Leaving Piedmont

Dear 533 Blair Avenue,

As you know by now I've left Piedmont. It wasn't you, it was me. I'm moving on to new, exciting adventures. Well technically I've "moved" on to Cragmont Avenue, but it's a step towards something exciting. It's been bittersweet. We had some good great times. I am so glad I had the opportunity to live in Piedmont and on Blair Avenue.

I remember the first time we met. I was so eager to get out of my crazy living situation that I replied to your posting the first day. I was impressed by your charm, nice owners and although the apartment was small it felt like a perfect fit. I'm glad your owners thought so too; getting out of my living situation was a much needed breath of fresh air! And we worked out a pretty sweet exchange of babysitting for lowered rent. The kids were cute and seemed harmless.

Turned out that the kids were cute, mostly harmless and taught me so many lessons that I'll never forget. Remember the time R locked herself in her room because she was soooooooo mad at me? I never thought I could be so defeated by a 7 year old. Turns out she wanted to be my friend just as much as I wanted to be hers; it just took time for her to trust me. We had so much fun in that short time before her bedtime reading books, play games, braiding hair and making paper dolls. I'm so glad we became friends!

Did you ever keep track of how many times E told me I could "go home" because his parents were there? I think I lost count. Poor guy didn't make the connection for quite a while that I lived there too. Once he realized I was there everyday, he would come out on the porch in the morning to say BYE as I left for work.

You know what I still don't remember? The words to the song Blackbird. You know it's one of a handful of songs R and E liked to sing before bed. No matter how hard I tried, I never got ALL the words right. It was fun to giggle with them when I messed up.


How crazy was it when that old lady was found mummified in the house down the street? Creepy! I'm glad you're on the other side of the street and farther up the hill. It's better that way...except when I'm riding my bike or trying to reverse my car into a parking spot. Did you ever think my car was going to just give up on that hill? Yeah, I did too.


Do you remember how I asked if I could take the huge table out of your kitchen, thinking I'd get a cute cafe table to entertain? That huge table turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the apartment. Who says you can't have a craft room and kitchen all in one? It was a multitasker's dream come true!

What wasn't a dream come true was how many times I blew a fuse while using too many outlets or couldn't for the life of me get an internet connection. I don't think Brian will miss having to duck so he doesn't hit his head on the stairwell. Or having to shut all four doors in my room to keep the boogy man out HEY....mummified body? Yeah, you never know.Although there were lots of doors, I was grateful for all the storage space behind two of those doors. The cheerful yellow walls made it a perfect little bedroom.

Do you remember when I hadn't received my new Real Simple and I thought maybe your owners were upstairs reading it? Ok, I didn't REALLY think that....but I was wondering where the heck it was. I know, silly me! Such nice landlords, neighbors and friends. I remember the night they came home from their date night, the kids were in bed and I'd had having a rough night. I tried to keep it together but being the kind intuitive people they are they said...everything ok? That's when the water works started on my end and the hugs and open, sympathetic ears on their end. I always knew they were a little more than just my landlords, they were like family.

You can see why it's been bittersweet. Change brings opportunity and excitement, but it also takes some adjustment. It's funny how much more emotional I am leaving you than I was leaving my crazy situation on Oakland Avenue. I know I had a great situation and I have you to thank. I'd always wanted to live alone and it was nice to have that opportunity, while having a family close by, just in case.

This isn't really goodbye, it's see you soon...only this time I won't blow any fuses!

Take care! 

Love always,
Chelle