You can pre-order our book about dating while disabled! You can listen to me talk about my modern love essay here. You can listen to me talk about Unfit Parent here. I was born at Sibley Hospital in Washington, D.C. When we crossed into the U.S. a couple of weeks ago, the border agent looked at our passports. “Wow! One born in New York and one born in D.C.!” As we drove, his comment made me think about the geography of where we are born and what that does to us.
It's funny, I always felt somewhat resentful of growing up in Raleigh, NC. With it's humidity and its small town-dressing up as a big town-ness, I never really identified with being Southern and felt pride in my hometown. Then I spent a year living abroad and I absolutely ached for the heat and humidity of NC summers, the sound of cicadas, the fireflies. Now I live in Henderson, NC in an old house that needs repairs, and to my utmost surprise, I don't see myself ever wanting to move away from NC. Big hardy welcome to North Carolina!
Funny, I never felt like I quite took to the humid greenness of Durham, NC; I’ve always missed the spare, arid beauty of Flagstaff, Arizona, where I was born. I think I know what you you mean about California, though. I actually loved it, but there was something about the indifferent vastness of the coast that could make me feel very alone—small and afraid.
Lovely writing, as always. Great that you get to spend some time in North Carolina!
This hit me. The description of entering NC, so apt. The substance of being affected by geography and how it confirms or grates against our identity is something I've felt in the recesses of my soul but never quite put into words. Thank you for writing this, and for sharing your life with us in stories. I'm always happy when I see your name in my inbox--I know I'm about to go all-in on a brief but lasting connection. :)
It's funny, I always felt somewhat resentful of growing up in Raleigh, NC. With it's humidity and its small town-dressing up as a big town-ness, I never really identified with being Southern and felt pride in my hometown. Then I spent a year living abroad and I absolutely ached for the heat and humidity of NC summers, the sound of cicadas, the fireflies. Now I live in Henderson, NC in an old house that needs repairs, and to my utmost surprise, I don't see myself ever wanting to move away from NC. Big hardy welcome to North Carolina!
Funny, I never felt like I quite took to the humid greenness of Durham, NC; I’ve always missed the spare, arid beauty of Flagstaff, Arizona, where I was born. I think I know what you you mean about California, though. I actually loved it, but there was something about the indifferent vastness of the coast that could make me feel very alone—small and afraid.
Lovely writing, as always. Great that you get to spend some time in North Carolina!
This hit me. The description of entering NC, so apt. The substance of being affected by geography and how it confirms or grates against our identity is something I've felt in the recesses of my soul but never quite put into words. Thank you for writing this, and for sharing your life with us in stories. I'm always happy when I see your name in my inbox--I know I'm about to go all-in on a brief but lasting connection. :)