Is there a cure?

Ever since Spring sprang and I’ve been spending more and more time with my hands in dirt, I’ve been thinking a lot about all the changes that have gone on in my life in the past few years. Actually, most of the changes happened to me when I bought my house.

Back in July of 2004 I moved out of the home in Cin-City I shared with my boyfriend of almost three years, moved back to Philly with the dogs in tow and moved into my new home as a single woman.

Before I moved to Cin-City I lived in downtown Philly and never thought of myself as a suburban girl. My money (and my credit card company’s money) was spent on shoes, clothes, alcohol, restaurants, cabs and the occasional plane ticket to visit my sister. Ahhh, yes, life was good and uncomplicated. My best friend lived a couple of blocks away, I had other friends who lived in the same building as me or at least in a five block radius, I walked to work and went out with my friends at night. I never would have imagined in a million years that I would, one day, be living in my own home with 2 dogs and a huge yard. (Correction, the bank really owns the house. I own the bathroom on the first floor, I think.)

E from 3 years ago could tell the difference between the 20 pairs of black heels in her closet. Now I can tell the difference between the 20 perennials in my front flower bed. Three years ago I would have been thrilled at the idea of a cashmere sweater as a gift, now the Weed Wacker or the cordless power drill are the perfect gifts.

So this afternoon I took a stroll out to the local Ann Taylor and Gap. I saw a great sweater at Ann Taylor that I was about to go purchase when I realized I should really put it back. This weekend I blew a bunch of money on three ornamental pear trees, a flowering cherry and a flowering plum tree.

What has happened to me?! Maybe I should have bought the sweater, as therapy.