Home Again, with Lots of Russian Leftovers

I had a wonderful lunch with my new friend, and she insisted on my taking two full bags of food home with me. I tried as politely as I could to decline them but she wouldn't hear of it. It's very nice of her, and the food was truly delicious. However, it seemed a bit rich (even though she and her husband kept telling me how healthy it was, consisting of mostly fruits and vegetables) and I am NOT going to gain back any of the twenty pounds I've lost. I'll try to pawn it off on my son and his girlfriend; worst-case scenario is that I'll just have to throw it away. Except for the pie. I'll eat the pie.

So we had a lovely lunch and plenty of lively, intelligent conversation. Sadly, as I entered the apartment, I noticed boxes everywhere and realized shortly thereafter that my new friend and her husband are moving. She said they're going to Orlando in search of better job opportunities. It's not like it's the other side of the world, but I had been excited to have a new friend close by. I assured her that I'd continue to help her improve her English skills and assist in whatever other way I can, but I can't say I'm not disappointed that we won't really have a chance to develop a real friendship. She's a kind and compassionate person. It's interesting to me that she thinks Jacksonville is an unfriendly city, as I have always found it (and almost every place I go) to be warm and embracing. My guess is that she believes her lack of proficiency in English is an obstacle -- and therefore it is. I smile at everyone and always talk to people I don't know; some respond positively and some not, but either way I just take my smiling self on down the street. I don't let it bother me if someone doesn't smile back or if strangers look at me like I'm crazy when I speak to them. Who cares? If attitudes are contagious, and I think they can be, I'd rather spread a good one than catch someone else's bad one.

I wish the best for her, and hope that she and her husband find what they're looking for in Orlando. I should have known she'd be moving on; the first time we met she asked me why I lived her, especially having grown up near a metropolitan area like D.C. I told her then and again today that I love it here. I'm close to everywhere I want to go, we have seasons that aren't too extreme, and I can be at the beach in under ten minutes! Our city is beautiful. It may not be "metropolitan" or overwhelmingly sophisticated (if you don't know where to look), but to me that's part of its charm. I've come to believe that moving to a different city doesn't always fix whatever problems you're hoping it will. Maybe, in her family's case, I'm wrong about that.