First Day

"Excuse me, Megan, do you have the time?"

I turned around to see my neighbor, Gray, standing in his doorway, alarm clock in hand. After finally getting my door locked, I dreaded his question. This isn't the first time he's done this - he did it twice yesterday - and it won't be the last. He explained that his alarm clock often gets off and he must check the time. He then double-checked what day it actually is. I think he's very lonely.

This capped off my first full day in Selma. I also started my job today. I have a nice big desk, nice co-workers, and a key so I can get in after 5 p.m. My first article is going to be in the newcomer's guide to the town. I think that's very thrifty of my editor - get the newcomer to work on the newcomer's guide. I'm going to take the walking tour tomorrow and do an article on it, then head out to a flea market on Saturday. There are a lot of antique and flea markets in this area. And, I finally found a copy of Time and U.S. News and World Report, so I feel a little more comfortable now. Still, I'm looking into subscriptions...

I felt my first pangs of homesickness today in Wal Mart of all places. I'm starting to miss Lance and my friends a lot. I've always had that support system, and now they're an hour away. It reminds me of when I went away to college four years ago. I'm having to start all over again. At least they're not that far away. I'm hoping that as I get more used to the work, it'll go away. I also asked Lance tonight if he would consider getting an e-mail address. I know he doesn't care for the Internet, but I think having e-mail will be easier on both of us.