Thoughts on Columbia

Why am I writing this?

I am unsure what to write right now. I'm closing the book, proverbially speaking, on my When that Great Train Went Down collection of poetry to focus on editing and submitting. I'm not quite ready to work on the feature I have planned for July and I'm awaiting on feedback on my new short script, in its 5th draft.

So I'm going to talk about Columbia. ColumbiYeah! Right? Right. I'm feeling saucy.

It's a city I've made my home after accepting an internship with the university. Or it's a city I've made my home for the summer as a subleaser in my no strings attached relationship with this city. It's a city that mixes old SEC college town charm with reasonable contemporary urban developments. It's like Athens but with more sustainable business and less vibrant culture. It's a city that has become relevant in the news media thanks to the state house sharing the banner of the Army of Northern Virgina with the world. So we've got that pizzazz going for us (even the BBC has been around...the BBC!).

...

So how do I feel about Columbia?

Let's break it down into single strains of thoughts:

"It's alright."

"I can walk to work!"

"I can walk to coffeeshops!"

"I can walk to an art house movie theater!"

"It's hot."

"It's hotter than North Georgia."

"Why are the good restaurants ones I can't walk to?"

"Why is there only one good Mexican restaurant?"

"Where is a place I can have a nice dinner that won't force me to sit next to loud old rich Southern people and pay a week's paycheck for a turkey sandwich? (I'm looking at you Motor Supply)."

"Where are my friends?"

"I miss my family."

"I miss my dog."

"I miss quality central air conditioning."

"Why does everyone I meet decide to not meet up again?"

"Where are all the young enough people to not be married but old enough to pay bills?"

"Hey! I could walk to Against Me!"

"I'm tired of homework."

"I'm tired of the Office of Financial Aid and their office protocol of exclusion."

"My roommates are cool."

"Where are the filmmakers?"

"Where is the cool indie bookstore that sells new stuff?"

"I miss the mountains."

...

I miss the mountains. That's the truth. Part of me wants to end the semester, the school year, my Master's program, my internship by embarking on an epic road trip to Grand Teton National Park and feel a bit of chill.

Then part of me wants to just chill with my friends. Part of me wants to hug the Appalachian mountains again, and go to Asheville, Linville Gorge, Grandfather Mountain, and Chimney Tops. I think about how touched I was watching Ken Burns's The National Parks in the episode where the Great Smoky Mountains are discussed.

I miss the mountains because I miss my home, my muse. I have written less about the trees I love--the longwood pines, deciduous forests on the Chattahoochee River--and more about the drudgery of work. I created a poem about vultures and celebrated vultures for being the fourth world (to steal a Jane Hirshfield term) equivalent of pencil jockeys.

Palm trees aren't me.

...

There's cool stuff in Columbia, I swear.

Here's my travel guide to Columbia:

Rock shows: New Brookland Tavern (requires driving) or Music Farm (for the big names...and I can walk there).

Other non-rock shows: I don't know.

Parks: Finlay Park has a mammoth water fountain that drills down. Walking around the USC campus, particularly the Horshoe, is nice.

Restaurants:
Ok, this is what really mattered to me. Lamb's Bread Vegan Soul Food Cafe makes Columbia worth it. Southern Belly BBQ has really good BBQ, though they only serve pulled pork sandwiches. Real Mexico Taqueria Y Tienda serves the kind of mom and pop Mexican food that makes me happy. Menkoi Ramen House is my Asian restaurant and don't let the word "ramen" excuse you from this place. It's so delicious. Then for coffee I go for Drip, either on Saluda Ave. (Five Points, closer walking distance for me) or the one on Main (which is fancier looking, but less cozy).

Unfortunately the other restaurants are just ok to me. For instance Pawley's Front Porch serves a pretty good burger but I'm not attracted to the Pepsi vibe. Cantina 76 is also ok but it's a bar that serves tacos whereas Real Mexico Taqueria Y Tienda is a taco and torta palace that offers margaritas. All of these restaurants that I mentioned that are really, really superb are not in walking friendly areas, as well (except Drip on Saluda).

The last thing I'll mention is that I have fallen in love with the Nickelodeon Theatre. It's an art movie theatre, and the kind that makes me happy in showing retrospectives and quality new films. It's a treat in Columbia.

...
August 1st.

I made the decision, job or no job, to move back to Georgia August 1st. I knew I could get a job probably in South Carolina but I miss North Georgia. I miss Atlanta and Athens. I even miss Dahlonega and I wouldn't mind living there at this stage.

I miss Film Athens and trying to make shorts and having coffee conversations about making movies. I miss my friends.

I came to terms with how sad this move was going to be around my trek into Cumberland Island National Seashore. I thought I would be able to truly embrace the wild like John Muir. Camping alone--and fending off raccoons, didn't do it for me. It was beautiful but the finest moments were meeting new people. I miss the people. I realized I gave up my last week to an island over friends and family and felt enormously guilty.

There was a moment of despair my first day when I laid on my bed after laying out everything. I thought, mournfully, "where is everybody?"

I have met good people here. I love my boss. But I had a life that made me happy and now with this deprivation I realize how happier I am with it.

I came home the first weekend of June and I was able to eat at my two favorite places in North Georgia. I was able to see everyone and share life with them again. While on my last day I got the news that a lady I wanted to date and had talked extensively with during the week but who was quiet during the weekend, made the decision to get back with ex-boyfriend. With this text in tow I drove 3 long hours to Columbia with stops at Love's and $3 toll payments.

...

I found my restaurants here in Columbia. I found my happy places and I intend to ensure my happiness as best as possible but it's not home.

I had no idea I would think of Georgia like this but it has grown on me. I've had my share of posts on this so I'll avoid reiteration.

One part of my 30 List acknowledged this. I said I had to move to another state to see if Georgia was truly my home. I'm worried if I knew another state wouldn't be from the start. Did I sabotage this item on my list from the get-go? Was Columbia predestined to fail?

It may have. I knew Columbia would never be my place to settle. It's not Columbia's fault. It's not you, it's me.

If my friends were here all the time like in Georgia there might be something more. I don't mind being in a place without my friends. I don't mind being in a place without the energy of Atlanta or Athens, without the film scene or writing scene.

I do mind being deprived of both, however.

Columbia's not bad, but I wouldn't wish it on any Appalachian. The mountains are too beautiful to let go.