Farewell, My Friend

The big day’s almost here – that is, the day we’re leaving Atlanta for good.  Matthew’s been here for almost 9 years, and I’ve been here for over 5.  While I am looking forward to getting settled in Kingsport, saying good-bye to Atlanta is a little bittersweet.

            I will always associate Atlanta with where Matthew and I started our life as a family.  Cheesy as it may be, it will have a special place in my heart.  Here, we became grown-ups together, built our first house, started our respective careers, found ourselves and learned about each other.  But there are some things about this city that Matthew and I will both miss….

• Matthew will tell you he’s going to miss the food the most.  We have our regular favorites and we’re going to miss being able to drive a few minutes to unbelievable, affordable brunches, lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks - $2 sushi at Thaicoon on Mondays and Tuesdays, fish tacos from Taqueria del Sol, pepperoni and onion pizza with esperanza dressing from Mellow Mushroom, chips and cheese and all things unhealthy at Taco Mac watching any kind of game, the absolute best wings in the world at the Wing Factory, salads and wine from Roxx, sangria that will change your life from El Taco– I could go on and on.  Then there’s the places we save for special occasions (our pocketbooks would be empty!) – Atlanta Fish Market, Chops, Paul’s, Nakato, South City Kitchen, Canoe, Wisteria – again, I could go on and on.  If you’re ever headed this way for a visit, give me a call.  I have lots of recommendations!

• Can I write about Atlanta without talking about shopping?!?  I love the way Lenox Square mall smells.  I’m not kidding…really….I go in there, and I feel like I am at home.  We were doing a little house shopping last weekend, and I told Matthew that we needed to savor our last trip as true Atlantans; from now on, we’ll be tourists.   And although I love the malls, the countless boutiques and hidden shops carry all kinds of gems you can’t find anywhere else.

• We have spent many a good night at Turner Field, cheering on the Bravos.  Matthew has schooled me in baseball, mainly so I could pay attention and know what I was cheering for. 

• And there’s so much to do!  Concerts, games, festivals, parks – there’s never a bored day. 

• If you asked me what I am going to miss most, I would say the anonymity.  We are moving back home for lots of reasons, many of which relate to the advantages of a smaller city, and really, I am looking forward to getting back home where I can run to the grocery store to grab a forgotten ingredient, where my future kids can play outside after dark and where I can get home from work in less than half an hour.  But I love that I can get lost in the craziness of this humongous city.  One of my absolute favorite things about Atlanta is going to a crowded hole-in-the-wall restaurant on any night of the week and being able to have a private dinner with my husband amongst a mass of people.  When I had days off from school, I would go to a movie in the middle of day all by myself, just because I could, and no one thought anything about it.  I love wondering the sidewalks of Virginia Highlands, window-shopping and taste-testing samples, spending some time with myself.  I would not trade the comfort of Kingsport for inconspicuousness, but I would be lying if I said I was not going to miss it at all.

I told Matthew that I am coming back to Atlanta once a month, but our summer and fall schedule is already filling up, and let’s be honest, that’s probably unrealistic.  Plus, I’m ready to embrace Kingsport as my home again, and Atlanta will be one more place where we can get away for a little vacay. 

Thank you, Atlanta, for some great years.  We’ll never forget our good memories here!

Until next time, sending love,

The Spiveys