My Geographically Discontent Soul

Let le begin this blog by posting the sentence that started the whole thought process:





What would happen if Joannah from NY met Joannah from Ga? or What if the new (OLD) me...Met the Old (young) me? That being said, This must also be said.





I am a New Yorker through and through. If you are not a New Yorker, you may not understand this. I have never lived in NYC, but someday, I will. I have lived on the Island, in Orange Co, Ulster Co, Suffolk Co and here in Steuben Co. *





{* Yes, where Steuben Glass originated, but if thats what youre basing your idea on-don't. It aint fancy folks! Its rural and podunk and gorgeous, but its known for its hunting more than probably anything else.}





And as big and vast as this state of Ny is, and as much as I LOVE it, and I do!





I have a longing for the South. And not all the South mind you....Florida, Virginia and Alabama I could never, ever see again. I like S. Carolina. But I love Georgia. I didnt want to, but I did. Once I was there, I felt at home. And when I left, I left a part of me there. I cannot explain it.





Heres what I can explain. I hate the heat. When I'd walk out of the air conditioning of Hartsfield, into the stifling Atlanta air, I couldnt breathe for a second. But I hate air conditioning, and the air warms you up instantly. Georgia has a smell. Its different from the beautiful smell here in Western Ny, but it smells good too. It smells like, well, Dixie.



I think I was probably gravitating towards Georgia for my whole life in my unconscience. I came of age there. I became me in the sweltering heat thirty miles or so beneath the bright lights of Atlanta. I was lucky enough to have one of Americas most accessible citys at my fingertips. I have driven Peachtree St in my convertible with the topdown at dusk. I was twenty. I was young and beautiful and there was music everywhere. All kinds of wonderful, different. live, rockin ass music to hear in a million terriffic venues to see it in. I think I went to a half a million shows from 93-99. I don't even think Im exaggerating.



I saw the Grateful Dead with Jerry Spring Tour of 94, the Weekend of the Great Atlanta Pot Festival with Penelope. I don't think either of us will ever forget, although I don't think we remember much either. We also saw Tori Amos a few times together, as I did with my sister. And I believe we went to see NIN, Depeche Mode, Widespread Panic, Lollapalooza and a million other shows at the Masquerade that I can't recall right now together...



Theres much more to Ga than the music scene though. There are the wonderful places to go and see history all around you. You find these little gems not just in Atlanta, but in every town along the way. Kind of like how it is here in Western NY. Although Ive yet to find a Fayetteville, I've found my fair share of towns like Fairburn and Griffin. Quaint little towns that time seemed to forget. I see towns like that here all the time.



When I first left the hustle and bustle of Long Island the thought of being a Yankee in Dixie terrified me. And I never really thought I would get used to it. But when you're young you're like Play Dough. You change, youre pliable. I settled in, after hearing a million times, " Ma'am, you're gonna have to slow down a bit. I cant understand you." And I did. It was lovely. I miss that. Its part of why I live where I do. But in Ga I had all the lovely amenities of Long Island, plus it was so pretty and clean! with the added charm of Southern Hospitality on top of it.



I left Ga after the birth of my first child, and thank the lord for that. I think if I'd stayed I would weight 400 lbs right now. While you cant get good Italian bread or bagels down south, thats about it. Let me list what I cant get where I live now: Chick -Fil_A ( but if you come on up, I'll make you one hell of a mean hot brown!) MexicAN Food, Fried Chicken, Fried Okra, Vegetable Plates, Decent BBQ,





I always wanted my children to say Maam and Sir and refer to their elders as Miss and Mister. There is a certain charm, strictly Southern, in that practice. I like to think I say Momma because I lived in Ga.



Some OF MY FAVORITE DAYS SPENT IN ny HAVE BEEN SO HOT i SWEAR i WATCHED PAINT MELT OFF THE WALLS. Coincidence? I think not.

But back to the question at hand. What would the old Jo say to the new Jo ( who happens to be...old?) I think my 22 year old self would be mortified at the lack of attention paid to my hands and feet. Havent seen a mani/pedi in a decade. Also at the lack of culture to which I am surrounded. It could be part of my declining mental stability. Just kidding, i think. I doubt very much the 22 year old me would even rocognise the 33 yr old Mom of three she became. Or the body you inherit after birthing those babies! Or the never ending spring of gray hair sprouting from this cranium.

And what would I say to the 22 yr old if given the chance? Put down those cigarettes you idiot, youre going to battle atshma and pneumonia for years to come? You shouldnt drink so much, you"ll regret it? Or maybe, Wear a bikini everyday, while you can? Travel, it gets harder to when you need a sitter.

Really what I would say is, Have fun. Love Life. Everythings going to be ok.

oh yeah, and stay the hell outta the Palace Damn it! lol.

Is it possible to want to live in two places at once? Because I do. I want to live in Ga while giving my kids a NY public school education. In close proximity to their Grandparents.

I suppose thats what vacations are for. And I really need one, because Im missing my other home. And Aunt Jo, Aunt Karen, Kelly, Lisa, Meg, Manda, Allison, Clara, Uncle Jim, James, Scotty w Carter, Johnnys Pizza, Chick fil A, Fellini's, L5P, Wax N Facts, Sacred Heart Tattoo, Junkmans Daughter, Georgia State Radio!Starship,Sweet Tea, Krystal, Georgia Clay.......