Fitting In

While we are thoroughly enjoying living here, I don't exactly fit in. And honestly, I'm okay with it. Here are three situations I've experienced in the past month that have solidified the fact that I'm not from here.

1) I was out at lunch with co-workers a few Fridays ago. The were discussing the following items:
     a) Slaughtering a cow the upcoming weekend
     b) Having races with headless chickens on a long straight road (right after their heads had been cut off so they would still run) earlier in the summer
     c) How fun a few bars are in southern Illinois that still allow people to smoke inside

2) One of my dysphagia patients has a roommate who suffered a brain injury. The roommate is very kind, and constantly brags about having multiple children. Said roommate always highlights the fact that "they all from the same daddy". Sad that this is even a fact that has to be stated.

3) In another conversation with a few co-workers, I was talking about how small our quaint 850 sq ft apartment is. One of my co-workers agreed, and said she lived in an apartment that was also 850 sq ft, but with her three kids.

Living here has reminded me how fortunate I was growing up and how grateful I am for the opportunities I had as a child and a young adult. C thanks me daily for moving here with him, and I'm glad I did. I'm lucky to have him.

One month of living here down, 20 more months to go!