This weekend we started the process for finding a new place to live. Our lease isn’t up for a few months so this will all take some time. But it was quite fun to explore Whitmore Lake and Brighton. I saw a lake completely frozen for the first time in my life and there were people skating all over it and I swooned over and over. I think I really, really want to live around Whitmore Lake.
When we stumbled across Mt. Brighton (about 12 minutes away from Whitmore Lake) and realized there was skiing, I immediately knew that Steve and Cassidy needed to know about this place. They love snow boarding and I had no idea that this place existed. I’m so wiggly about learning to ski and snow board!
We still want to rent for the time being and found a beautiful apartment (much bigger than our current one!) that will be our plan B. Plan A is a house or a town home. The town homes we’ve seen so far are too small and the houses we’ve seen haven’t been too impressive either. But hopefully we’re talking with a real estate agent this week and will see some better houses soon.
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If you live in South Carolina, you’re probably aware that the bank I helped start a few years ago just got closed by the FDIC on Friday evening. I was an emotional mess on Friday night. To be frank, I was really shocked to be so weepy about it all (some if it may be because I’ve been off my thyroid meds for a week now – I have GOT to get that filled this weekend) but I just couldn’t stop crying.
I had an amazing experience with that bank and I have such incredibly wonderful memories.
I remember being a drive-thru teller at Carolina First in 2004 and watching A. walk around and the hushed whispers that he was starting a new bank. I remember the conversation when D. asked if I wanted to jump on board. And the interview that was supposed to happen with A. ended up happening with J. and the rest is history. I ventured into Operations and did everything from filing stock information, to installing toilets, to helping decide what the bank debit card would look like. I remember the late night working, learning to manage the network, reports-reports-reports, and the pure adrenaline we all ran on as we tried so hard to do our best. And we did.
We moved from that temporary office to a modular building and then eventually to that beautiful building on Hwy 123. I went from being the Operations Assistant to the Operations and HR Administrator – and really, I was just figuring it all out as I went. Suddenly our little team of hard-workers grew and I met SO many people and we became a real family. The bank was voted Best Bank in the Upstate many times and between their free chocolate chip cookies and extremely wonderful customer service – they just charmed everyone.
When I left in October of ’06, I was leaving to write a children’s book. And then two weeks later, I found out that Daniel and I were expecting a baby. The hardest part was leaving J. I get teary just thinking about it. He was an incredibly hard worker and taught me SO much about behind-the-scenes-banking. Between just our everyday working, our philosophical conversations – he was just the best boss ever. And when I think about heading back into the work force at some point after Drew is in school, I always think I’ll compare every boss I have to J.
(What made all of this more emotional was that Friday night was our anniversary and that evening five years ago, all of my co-workers from the bank had been at our wedding.)
I’m really glad that there isn’t too much drama happening with the change – everyone’s money is safe, I think most people are keeping their jobs, and hopefully the bank who is purchasing them will have more opportunities for everyone. But I’m still sad that my bank is gone. I can’t imagine the stress that the employees are under right now and I just wish I could give them all a big hug.
RIP dear bank. I loved you. You were beautiful to me and I will cherish those memories. You taught me about working hard and dreaming big.
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Last night Daniel and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary by hitting up some Italian food. We reminisced about meeting each other six years ago. The first time I saw him in the airport when he flew down from Maryland to take me to dinner (which was Italian as well) and then when he played the piano for me. And then flew back home. All in the same evening. I was swept off my feet for sure. 🙂
We talked about how much has changed in our lives since we got married and we laughed and I did cry a bit as well. When we were curled up on Amelia Island, we had no idea that we’d be here, and that we’d be so very different. We toasted to the next chapter of our lives and then rushed to catch a movie.
And then came home to play cards and get craaazy with Steve and Cassidy. I’m surprised we didn’t wake Drew.
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All in all, a great weekend! Albeit an emotional one.