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August 28, 2008
COLLEGE PARKED
I set up a Maryland bank account. I have a Maryland library card. A Maryland student ID. A shoppers card at GIANT, the local grocery store. I removed all the keys from my key chain that open locks 770 miles away; I now have a key to my apartment and my car. I took all the unnecessary items out of my wallet: those used to mocking my Constanza-esque, comically oversized moneypurse will have to find a new obsession.
I'm familiar with the Metro - so much so that I've only bought one tank of gas since I got here. When people ask me where I'm from, I say (with only slight hesitance), "Maryland." When I visited New York last weekend, I ran into a buddy from Memphis and asked him how things were there - he looked at me quizzically and reminded me that I've only been gone three weeks. Three weeks ago I was eating at the Barbecue Shop on Madison, but it seems like a year has passed.
The stress of July 2008 is one I hope I never have to revisit. In addition to finishing my Masters' thesis, I had to pack up my house and drive to Maryland to unload it. Other stuff happened too. But the peace of August is one I wish I could capture in a bottle. I drank beer on a beach and in New York comedy clubs. I read books and finished a season of SIX FEET UNDER. Other than wrangling Comcast to install my cable (which they haven't) and an unfortunate lack of wireless internet, I feel like I'm finally where I've wanted to be. In even the loosest definition, Hyattsville Maryland is not an oasis, but for me it is a picture of sanity.
I originally had a much longer post involving all the things I miss (the Chinese Sub Shop; the University of Memphis library) and don't miss (the cadre of feral cats who called my back yard home; the heat) about Memphis. Instead, here's my favorite Billy Joel song on the subject:
The purpose of this post is to reintroduce myself to low-energy world of blogging. Upcoming topics may include my rekindled passion for baseball, my love for Lili Taylor, MAD MEN, and terrorism in literature. So now that the Olympics are over, settle in for some Andytown.
You're going to like it here.
| By Andytown | 11:02 AM
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Comments
Andy! Congrats on exceeding your move to California. Even though I usually only see you three times a year I hope you come back to Memphis soon! Pickwick is still expecting you.
Posted by: Kevin at August 28, 2008 5:15 PM
It's all so wonderful and so different. I want to call it change, but I feel that word has been used too much lately. Don't forget your friends down here. I miss you!
Posted by: sarah beth at August 28, 2008 9:45 PM
Andy, I'll tell you what I told Andy Short: when people ask you where you are from, you say MEMPHIS!!!! You live in Maryland. One day, you may live in New York or St. Louis or Dubai or Shangri-la, but you will always be FROM Memphis.
Posted by: Sean at August 30, 2008 9:53 AM