Moving to Asheville

Hi All,

I am truly enjoying my new adventure here in Asheville. I’m writing this on Sunday morning at the Bean Street Café. It’s a funky little place I discovered on a previous trip. They have all my Sunday morning needs – inexpensive Southern breakfast complete with red eye gravy, free wireless for my computer, newspapers (local and NYTimes) and a fellow playing acoustic guitar. Does it get any better than this? I can’t imagine how!

I started my new job on Monday. I couldn’t have put myself on a worse possible start yet have such a successful time. On Sunday night I ate some almond butter and crackers before I went to bed. I had just opened the jar in NYC, and put it with some other staples in a grocery bag to bring with me. What I didn’t realize is that it should have been refrigerated. On top of that, I take something to help me sleep (menopausal side effect, but that’s probably TMI – too much information) and without paying too much attention to what I had packed from my medicine cabinet, I just popped the aspirin-looking tablet into my mouth. I didn’t sleep well at all and my tummy was very upset. I assumed it was from new place/new job jitters, although I really didn’t feel that anxious emotionally about any of this. I was up most of the night from the almond butter – which I discovered the cause the next morning when I though about what I had eaten. And then later discovered that instead of taking the right prescription, I had instead taken something my dentist had given me. The entire first day I was wound tighter than a girdle on a Baptist minister's wife at an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.

However, I must have appeared very calm on the outside. By the end of the week my boss said that I had said all the right things and done all the right things. There are 5 of us packed into a space the size of my Manhattan bedroom and I was practically sitting on my bosses’ lap, with his wife almost sitting on my lap (my desk is actually sandwiched in between them). For some reason (either the stars were in excellent alignment, or perhaps it’s just my maturity and experience) I was given a key to the building on Friday and have a photo session scheduled for a press release photo for Monday. The corporate office is writing the pr piece for us based on my resume. They seem happy to have such a sophisticated New Yorker, who obviously speaks southernese fluently!

But, just as we were all leaving on Friday, the wife boss (the bean counter of the two, he likes to talk to marketing and sales with me, not her) said, “Oh, I forgot to set you up on a time card.” While I was sitting there dumbfounded, the Art Director said (God bless her), “You shouldn’t put her on a time card, she’s a professional.” I did notice earlier in the week that everyone except the owners is on a punch-in time card. I have not worked on a punch card since I worked in a factory while attending community college at the age of 19 – 20. Yikes! I have to tell you, that’s not going to set well with me. If they are really going to insist on that, I may perhaps have to rethink this job situation! It just does something psychologically to me. So, this could possibly turn into a short-term job.

I do like the people, although they are not the healthiest group. I’m a little shocked at the number of people who smoke. There are nine people there and at least half smoke, including the owners. He has a bad case of asthma and coughs horribly during the day. But they are all very friendly, helpful and patient. I have no problems with working with customers, explaining what we can do with printing and why. I have almost mastered the computer programs that prices jobs (and that’s without a computer of my own – I have to borrow others). They hardest thing I am having trouble with is the cash register! I haven’t operated one of those things since, again, back in community college days.

My boss has assured me though, when we get into our new building – in about two weeks - I will not be helping at the front. I’m doing it now to learn the systems. Oh yes, I went with the wife boss and the art director earlier in the week to pick out my furniture for my office. They took me to the new building and it’s going to be very spacious and I have a great office. If they don’t put me on a stupid time card, I think I will like this job.


FYI, I did rent my apt. As soon as the holidays were over, people really started looking. I was able to choose a woman from Chicago, 34, who is doing the same thing in NYC that I am doing in Asheville. I have leased it to her until April 15. At that point we agreed to discuss whether I will sell it, come back or extend renting as it is. I learned a lot while reviewing other people’s credit records and references. She’s a real “put together” sharp woman, according the real estate broker and from my phone conversations. I feel confident she will take great care of my home in NYC.

I am truly enjoying myself here. I stayed in a friend’s apartment last week that is on a ridge overlooking the city nightlights of Asheville. In the mornings, there has been a nice mist through the city and the hills and mountains beyond. He has a beautiful terrace where I’ve been able to sit and just feel peace that I haven’t felt since Australia. I can actually see stars (anyone who’s ever been in Manhattan at night knows the stars are nonexistent against the bright lights of the city that never sleeps). It’s not the same as the Southern Cross Constellation in Mullum, NSW, where the night sky is like a saltshaker gone wild on a black dinette table, but its makes me feel closer to energy of the natural world.

Let me know if you are interested in hearing more. I love writing like this, but I don’t want to bore anyone. I hope each of you is well and having a good life too. I know we all go through changes in our lives and I’m grateful that I have the luxury of sharing some of mine with you. I love to hear about yours. Please write!

Love,
Gwen

Next installment: moving to a more permanent home (a one month lease).