I feel lucky that I have lived -- not just visited -- many different places over the years. I had some great experiences and met some interesting, fun, talented, and smart people.
Maryland: (1966 - 89)
I was born and raised in Laurel, Maryland -- the first 12 years on the Prince Georges county side -- the next 10 or so on the Howard county side in Scaggsville, Maryland. I loved growing up in Maryland in a suburban environment that was only 20 minutes to the nations capital to the South and 20 minutes to Baltimore to the North. In school we took field trips to DC and Baltimore, and learned a lot about American history and the government. I learned to love crabs and silver queen corn and tomato sandwiches. I spent as much time as possible in, on or around the water -- either at the creek, the pool, the lake, the reservoir, the river, Chesapeake bay, or the ocean.
Kentucky: (1990 - 91)
Kentucky is probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. If you ever have the chance to drive down from West Virginia through the Appalachian mountains into the bluegrass country, you will understand why they call it bluegrass, and see what the fuss is all about. For me it was the land of cheerleading, and there is no better place to be if you want to be good at cheerleading. I had the chance to meet and cheer with some incredibly motivated and talented people. We traveled with the football and basketball teams to games and tournaments, and stayed in really nice hotels -- all compliments of the U. of Kentucky. We were spoiled.
Georgia: (1991 - 93)
Georgia for me was all about football, cheerleading and music. We were spoiled there too -- traveling to games and tournaments all over the country -- mostly in the Southeast. Athens, Georgia was a classic college town, and the home to a really cool music scene -- including bands like REM, the B-52s, Indigo Girls. The other great thing about Georgia for me was learning about Japanese culture. Doesn't everyone go to Georgia to learn about Japan? One of the girls on my cheerleading squad, Tachi, had a very generous father, who would take us to Japanese steak dinners and sushi. I loved Japanese food, and still love it today.
North Carolina: (1994 - 95)
I lived in Greenville, NC, which was on the Eastern side of the state. I enjoyed being a coach and working for the athletic department at East Carolina University. Highlights of my North Carolina experience were eating Carolina BBQ, coaching some talented people, my sister Sharon living close by, and weekend trips to the Outer Banks.
New York: (1995 - 2004, 2006 - 07)
I moved to the New York city area for love, and eventually found a career in Interactive Marketing. I learned a lot about paying too much money for a small space, public transportation, business, working out, bars, nightclubs, music, broadway shows, Italian culture, food from around the globe, parking tickets and terrorists. It was a great place to experience the ultimate in urban life.
Florida: (2004 - 2006, 2007 - 08)
Florida was the place that allowed me the chance to go on an extended spring break and escape from New York. I never went on spring break in high school or college because I didn't have the money or because I had to work or because we were practicing for the national cheerleading championships. So when I had the opportunity to move to Fort Lauderdale, I took it, and spent as much time riding waves in the ocean and getting pruny fingers as possible. FL also allowed me the opportunity to experience a few hurricanes -- including Katrina and Wilma -- which wasn't fun at all, but was at least a chance to bond more deeply with some good friends and a chance to see mother nature in all her glory.
California: (2008 - present)
Well this is to be determined, but I am looking forward to experiencing all this beautiful state has to offer. It's going to be an amazing ride...
Honorable Mentions:
Tennessee: I worked for Universal Cheerleaders Association for 6 years, which meant that I had to spend a lot of time in Memphis -- which was pretty cool.
Pennsylvania: I have family in Three Springs, Collegeville, and Pittsburgh and I spent a lot of time at Slippery Rock University with some pretty awesome people.
England: I dated someone from London. I love that country and enjoy spending as much time as possible there. There's a great mix of sophistication, humor and unsophistication.
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