kayaking on Loch Leven near Glencoe, Scotland, 2018

kayaking on Loch Leven near Glencoe, Scotland, 2018

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Getting Started

It's been a year and three months since my family and I moved from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Lake Charles, Louisiana. It only recently occured to me that it might be interesting, and maybe even therapeutic, to blog about the challenging transition. So my first several posts will be memoir in nature, catching you up to the present.

My husband Bob's job with PPG brought us to Lake Charles. I grew up in southwest Pa. All my family and friends are there. I knew leaving would be difficult. I looked at the move as only an optimist could, as a grand adventure. In April 2007, two months prior to the move, my sons (thirteen year old twins Eric and Andrew) and I joined Bob, who had already moved and started his new job in February, for the purpose of finding a house. He picked us up at the Houston airport and we headed east. I'd only been in Louisiana twice prior, both times years ago to New Orleans, pre-Katrina. The first thing that struck me was the landscape; it's flat. Completely flat. As anyone familiar with Pittsburgh knows, I was accustomed to hills, and lots of them. When we arrived in Lake Charles, the first sight I saw was industry. Massive tracts of gray and smoke. My heart sank. Was this Lake Charles?

7 comments:

Jessica Ferguson said...

Congratulations! I'm so thrilled that you've finally created your own blog and now we get to learn all about the trauma of relocation. :-) This ought to be fun.

I'm linking you to my personal blog and Bayou Writers.

Looking forward to following your adventures and sharing in your writing success while you're down here in Bayou country.

Walter said...

The page looks great! It's good to have another Yankee in the group. I left in 1979 and you're right, it has been a grand adventure.

Pamela S Thibodeaux said...

Wonderful start, Angie!

Looking forward to the posts that tell how much U Luv us now ;-)

PamT

Winona Cross said...

Angie--I'm liking this all ready. Love your idea of bringing readers up to speed in a memoir fashion. How well I remember the culture shock and some disappointment when we moved here in 1990. I still want to "go home."

Tried to sign on as a follower, but wasn't able to do so. I have added you to my favorites list.

You may have left many friends in PA, but you have certainly stolen hearts in LA.

Nona

Common Household Mom said...

Angie,
I think this is great. I can't wait to hear more about your first impressions of Looziana. I didn't think much of all the hills here in Pittsburgh, until I went to Marion, Ohio for a business trip. THe "business" was driving around Ohio and assessing corn and soybean crops. Flat, flat, flat!

Carolyn G.

Jan F. said...

Angie,
Being a transplant from the South to Pittsburgh, I especially enjoy hearing your perspective. And since I miss you, I'm glad to have a place to check on you and follow your progress. I'm glad to see that you have a nice support group there!
Jan

Anonymous said...

Great looking blog Angie. I miss you and I'm so glad you're coming home soon to meet your new nephew! Lisa