Feeling sad lately (a little long)

[Eucharisted]

In Pittsburgh? Oh, you mean in Tampa

Yeah, that is not a bad idea…I have been thinking of joining the women’s group here, and something always stops me…not sure what.

Ask God to guide you, and ask His archangel Michael to protect you. The devil may be wanting to discourage you from joining the prayer.

 

[whatevergirl]

My dh just called, I’m at work…and we were chatting. I lamented to him, and he said…‘tell me what you miss.’ I told him, our parish…for one. He said, ‘I never liked that parish, it didn’t even look like a church inside.’ What? I said, ‘you’re kidding right? It’s not about a building, the priests were very reverent, and shaped our kids’ lives with the faith.’ He agreed, but I never knew he disliked that parish. Now, I have another thing to be sad over…I don’t know who my husband is anymore! ha Kidding. But, I did always think he liked our parish, that was news to me.

He said, keep naming things. So I did. He said that he agrees, he misses his mom, and he said he misses his tomato garden. He said, the dirt down here just isn’t the same. (oh brother)

See what I’m dealing with?

He misses the dirt? :ehh:

 

[happymommy]

My dh just called, I’m at work…and we were chatting. I lamented to him, and he said…‘tell me what you miss.’ I told him, our parish…for one. He said, ‘I never liked that parish, it didn’t even look like a church inside.’ What? I said, ‘you’re kidding right? It’s not about a building, the priests were very reverent, and shaped our kids’ lives with the faith.’ He agreed, but I never knew he disliked that parish. Now, I have another thing to be sad over…I don’t know who my husband is anymore! ha Kidding. But, I did always think he liked our parish, that was news to me.

He said, keep naming things. So I did. He said that he agrees, he misses his mom, and he said he misses his tomato garden. He said, the dirt down here just isn’t the same. (oh brother)

See what I’m dealing with?

He misses the dirt? :ehh:

well, we do have good dirt here and we are very proud of it I like it when it’s made out of chocolate pudding and cool whip with Oreo cookies in it, mmmm…and gummy worms on top…good dirt:thumbsup:

 

[gardenswithkids]

… and he said he misses his tomato garden. He said, the dirt down here just isn’t the same. (oh brother)

See what I’m dealing with?

He misses the dirt? :ehh:

Your husband must truly be a gardener. Don’t take it personally. :console:

I’m sorry you’re feeling sad about your move. We moved several years ago, and I still miss where we used to live–but there are some great things here that we couldn’t have had in our old place. I want it all! The good from here and the good from there, (I’ll leave the bad.) When I made a poll a few weeks ago asking, “Do you like where you live”, I couldn’t even answer my own poll.

Every place has it’s pros and cons. Sometimes the cons seem to outweigh the pros; sometimes the pros seem to outweigh the cons. Maybe it’s time for a trip back “home”. You can bring your husband back a bag of dirt for his tomotoes.

 

[whatevergirl]

Your husband must truly be a gardener. Don’t take it personally. :console:

I’m sorry you’re feeling sad about your move. We moved several years ago, and I still miss where we used to live–but there are some great things here that we couldn’t have had in our old place. I want it all! The good from here and the good from there, (I’ll leave the bad.) When I made a poll a few weeks ago asking, “Do you like where you live”, I couldn’t even answer my own poll.

Aw! LOL, You couldn’t answer your own poll… You know, I’m starting to think that that poll got me to thinking also. I really ‘like’ where we actually have chosen to live…but there are things I miss.

Every place has it’s pros and cons. Sometimes the cons seem to outweigh the pros; sometimes the pros seem to outweigh the cons. Maybe it’s time for a trip back “home”. You can bring your husband back a bag of dirt for his tomotoes.

LOL–Yes, that would be funny! I hadn’t thought about not being able to garden down here in Florida…

Here is a serious plus…I just picked up my daughter from her guitar lesson, and she has the most awesome teacher ever! He is like a grandfather to her, and his wife and son run the place…his son plays the drums, he’s like my age. My daughter was asked to play in a band tomorrow night that her teacher is hosting…wow, they had practice tonight, and I was blown away…seeing my baby up on stage. Anyways, that’s a plus! I don’t think we’ll ever find a teacher like him anywhere…so, that made me happy tonight.

My wise son of 16 yrs old, said…‘mom, there are pros and cons to all places…and things are always changing, so you might think that you’re missing something from there, but really, if we stayed, things would have changed.’ The logical thinker of the family, and he does not get that from me. I wish I was more logical.

 

[whatevergirl]

Ask God to guide you, and ask His archangel Michael to protect you. The devil may be wanting to discourage you from joining the prayer.

You might have a point, that the devil preys on our slightest weaknesses, looking for any opening he can find to make us question God’s will for our lives. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Belgarion]

That’s why its important to cheer you up!!

I’ve got some blonde jokes, as well some some “what do you call a guy with no arms and no legs in-” jokes as well…

…Not sure if I should tell them, though…

 

[whatevergirl]

That’s why its important to cheer you up!!

