Petty Nonsensical Things and Other Ramblings from the Land Of Sunshine and Palms  

  Well, saturday is the big day. We're going to pack up the U Haul Wednsday and Thursday, and early Saturday morning we start our trek south. I'm excited. My wife is excited, but I think my kids are a little upset that we're moving so far away from their friends. And that's to be expected. I always hated moving when I was a kid. I dreaded the thought that I was going to have to start in a new school and m ake all new friends. But once I got there and met some people I was fine. I made it my own. I've never had a problem making friends. My kids on  the other hand are a bit shy. But that usually only lasts a few minutes. And I think when it's something they have to do instead of something they want to do it makes it a bit easier. They can't back out and just go home and do nothing. They'll be fine. Kids usually are. And to be honest, I think they will find that the kids they make friends with down there are much better than the ones they have to associate with up here in Delaware.

  Over the years we have spent plenty of time in the area of Folrida we are moving to. As a matter of fact, it's the same house we stayed in when we would go on vacation. So we already know the next door neighbors. And they have kids that my kids play with and go to the same school. The community is very nice. It's very quiet (wait till my kids get there, lol). You don't have to worry about being awakened in the middle of the night to the sounds of gunfire. You don't have to worry about pulling up to a yard sale and having your car stolen as you browse the merchandise. Sure, kids everywhere are a little bit mischevious, but there's a big difference (from what I've seen) between a small town in southwest Florida and a neighborhood in Delaware that wishes they were in downtown Detroit. Ok, maybe it's not THAT bad, but I've never seen people standing on the corners in my new neighborhood selling drugs in broad daylight. Or kids having sex under benches on the side of the road on the way home from school. Come to think of it, I have never seen anybody standing on the corners or on the side of the road in the new neighborhood. Maybe it's because there's more to do there. Maybe it's because parents are more responsible there. I don't know. I just hope it turns out to be as nice as it seems once we get there.

  I figure it will at least be easier to keep the house clean down there, with us not staying in so much. I mean, there's no reson to. Our house is just 10 minutes to the Gulf of Mexico and there's fishing. My wife and kids love Walt Disney World, so I'm sure we'll be spending a few weekends there. And the weather is warm all the time. So there's no reason to not be outside. Aside from storms, of course.I think we'll like it. I think the kids will adjust quickly and all will be well.

  As for me, personally, I am excited but not so much all at the same time. I really can't wait to get out of Delaware. But I grew up in New Jersey, and I'm going to miss being able to take a short drive over the Delaware Memorial bridge or the Betsy Ross in Philly to go visit my family and just plain hang out in Jersey. Now, I know that some of the people reading this are going to say "jersey sucks", and you're right... But really only when you live there. And the people who live in the surrounding areas who say the same thing either are talking about North Jersey, or are just sayingt it to fit in with the rest of those who say it. But there's something about New Jersey that doesn't hit you until you leave. I can't really explain it any better than home sickness. But it's not that. It's a different feeling. Jersey kind of "calls to you" when you're gone. And I don't mean when you go to Philly or Delaware to go shopping or something, or if you go on vacation.. I mean when you leave. When you move out of New Jersey. You always will find an excuse to go back at least for a day. And if you lived in Jersey and are sitting there saying that I'm wrong, you're lying to yourself and you know it. Just think about it and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. But I wonder... Is it New Jersey or is it every state? Is it because I grew up there? Is it because I have such fond memories of living there? I can't say. I have fond memories of living here in Delaware, too. This is whre I got married and wheere my daughter was born, and I can't think of a better memory than that. I want to know if everybody feels the same way about the state they moved away from. This is getting a little long so I'm going to cut it off here, but I wnt to talk about this on our next show (june 17th), so call in and let me know if it's a Jersey thing or not.

Jay