I kinda got the whole "you're weird" angle growing up. "You don't fit in." I even had someone ask me where I was from when I had grown up right here the whole time... they declared, "but you talk like a newscaster!" (favorite line ever).
I guess it doesn't help that I brought a Yankee down that definitely doesn't fit the bill - grew up in Bangkok, has tattoos, is often quiet in a chatty room, not quite trained up on his southern graces. We're trying to help him tap into his Thai roots because that's important to him and our kids.
I always had big ideas for this place too, and even though I didn't initially want to move back here - I'm mostly glad I did. I want to see it change, but not to wreck the foundation of this place called The South. I just see room for improvement; I want the world to see what I love about Columbus.
But I get the feeling that even after being here for 10 years and growing up here most of my life... that there's something that's still "weird" that puts people off about my family. So I'm going to try to level this with common ground.
We, despite our appearances, are not cultish, drugged up, antisocial freaks here to convert your children to "alternative lifestyles" (I wish this was an exaggeration but I've heard this suggested by some uncouth individuals). My husband and I are Christians, not lifelong Christians, but we have found Jesus and we mean it. We are both working on our education and have been licensed by the state of Georgia to be Real Estate professionals. We are some damn hard workers and keep going despite the fact that it seems things rarely work in our favor (which I believe has something to do with how we're perceived).
We have big crazy ideas, but we're not flakey dreamers. We're trying to make it work. We haven't been "just bouncing around" and we've been major contributors to local organizations by giving our time and what money we have to give. We have made a commitment to this city and to the people in it, to be of service in both real estate and in our talents (which includes everything from cooking to social media, playing guitar and making jewelry). We're not here to rip anyone off or cut you short or force ideas; we just want to help make people as happy as possible with what we've got and what opportunities allow.
We'd like to get to know you better. Sure my schedule in particular is brutal and doesn't allow for much time to hang out, much less breathe, but I'm hoping to change that soon... and we'd like to spend time with new and old friends once that happens. And all that crazy hard work, I'm not trying to prove I'm better than anybody (also implied to me once)... I'm just trying to "make it." I'm a complete nerd, I know a lot of random stuff, but I'm always just trying to help.
I feel like we've made some headway since we moved back here... but, it's still a hard road. We're approachable and laid back. Ask questions, we're happy to talk. Sorry we're sometimes awkward or don't follow the right social cues (Mr. V isn't very good at those yet and well, I've always been rotten at being Southern), but we're here. You can trust us with your business and your friendship.
I don't want it to take another 10 years to find out what good friends we could have been.
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