Mine Again in Memphis

When I left Portland I knew there were some things I was leaving behind for good.

Family, ClassPass and Trader Joe's were at the top of my list. No sales tax, gas station attendants and standing workstations were next. I'd already bid my farewells to straight hair among the humidity and goodbye to rain boots because of all the rumors I heard about scorching summers in the south.

While I don't see my family - or ClassPass and gas attendants - moving to Memphis anytime soon, here's some things that returned to my life in the past 10 days. It's really true; if you love something let it go. If it comes back it was meant to be.

+ A big beautiful if-this-is-a-prank-im-going-postal thing happened last week in the form of a news article suggesting all systems are GO on adding a Trader Joe's to the place I've been planting my Oregonian roots. This article's validity may even influence the area of town I'll invest in for the beginnings of a very-very-far-away future family. I have the customer service phone number - and will share it with you too - so that I can call and express my excitement for this location's consideration.

+ I am the world's worst sit at a desk all day kind of girl. I find myself so thankful for the many daily meetings I have that are standing room only and the fact that I'm so insignificant and don't need a seat at the table. For three weeks now I've been pushing through sore hips, tight shoulders, and an achy back while I ask co-workers how they possibly sit all day. I describe to them this magical world of Portland hippies at Nike World Headquarters who appreciate workplace ergonomics and offer alternate workstations and alignment consultations to any employee that wants it. I found exactly what I was looking for in the most unconventional and anti-social location. The cafeteria. No, I'm not forever hungry if you have to go find me there, I'm just taking care of my muscles.

+ By default I just made some new best buddies last week who love to drink, eat, trash talk my boyfriend and watch football. Considering that I'm singlehandedly the best trash talker and hater of my guy in a public setting, I fit right in. I participated in my very first Fantasy Football draft and didn't adopt any crazy-girly strategy like what player looks best in football pants, but came out with a B+ grading from Yahoo's point of view. That's one level up from the boy's grading of just a "B".

+ I've never seen so much rain in the summer. I thought I wouldn't need any rain boots in my new world, but I've had to wear jackets and sweaters just to keep warm and dry this month. Southern summers, what? No, I didn't bring Portland with me. I don't know that I've ever seen rain in August in Portland. In fact, the entire Northwest is up in flames this month from the wildfires and unusual temperatures.

+ I thought that the words 'nature' and 'outdoors' were gone from my vocabulary, but this past weekend we headed West to a gorgeous lake house in Arkansas and soaked up some water, trees, and sun rays. I learned to ride and operate a jet ski, boarded a pontoon boat in person, laid in this hammock and snuggled on this guy all weekend. We are heading back as soon as possible if you didn't already gather that I loved this weekend and everything about it.

Family? ClassPass? Who's next to join me here in Tennessee?