I’ve got some blonde jokes, as well some some “what do you call a guy with no arms and no legs in-” jokes as well…

I know that one–Mat! (matt) lol I am a bit cheered up, thank you everyone. I just need to plan that vacation soon!

 

[Belgarion]

I know that one–Mat! (matt) lol I am a bit cheered up, thank you everyone. I just need to plan that vacation soon!

ah, but that’s just ONE of those jokes.

For instance, what do you call a guy with no arms and now legs who’s in a pile of leaves?

…Russle…

 

[HouseArrest]

Maybe the novelty of Florida has just worn off. Too bad it didn’t last until you were on your way to making some good friends and settling into a satisfying parish experience.

We live about 3 hours north of Pittsburgh - and go there about - oh - five or six times a year at least for different things - my sisters went to college there - the city definitely has a “great personality”. It’s not going anywhere - maybe a visit would help.

 

[rayne89]

I don’t exactly where in Tampa you live but you may want to check this link.
masstimes.org/dotnet/showchurches.aspx?type=CITYSTATERADIUS&q=&country=United+States+of+America&city=Tampa&countrycode=US&statecode=FL

I found our parish by going through all the church websites in out area and looking at what they offered. Things like the rosary, adoration, frequent confession times are generally a good indicator of a more traditional parish.

 

[whatevergirl]

I don’t exactly where in Tampa you live but you may want to check this link.
masstimes.org/dotnet/showchurches.aspx?type=CITYSTATERADIUS&q=&country=United+States+of+America&city=Tampa&countrycode=US&statecode=FL

I found our parish by going through all the church websites in out area and looking at what they offered. Things like the rosary, adoration, frequent confession times are generally a good indicator of a more traditional parish.

thanks rayne! My dd and I stopped at a funeral home in our area, who is conducting mass until their church is built, and it was interesting. My dd said she doesn’t want to go to mass in a funeral home. In checking out some other parishes, ours that we have been attending for a while, actually is looking better and better. You know, mass is beautiful, no matter where…I don’t need anything specific, but we are just seeking reverence in the mass. I’ll check out the link you provide, thanks again.

 

[Joseph_L_Varga]

My dd said she doesn’t want to go to mass in a funeral home.

you cannot get bored with kids

 

[Thorny]

Depending on where you count your 15 miles from (downtown or Bearss Ave), you must live on the SR54 (Odessa, Land 'O Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Z-Hills) or SR52 (Gowers Corners, San Antonio, or Dade City). I am originally from St Joe, West of Dade City (Sacred Heart parish), and I feel the same about that area that you do about Pittsburgh (24 years of college and military will do that to you). Of course, the population of Pasco Co has at least tripled since I lived there.

Probably one of the biggest problems you are encountering is that most of the people you live around are also transplants. So the entire neighborhood is made up of people who have moved there for practical reasons instead of growing up there. (Most of the neighborhoods around there were orange groves or cow pastures when I lived there last). When the housing values went in the tank, so many of them wanted to know what it was about “Paradise” that went wrong. This leads to a disconnected feeling; after all, when was the last time you had a good block party–I doubt they happen all that often. Neighborhoods are built different.

You have wisely tried to connect with the Church, but if you are looking for a more traditional feel to Churches on the Gulf Coast, you will have to work for it. Probably the most traditional Church would be Sacred Heart in downtown Tampa. St Anthony’s in San Antonio does have some of that feel still. You could also go to the Abby Church at St Leo, but it is one of the more liberal Benedictine monasteries around, so they may not fit with your wishes–I would at least try it, though. Most of the other Churches are too new to have a “churchy” feel to them.

Hope this helps. I could not tell from your original post whether you had tried these or not, but I do know there is a lot that area has to offer. I will certainly look into living there when I retire from the AF. But then again, that is home.

Peace.

 

[chevalier]

Hey, Whatevergirl. Hope it’s getting better. Change is awful sometimes. Homesickness is nothing abnormal. And as long as you are grateful, you are not ungrateful, if you get what I mean. Don’t let it bring you down.

 

[whatevergirl]

you cannot get bored with kids

LOL right? Hey…we went to that mass today, which is temporarily taking place in the funeral home until they build their new parish, and it was AWESOME…reverent, not a Christian rock performance like some of the other parishes we have attended. It’s fine for teen mass, but it seems to be leaking over into the other mass times now…I am grateful to have found this parish, because dd and ds loved it. They got so much more out of mass than they have at the other parish, largely, because it seems like the Catholic parishes here where I live in FL, wish to create mass into something non Catholic…hard to explain…unless you have experienced it.

Anyways…!

 

[whatevergirl]

Hey, Whatevergirl. Hope it’s getting better. Change is awful sometimes. Homesickness is nothing abnormal. And as long as you are grateful, you are not ungrateful, if you get what I mean. Don’t let it bring you down.

