Blogimore.com

It’s hard to believe that Lisa and I have been in Baltimore for a year at this point. We pulled into town just after lunch on January 15, 2007. It was a sunny, unseasonably warm day in Baltimore, but the city was in a foul mood. The day before, the Baltimore Ravens had lost a playoff game against the hated Indianapolis Colts. After unloading the cars and getting the cats settled, we hit the grocery store for some staples and then had our first introduction to Sabatino’s in Little Italy.

Our first year in Baltimore has been…interesting. We’ve certainly learned a lot and seen changes in ourselves. We learned what 7 degrees feels like during the morning commute. We’ve learned that it’s possible to live and be comfortable in a house that’s only 10.5 feet wide. We’ve learned how cool it is to just be 40 minutes from Washington, DC, 1.5 hours to Philadelphia, 3 hours to New York City, and 6 hours to Rhode Island. We have also witnessed the significant difference in cost of living between Texas and the east coast.

Lisa learned how courageous she can be. She’s learned how hard it can be to have impeccable ethics in an imperfect world. She has also found a natural home for her social work gifts working with sick kids at Johns Hopkins.

At work, I’ve learned about content management systems, search marketing and managing a department’s budget. I’ve been reminded how I look carrying an extra 15 pounds. I’m starting to understand how much better I feel and how much sharper I can be on a (nearly) full night’s sleep.

Baltimore has taught us that racism and segregation are not monopolized by the deep South. We’ve discovered that from May to September, there’s an unspoken rule of no shirt, no problem! In the last year we’ve learned that while Chipotle will hold us over when there’s no alternative, after a long drought without Ojeda’s, that first bite of enchilada can honestly bring tears to your eyes. Baltimore has taught us how dear our friends and family are to us and what homesickness feels like. While living in Baltimore, we’ve endured the shock and agony of losing a dear member of the family and been reminded of the sleepless nights, shredded arms and hands, extreme frustration and utter joy that a new kitten can bring to a household.

Thanks to an interesting year, Baltimore. It’s been real.