humidity. I was expecting horrible humidity like I’ve experienced in Houston, but it wasn’t too bad.  It’s funny though, people here say this is a bad summer.  I have to laugh because 106⁰ is not hot, but they think it is.   We went to Colorado about a month ago and the difference in the heat with and without humidity is very noticeable.  I couldn’t wait to get back to Kansas.  It was just…cooler. 

I am worried about the winter though.  Everyone has told me this past winter was mild.  It snowed a few times, maybe 6-7”.  I only drove it in a couple of times, but the first time was scary as hell.  By the time I drove the mile to get the kids from school after I got off work, I was in tears.  I hope this year isn’t bad.  I know I have to learn to drive in it, especially if we’re going to stay here, but I’m not looking forward to it.  I may just make Kevin drive me to & from work – he’s driven in much worse conditions.

I do miss my friends and family in Arizona.  Luckily, two of my friends from work have come thru Kansas while they were traveling, so I got to see them.  We drove about 2 hours southwest of here, to Hutchinson, to meet Brenda on her first leg of her trip.  Then, Sparky came thru on her way to Michigan.  I had a ball with her – we stayed at Denny’s until midnight just talking.  Then, Brenda came thru Kansas and stayed at Milford Lake for a few days, so I got to spend some time with her.  Tyler & I showed her around the base and we drove around so she could see where we live.  Seeing those two ladies has helped with me being homesick.  I miss seeing my mom & brother though.  We wanted to go back at Christmas this year, but I don’t think we’re going to be able to financially.  I still need to get my stuff out of storage too, so we may combine it into a quick trip & see friends and family sometime soon.

Note: I didn't "publish" this when I should have. This was written in 2016.