msnoel.com

I am from a town near Charleston, SC, called Moncks Corner, where lunches consist of tomato sandwiches and sweetened iced tea. Kids play on four wheelers and get muddy all the time, and no one cares. Mothers use water hoses to get rid of the mud. Fried chicken, turnip greens, okra, and potato salad are common staples.

We moved to St. Louis eight years ago because my son, Kyle, needed to attend St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, and while it wasn't what I had planned, it turned into a grand adventure for my entire family. No one can understand the thrill achieved from packing up and heading West, thousands of miles away from the known into the unknown. It's like stepping outside on a crisp fall day and feeling a new breeze upon your face.

It took me awhile to find a new grocery store, new bank, and a new hairdresser. I never did find the Merita bread, and don't even ask me about boiled peanuts.  But gradually... very gradually, I did find new delights in toasted ravioli and Bread Co.

My kids didn't play in the woods and chase animals like I did at their age, but they did enjoy Cardinals' games and the St. Louis Zoo. They loved toasted ravioli, too. I still made tomato sandwiches even if I had to use Wonder bread.   There was snow instead of mud. My boys played with friends in the neighborhood all the time and made me wish I had had neighbors at their age. We had a great eight years.

UPDATE -- August 2009

We've been able to return to the Southeast. We're not in Charleston or even South Carolina, but we're close to my in-laws and are able to see them often. I'm excited to return to the country and see the kids enjoy the things I experienced at their age. I've been able to talk to them about kudzu, mudd'n, and fishing. Cameron's excited! Kyle... well, he misses the Cardinals.  I'm glad there's MLB.com.  I'll re-write this page later.