I Do Not Like New Jersey
27 Apr
I do not like New Jersey. I have tried. I’ve tried to remain positive, joyful…Enough. This place stinks. South Jersey is bad. I want to go home.
I love Texas. I love the people. I love the food. I love the availability of Reformed Baptist churches and u turns.
I am grateful David has a job. I am grateful that his arthritis hasn’t flared since we’ve been here. However, I am counting on visits from several family members and friends this summer to get me through until we get to go home for the holidays.
I want to be able to stick Henry in our backyard when we are eating. I want Henry to be able to play with his cousins in my parents’ backyard so he can burn off some energy. I cannot believe how hard it is to fly with a dog!
The breaking point was Saturday when David and I went to get our New Jersey drivers licenses. We had our passports, social security cards, Texas drivers licenses, credit cards, library cards, apartment lease and our New Jersey electric bill. They gave David a drivers license, but I couldn’t get one. The lease was “just a copy” and the utilities are only in David’s name. Yeah, I came all the way from Texas to get a driver’s license with a fake copy of an apartment lease. Right…
I wouldn’t say I’m miserable. Miserable was David being bedridden with arthritis pain. And God is still good. I still praise him in the bad times. But this place is awful.
We’re still searching for a church. We found a chiropractor. I don’t like him as much as our chiro in Dallas, but David felt better after we saw him last night.
I felt…like I’d made quite an impression. Yesterday I cleaned house all day and walked Henry. We got to the chiropractic clinic, and the assistant did a scan of my spine. I had to take my shirt off and wear one of those paper gowns. As I took my shirt off, I realized…I forgot to put on deodorant.
Yes. I did my hair and makeup, but I forgot deodorant. Not when I went to the dentist. When I saw the chiropractor who moves your body, has you cross and uncross your arms and flip over on the table. Maybe they thought I was all natural. No chemicals on my body baby!
Hand me another Diet Coke will ya?
OH honey. I’m so sorry. I’m praying right now that God will send you something that gives you SO much joy it eases the ache of being homesick. I can’t imagine how tough it must be with David gone all day working…you are ONE TOUGH CHICKY!!
I wish I could do something to make you feel better!
THinking of you and praying for you!!
Ashley, you are so funny about the deodorant! By the way you are looking at this experience, as going au natural, it seems like you have made lemonade out of lemons. (good advise…I need to do this more.)
I know what you are going through by living away from family/friends. I know most days you just want to sit there and cry. When we moved to Arizona from Michigan, our new church had a map of the U.S. on the wall at the front of the church to encourage missions. How great was that! Michigan stuck out like a sore thumb! (the mitten, surrounded by lakes!) I had a huge lump in my throat at every service for the longest time. (cried many times too ) I don’t really have any good suggestions, that you don’t already know, except I’m glad we will be seeing you in June! I know that you have been very positive and this is so important when someone has a chronic illness. You are such a good example for others and I’m glad that you can share these times to encourage others. Miss you two! June come quickly! xoxox
Awe honey!!! Praying for you! Wish I had some words of wisdom…unfortunately..I don’t. But know that you are in my prayers!
HUGE (((HUGS))))!!!
Just said a prayer that God will find you a friend up there in New Jersey. Or is it over there? Someone who was also transplanted and hates New Jersey and maybe even someone from Texas (or southern at least – someone who knows how to say Y’all come on over for a cookout and ice cream)and someone who needs your company as much as you are needing their company. Nothing is too hard for God.
Sometimes it’s in his own time though. Stress makes you forget to put on deodorant – at least that’s my excuse when I did that!
LOL. I lived in Jersey from 8yo-16yo and I also hated it. My sister is in Brownsmills (near Mt.Holly). I’m feeling for you. At least the weather should be nicer than a Texas summer.
Ashley,
Give it some more time. Once you make some more friends up there it won’t be bad! I’ll try and visit my mom this summer so I can come see you guys!
-Andy
Oh, I wish ice cream could be transmitted over the internet!!!!!! Hopefully you’ll be able to find a church family soon!
I know you are frustrated, but your post made me smile. The DMV is soooooooo frustrating. I love Diet Coke, too! And I would sweat through my deoderant due to the nervousness of having a chiro touch me!
Have a lovely day!
Oh, and I hope you find a good church real soon. It is so nice to get connected and have those relationships.
And be a rebel. Make a U-Turn.
Being from NY and my husband from NJ (we now live in MD0), I know what you are talking about (Hubby lived in Middle-ish NJ, Edison and Woodbridge). I pray that God sends you a great encouragement soon!
I’m sorry you’re not liking it. Moving is so hard, I remember the last time we moved to a new place where I didn’t know anyone and it sucked. Actually, I ended up going to therapy a few times until I acclimated and found my place. I hope that it’s just temporary and that things will get better. (Hugs)
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I know what you mean about missing Texas – I moved to Montana for 6 months and then high-tailed it back home. I never even got a different driver’s license lol. I hope you find a church home and some of Jersey’s redeeming qualities real soon (it must have some, right?)
awww I’m so sorry hun. I can imagine how different of a place Jersey is to what you are used to. Try to give it some more time…I think you are being a very good sport and a supportive wife. Hang in there!
I hope things are better for you now. I live in New Jersey and as with any other place, you have good parts and bad. I hope you find new friends that can show you the ropes so doing things aren’t so challenging. I’ll ask my pastor if he knows of any churches in the area that he can recommend. Chin up!