Beth is in Florida right now and off to Nashville today for CKU, and I have to admit that it's been pretty weird around here without her. She'll be gone for a total of 10 days, and I got to thinking that since we've lived together, this is probably the longest that we've been apart. Don't get me wrong - I'm not freaking out or anything - it's just different.
I've had a quite a few roommates in my time (four in college and two in Las Vegas), and Beth has been the best one. I guess it's a sibling thing! But I did live alone for three years between Las Vegas (1995) and when Beth moved to Indiana (1998). These past few days, I have been remembering what it was like to live on my own.
In the summer of 1995, I moved from Las Vegas to Woodburn, Indiana, to teach at Woodburn Lutheran School. I remember interviewing on the phone from my apartment in LV (which I shared with favorite roommate #2, Michelle Krafft) and asking how many stoplights there were in Woodburn. What a shock when they told me that there were ZERO stoplights in Woodburn! My world was about to change and drastically! I even did a layout about the differences between the two (see below).
My little apartment in "downtown" Woodburn was located at the intersection of Main Street and Bull Rapids Road above Norm's Grocery Store. With one bedroom, it was the perfect size for me, and because of the history of the building, it was quite cute and quaint. OK - so it was a little bizarre to hear the PA in the grocery store. Yep - pretty unsettling to hear, "Price check on aisle 2" while in the bathroom, and it was annoying to find a spot in the parking lot during busy store hours, but I enjoyed that little place. Jim's Pizza across the street (probably the best pizza I've ever had). A bird's eye view of Amish buggies coming to the grocery for supplies. The bank and the post office conveniently located across the street. School and church just a few blocks away. And really some of the nicest people that I have ever met live in Woodburn.
My friend Tony said that it was the most "festively decorated little apartment" he had ever seen. What a high compliment. And I survived - with five TV channels, no Internet or computer, no dishwasher, no cell phone, and a Lutheran school salary. I did it alone and learned a lot in the meantime. I wouldn't trade the experience for the world.
Newsflash!
Today is the day that the July/August 2009 issue of Paper Crafts magazine hits newsstands. It's an Eco themed issue with ideas of how to paper craft ECOnomically and be ECO-friendly at the same time. I love a theme! Look for a fun quiz that I wrote in Paper Crafts Connection and some fantastic features that help you use your scraps and create 5 cards for 5 occasions for $5 (or less)! I also want to give a shout out to the ladies who designed for my various columns and departments - the Paper Crafts Pros - Alisa Bangerter, Wendy Johnson, Kim Kesti, and Susan Neal - you can see their creative ways to save in Ask the Pros. Alisa also has some AMAZING ideas and a really cool project in Tips, Tools, & Techniques. Rachel Greig, Layle Koncar, Teri Anderson, Kim Kesti, and Wendy Sue Anderson blew me away in Photo Finish with their ideas of how to use already printed photo doubles that are gathering dust. And check out Maren Benedict! She'll get you feeling inspired in this issue's Get Inspired!
And how awesome does this cover look? That black banner makes me purr!
OH! And you won't want to miss a crazy cute card created by Beth Opel herself in Cath's Moxie Fabs column!
How would you like to get your hands on this issue? Leave a comment here sharing about a place where you lived long ago or a story you might have about living/spending time alone. All comments must be received by midnight MDT on Thursday, May 28th. One lucky winner will be announced here on the blog sometime Friday and will receive a copy of this issue!
Susan
Hi Susan! I adore that layout. It is so cool!!! 5 for 5 or $5(or less)? Very cool.*Story- I lived in HI breifly as a child. It was pure heaven. I loved it. I moved back there as an adult and did not even recognize the place because it had been built up so much. Luckily for me, I got to live on the side of the island that wasn't quite so populate and touristy. I even got the advantage to be able to gaze out the back windows of the hospital where I worked and see the gorgeous mountains. I sure do miss HI.
Posted by: mhutch | May 26, 2009 at 06:25 AM
I love the ribbon on the phone!
Posted by: Joli | May 26, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Hi Susan, I loved your LO!! What a world apart between LV and Woodburn. I've done the same kind of thing. Portland Oregon and Stevensville, MT in one fellswoop..culture shock is the best description for what I went through. But I loved it! I lived above a restaurant/bar and the "late night crowd" took some getting used to, but I did. I ended up living in Montana for 14 years and loved every minute of it. I would love an extra issue ( I subscribe) to share with my daughter, who is also a cardmaker/scrapper in her spare time. Thanks Susan and I hope you enjoy the 10 days. Carol
Posted by: Carol M. | May 26, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Hi Susan! Great layout! I lived by myself in Kalamazoo, Michigan for a period of time long ago and I have NO pictures but I have to agree when you say you you did it alone and you learned a lot....I couldn't agree more. I had a small one bedroom apartment, a dream job at Upjohn, night job teaching at a cross stitch store, busy every moment between work and friends, but wouldn't trade a moment of it. I ended up having to give up my cute little apartment when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I needed to move home and help take care of her which is a whole different set of experiences I wouldn't give up for the world!
Posted by: Amy Kline | May 26, 2009 at 02:16 PM
I love your very clever layout-comparing the two cities. Very well done.
Long ago I lived in Caracas, Venezuela. My daddy was the chief pilot for Creole, a subsidiary of Standard Oil of New Jersey now Exxon. The weather was always warm-maybe why I prefer warm weather instead of the cold and icy winters here in Indiana. The last two Christmas' that we were in Caracas, we spent with a Venezuelan family. They did not set up a Christmas tree, but instead put up a huge Nativity set in the corner of the dining room. Each day they would move the Holy Family closer to the manger and then on Christmas Eve at midnight they would place the Baby Jesus in the manger. We would follow that by singing traditional Venezuelan Christmas Carols, much different than anything we are used to signing, but what memories!!!
Posted by: Betsy | May 26, 2009 at 05:39 PM
I grew up in a town without a stop light too. With 150 people, I suppose it didn't seem necessary. The neighboring town was huge - 800! (Still no light). I now live in a town of 14000 and my family things it's huge!
Posted by: Jennifer Hansen | May 26, 2009 at 08:09 PM
I have lived in the same area my whole life, which is both a little boring and also kinda nice. My favourite place was the farm I live on for the first six years of my life. Wide open spaces - love 'em!
Posted by: Cass | May 26, 2009 at 09:15 PM
I am always jealous of the people that don't have student loans and can actually save money these days. After college I moved out on my own, despite the fact I had no money, no furniture, nothing! I knew living at home would save me money, but I LIKE being a loner. My sisters both lived at home and saved money and mooched off the parents a little longer, but I just NEEDED to be out on my own, no matter the cost. Now, thinking back, sometimes I wish I had made a bigger dent in the student loans while just sucking it up and living at home, but I really think it is necessary for a person to live by themselves. You learn more about yourself when others aren't around, and there's more worth in that than there is in money!! (That's about as far back as I can go, you know, cause I'm still so young! haha)
Posted by: Carrie | May 28, 2009 at 07:17 AM