Lessons Learned From Being A Mountain Woman

I'm sitting in the Fresno airport on a Friday night. I'm taking a quick weekend trip to Vegas, and I am, of course, ridiculously early for my flight. So instead of doing some homework or flipping through the two issues of Entertainment Weekly I brought with me, I thought I'd write a little.

(By the way, the airport code for Fresno is FAT. Really, Fresno? Really?)

Aaron, if you read this before you pick me up at the airport tonight, you are taking me to Cafe Rio to get some dinner. I checked, and they're open until 10:30. Oh, the anticipation I feel in my soul for the delicious Mexican salad bowl that awaits me……

It's been almost a month since I moved home. I can hardly believe it! And somehow, I still have a LOT of unpacking to do. Um…sorry, Mom. I'll get to it. I promise. I'm learning a lot…some significant things and some not so significant things, so I thought I'd share them with you. From both categories.

1) I don't hate my commute. When people find out where I'm driving from, they contort their faces and look at me like I'm nuts. I might as well be commuting from Mars. It takes me a good hour to get to and from work. Add ten minutes to that if I'm stopping for coffee. (And please, we all know I'm stopping for coffee.) Most days, I don't listen to any music on my drive. I enjoy the silence and the scenery, and I let myself just be. (Just be speedin', that is.) It's very calming and peaceful, and I like it.

2) I'm sorry, but Fresno kind of sucks. It's so crowded! Who are all these people? Where did they come from? Why are they here??? I feel like it takes me so long to get anywhere once I'm in the city. And everything is crowded. It's not that there isn't good stuff in Fresno – there totally is. I think there's just not enough good stuff to go around, so everyone flocks in the locations of the good stuff. Yet another reason why it's nice to retreat to the mountains every night. Ain't nobody a-flocking to Coarsegold.

3) Family is everything. I don't care if it's actual family or made up family, but being in community with people is the way to be. I love coming home to my family. In the past, when I came home from work in a bad mood, I would retreat to my room and stay there all night. I would wallow in my bitterness. When I get home now, I spend time with my family. We eat meals together. We talk about our days. It helps me to feel not so alone, and it is really melting my hardened heart.

4) Clothes are not just for fashion. Oh my gosh, y'all. I have two entire closets full of clothes and shoes. And yet, I had to buy new shoes and a new jacket last week. Why? Because there is weather here! I think my feet have been frozen for about 3 weeks solid now. And out of my plethora of jackets, none of them are for, you know, warmth. So the new Heidi has shoes that can be worn with socks, and a jacket that isn't at all cute, but it keeps me warm and dry. And I'm ok with that.

5) Having less free time is actually a good thing. I'm so busy! How did I get so busy? Besides my long drive, I'm involved in a new church, I'm taking a thrilling community college class, I'm going to the gym, I'm cooking, I'm losing Trivial Pursuit to my mom, I'm losing Jeopardy to my mom…and my free time is quite limited! For the first time in so long, I don't have time to watch all my TV shows on the same night that they air. I feel as though I am spending my time in more significant ways, and I like it.

I'm excited for all the lessons I learn as this adventure continues to unfold! And now, a very full flight to Vegas with people who are all about gettin' crunk and hittin' da clubs. Talk about an adventure. *eyeroll*