Memphis In May

Right off the bat, I need to make the point to any of my friends here in the South....please don't think I'm a complete snob when I talk about my experiences in this blog-I promise, I'm a really nice person:). Yet the title completely encompasses this move for me - meant to be a simpler way of like, yet based on the fact that I've lived a sheltered, comfortable existence for the past 27 years, I see things very different and more complex (I blame my parents-haha).

So with that comes Memphis in May. At this time last year, I remember Andrew telling me how May is the best time of the year to be in Memphis because of two major functions-The Beale Street Music Festival and BBQ Fest (the largest BBQ cooking contest in the country). We didn't make it to the Music Festival, but we did attend BBQ Fest. The event is usually on the Mississippi River, yet due to the flood, it took place on the Mid-South Fairgrounds. The contest works like this: people sign up for a space and are given an allotted area where they can set up their tent. In the end, hundreds of white tents are lined up back to back, filling up the entire grounds. For four days it's like a big party, where people are barbecuing, drinking, dancing, etc (people literally take work off). The key is to know people because that's the only way you can try their BBQ. The last day is the actual BBQ contest. I'll tell you what, I didn't fully get it; I definitely felt like a fish out of water. Now, I won't get in detail about everything I saw and thought, but I don't think I made many new friends:(

We went on a Friday night and made our first stop at one of Andrew's patient's tents. Smoke filled the air from some of the largest grills I've ever seen in my life. We walked over to the line to get food and she said, "Let me get you a plate." I said, "I'm fine for now; I really don't eat BBQ." As the words left my mouth, I wanted to quickly grab them and stuff them back in. What was I thinking? I felt like I was in a movie - her eyes glazed over, she stared for a minute, and Andrew looked at me with complete embarrassment. "Oh, well then, bless your little heart; you came to the wrong place tonight sweetie pie, didn't you?" (said with the thickest accent). I seriously thought for a moment I was either going to get thrown out or I was gonna throw up. I was so embarrassed that as I was trying to walk away, I tripped, fell over into a man, causing his beer to get knocked out of his hand and into my hair (the tripping isn't abnormal for me). Needless to say,  I'm learning more and more to think before I speak, keep an open mind, and embrace traditions that I might not understand or be accustomed to. Otherwise, Andrew might put me on the next flight out of here. haha

But I'm not a complete foreigner...

Anyone who knows me well, knows I've always been a die hard country music fan. Although Andrew isn't, he agreed to go with me to all the concerts that come into the area. So last night we got to see Kenny Chesney and it was absolutely amazing. I think he really saw a side of me that he didn't know existed (a dorky, sing all the words at the top of my lungs, dancing, sentimental fan). But truthfully, he hasn't seen anything yet!

 

We're Definitely Not In Kansas Anymore...

I've been telling people for a long time that I'm going to write a blog about my new experiences, and yay, I'm finally doing it! The last couple months have been a whirlwind - I've moved across the country (driving almost 40 hours) with barely anything (see picture), started a new job in Corporate Communications, and now I'm trying to settle in and get to actually know my surroundings, make friends, and get connected. Anyone who knows me knows I don't sugar coat anything, so to say that everything has been as smooth as butter would obviously be an exaggeration. Growing up in CA has made me spoiled (I definitely won't lie about that), so all the new things I'm experiencing are shocking, humbling, and have allowed me to mature in ways I never thought needed growth.

I can truly say that Andrew has made it easier and FUNNIER than ever. We have a joke now that anytime he sees me being prissy, he says, "Chill out on the California Convertino." It's been very comical so far and I will be sharing many of these stories. One major thing that Andrew forgot to mention before I came here was that April and May are tornado season, and it just so happens that I came at a time where this area is enduring some of its worst weather seen in years. hmmmm-funny I never was told this. So far, I've been through four warnings (this comes through sirens going off all across the county) and I believe two or three tornadoes have come close but not actually hit ground (Andrew, correct me if I'm wrong about any of my stats). One night his sister and I (along with her 4 month old baby) sat in the hall near the bathroom for hours just waiting for it to pass. Other times I've been at work and had to gather at certain points of the building. Needless to say, I hate it and want them to go away. As I write this, there's another warning going out today-scary stuff. Continue to pray for those you have actually been hit and are trying to rebuild their lives, and pray that this would be the end of any tornadoes causing destruction.

In my next couple posts, I'll fill you in on a few other things that have been going on since I moved and some fun things we have coming up.