I moved into my permanent apartment yesterday afternoon. I finally feel like I’m here. It hit me after I carried the last box up the stairs: I live in Nashville now. The temp place was cool, but I was living out of my suitcase so it felt like an extended stay hotel. Now I’m unpacked, decorating the living room, stocking the fridge, and wondering why I thought the only kitchen utensil I’d need is a wooden spoon.
That’s my first Saturday observation, then. I can do a lot with a wooden spoon. I can stir and poke. I can pry things open with it. I can talk to it. Hello, Mr. Spoon, I say. Hello, Alex, it says. But I can’t flip eggs. I tried. However, I can make wooden spoon-scrambled eggs with the best of them.
My second observation involves Nashville drivers. An odd group. The highways are basically amateur NASCAR events. The streets around campus and downtown are slower than a South Carolina retirement community. I can’t figure it out. I’ve never, ever encountered such slow drivers in a major city before. Which leads me to believe this isn’t a major city yet, it’s a junior “We’re just practicing here…don’t go too fast!” type city.
My third and final observation for today involves the Prozac or whatever antidepressant happy pill they’re using in the water supply. Everyone here is so damn happy. I don’t get it. Is that why they’re driving so slow? They’re all content? I thought small town South Carolinians were happy but they’re a bunch of jerks compared to Nashvillians. I’m already tired of it. I don’t want to go out anymore. Something is not right. Because either I’ve changed completely and all of a sudden people aren’t scared of and/or completely uninterested in me, or everyone here is drugged and happy to chat with me, a squirrel, or a tree. I’m banking on the drugs.
Oh, I have one more observation that I’ll turn into another post. I have a lot of books to read. And papers to write. Imagine that! I thought grad school was all about the parties and nightlife. I was bamboozled.
Enjoy the long weekend, everyone.
{ 2 } Comments
I envy you having your very own apartment! I had no idea Nashville was Cheery Central, but I’m counting on you to bring a little much-needed sarcasm and edge to town. And I’ve got homework this weekend, too, and I could not be happier. Viva Academia.
It has been fun to outfit the new place. Now I’m thinking I’ll see how far I can go with just a wooden spoon. I don’t like being bound by conventions — “You must have a spatula!” — and I believe I can survive just fine with Woody.
I had a dream about the movie “Village of the Damned” and it seems appropriate. Lots of blonde haired / blue eyed folk here, very chipper, but I’m sure they’re setting me up for something.
Let’s revisit our homework happiness in about 2 months and see if we’re still so positive! I’m eager to get started…how long will the enthusiasm last?!
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