Thanks chev, I prayed a lot about this, and I have been feeling better. God also gave me an amazing ‘sign’ on Friday, that moving to Florida was the right thing. I know it was, but sometimes, there are just instances when I miss people, or moments in Pittsburgh. I didn’t think I would…it took a while to catch up with me. I think the one thing we can count on in life, is change…

 

[whatevergirl]

Depending on where you count your 15 miles from (downtown or Bearss Ave), you must live on the SR54 (Odessa, Land 'O Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Z-Hills) or SR52 (Gowers Corners, San Antonio, or Dade City). I am originally from St Joe, West of Dade City (Sacred Heart parish), and I feel the same about that area that you do about Pittsburgh (24 years of college and military will do that to you). Of course, the population of Pasco Co has at least tripled since I lived there.

Probably one of the biggest problems you are encountering is that most of the people you live around are also transplants. So the entire neighborhood is made up of people who have moved there for practical reasons instead of growing up there. (Most of the neighborhoods around there were orange groves or cow pastures when I lived there last). When the housing values went in the tank, so many of them wanted to know what it was about “Paradise” that went wrong. This leads to a disconnected feeling; after all, when was the last time you had a good block party–I doubt they happen all that often. Neighborhoods are built different.

You have wisely tried to connect with the Church, but if you are looking for a more traditional feel to Churches on the Gulf Coast, you will have to work for it. Probably the most traditional Church would be Sacred Heart in downtown Tampa. St Anthony’s in San Antonio does have some of that feel still. You could also go to the Abby Church at St Leo, but it is one of the more liberal Benedictine monasteries around, so they may not fit with your wishes–I would at least try it, though. Most of the other Churches are too new to have a “churchy” feel to them.

Hope this helps. I could not tell from your original post whether you had tried these or not, but I do know there is a lot that area has to offer. I will certainly look into living there when I retire from the AF. But then again, that is home.

Peace.

Yes, Pasco county…how great that you know what I’m talking about!! We went to St Peter the Apostle parish this morning (temporarily taking place in a funeral home) and it was great. Really a lot like the parishes in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. (are you familiar with st simon and jude in greentree?)

Going downtown from Pasco just isn’t practical on Sundays for us…I actually was happy to find a parish closer to where we live than St Tim’s in Lutz…are you familiar with that, too?

Anyways…I agree with you about the neighborhood feel, although, we have made some good friends during this short time of living here. I hear you about the transplant feeling though…it’s like people don’t want to get connected to people because they might be moving next week. We lived in the same place in Pittsburgh for over 10 yrs, and had the same neighbors that entire time, that is unusual…so this is a little different. I am glad we chose Pasco though…I like the rural feel a bit, but at the same time there is a great mall and new restaurants popping up every week it seems…Thanks for your note here, it helps that you know what I’m talking about.

 

[Lifeisamazing]

I know how you feel. Moving is so hard. I grew up in Ohio, and when I was 17 my family moved to NC. I stayed behind as I had graduated early from high school and had enough money from working to be on my own. But, in the end, I desperately missed my family and joined them.

Ohio will always be home to me. I don’t really know if that feeling will ever go away, though I do love things about my new “home”. I dream sometimes of having a little house with a woodburning stove and I am looking out the window at the snow gently falling on the branches…

 

[Thorny]

Yes, Pasco county…how great that you know what I’m talking about!! We went to St Peter the Apostle parish this morning (temporarily taking place in a funeral home) and it was great. Really a lot like the parishes in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. (are you familiar with st simon and jude in greentree?)

Going downtown from Pasco just isn’t practical on Sundays for us…I actually was happy to find a parish closer to where we live than St Tim’s in Lutz…are you familiar with that, too?

Anyways…I agree with you about the neighborhood feel, although, we have made some good friends during this short time of living here. I hear you about the transplant feeling though…it’s like people don’t want to get connected to people because they might be moving next week. We lived in the same place in Pittsburgh for over 10 yrs, and had the same neighbors that entire time, that is unusual…so this is a little different. I am glad we chose Pasco though…I like the rural feel a bit, but at the same time there is a great mall and new restaurants popping up every week it seems…Thanks for your note here, it helps that you know what I’m talking about.

Unfortunately, I have not lived there in 24 years, and am not familiar with the parishes you mentioned. You have to realize, when I graduated from high school (Tampa Jesuit, class of 85), Bruce B. Downs was a two lane “road to nowhere” only known as SR581. There was literally nothing between SR54 and the 7-11 just north of Skipper Road (back when Bearss didn’t connect and Skipper was the through street to 30th) (~10 miles). The I-75 interchange at the county line was put in while I was in HS. All of those neighborhoods and parishes are too new for me to really know. (Hey, that’s not too bad–When my oldest brother graduated, Waters Ave was the Northernmost traffic light on Dale Mabry!)

If you have found a good parish, that goes a long way. Hopefully, you will also be able to connect with your neighbors. Who knows, if I move back there, I may end up a neighbor as well. I already share an office with a Steelers fan.

Hope everything begins to feel better.

Peace.