To quote David Byrne: How did I get here?
I’ve spent 82% of my life thus far living in the Midwest, which is really a fine place to grow up and raise children. But, as you may have heard, its economy is in a shambles and its backbone, the auto industry, is suffering major, major trauma. So suddenly things change: spouses take new jobs, kids move off to college, and you think, well, am I going to live in this lovely suburb forever?
Ha. Of course not. So here I am, in an urban loft in Capitol Hill, with husband and cat, ready to explore the District. It’s an amazing place. A co-worker gave me a ride home the other night. We drove right past the Capitol. It was spectacular. It literally took my breath away. My plan in this blog is to document my perspective on life in Washington.
I am a total newcomer to Washington (you can tell this because I don’t have all the members of Congress memorized yet), so if you’re from DC, I apologize for my observations about life here that must be obvious to you all.
As for Detroit, I care deeply about what happens there. Especially to the Tigers. And the auto industry. And, since I have so many professionally literate friends and family in Detroit, I am hoping to get regular reports and photos from Ground Zero of the recession.
DND Daily Index
- Boxes left to unpack: 42
- Top headline in Detroit Freep: Facing huge revenue loss, communities scramble
- Top headline in Washington Post: Prognosis improving for public option approach
- Top headline in Washington Times: Pelosi easing robust ‘public option’ stance
- Top headline in Detroit News: Investor: $10K won Kilpatrick’s help
We left Detroit just over two years ago with the intention of a permanent move. Mostly, the “permanence” was an attempt to maintain stability for our boys, who grew up in the midwest suburbs. The last thing we wanted to do was to move there, then move somewhere else.
Yes, Michigan has had economic challenges for about the past 10 years, so we moved with the intention of finding a growing economy. Looks like your choice is more solid than ours! I see where you are right now, Laurie, and am happy that you have this chance to view things from a different lens. It’s really neat entrenching yourself in a place that’s at least a stitch or two different from yours, even though you’ll find many things that are similar.
Now that we’re back in Detroit, I feel like I appreciate it much more, and am less intimated by the things that I thought kept me from getting involved. You already learned that lesson, however, so I hope this is all pure enjoyment for you!
Thanks for the good words, Christy! Washington is a dynamic place that I’m looking forward to making a home in. Detroit still feels like home, though. You know how it is.