Georgia on my Mind

Georgia--
I have a love/hate relationship with you.

I hate the fact that my father never saw where I lived here.  I hate the fact that I am so close to my in-laws.  I hate the fact your medical system is very, very, very poor. I hate the fact that nobody can speak proper English.   I hate the fact that if I look out my window, I see 5 town homes, and if I look out the other side, I see a row of 13.  Georgia, I hate the fact that your school system sucks.  I hate the fact that there is racial tension.  I hate the fact that there is class tension.  I hate the traffic.  I hate the weather.  Just about everything about you, from your history, to the fact you are one of the dirtiest, crime ridden, cities in the US.  I HATE LIVING HERE.

But, I love that yesterday you were able to put it all in perspective for me.  As I sat outside the library while my daughter was in her book club.  For if I was not in Georgia, I would have not met the man who also had a son in the book club.  As we talked about kids books,  I found out, his wife had been dead for 2.5 years.  Of cancer.  And as tears welled in his eyes, I realized, it could have been me.  I could have died and not seen my daughter turn 10.  Georgia, thank you for showing me, that yes, I am happy to be alive and watch my daughter grow.