Changes

[Jason Lilly]

I feel very much at home here at Capital High. This is the best job I have had since Nitro (where I very much enjoyed my position as Drama Club director). And to make things even better, my wife received her school assignments for next year. She is a school social worker and will be visiting four different schools in the Elkview area. This puts her about ten minutes from Capital. What is my point and why is this blog post titled "Changes"? We just might decide to move.

Saturday morning we followed a realtor out a back road outside Pinch, WV (yes, that's really its name) until we came to a semi-bumpy road, up a hill, and to a scraggly looking white trailer. Regardless of the warming temperatures elsewhere, there was still about 6-8 inches of snow on the ground. Responding to rumors that a mountain lion just might be living under the trailer, the realtor politely said, "You might want to wait here a second." He trekked through the snow, up to the trailer, unlocked the front door, and stepped in. After about two minutes, he poked his head out the door. "Okay, I think you'll be alright."

We braved the creaky steps up to the front trailer door and immediately the familiar smell of dog assaulted our nostrils. The carpet was shredded, tiles were peeking up from the kitchen floor, holes decorated various spots on the wall. It was appalling.

So why would we even consider renting such a place? Outside... I stood alone for a moment, trying to listen for the sounds of traffic, planes soaring above, voices... but nothing. Just the wind, a few barking beagles down the road, some birds confused by the recent warm trend. No traffic... no planes... just the outdoors. The realtor assured us that the place would be fixed up and would not even resemble its current condition.

If we do decided to move, my entire household will be making sacrifices. My children will be moved from their current school. I will probably have to quit my job at the movie theater. My wife would have to adapt to living in a more rural setting. But change usually equals sacrifice, doesn't it?

I don't know what we will do. The realtor is supposed to call us back after the trailer is fixed up and we will go out to see it again. Maybe we will make our decision then. Either way, wish me luck.

[Sonja Phillips]

When I was writing up the description for the Realtor's pages in the newspaper on our ex-house in Clendenin, I included the phrasing "Come and listen to my birds". My old house had the most wonderful variety of song birds along with a beautiful side yard for bird feeders and the like. The woods on either side of the road/house/creek provided marvelous cover for them to perch and sing their little hearts out. That house is actually up for sale again if you would be interested...;-)