After more than two weeks in my new apartment, I'm a little surprised to find that the place still feels a little off to me. Or, as my sister might say, I feel like I'm "wearing someone else's underwear." I can't say I have a lot of experience in this area, however, I do have two sisters, our laundry was all thrown into the same pile, and misidentifications were occassionally made. So, I'm doing what I can in order to feel more comfortable and settled in my new home. This includes cooking in my new kitchen, introducing myself to the neighbors (instead of peering at and judging them from the safety of a crook in my mini-blinds, like I'd like to do,) and appreciating that I'm still in the same great neighborhood that I've lived in since first moving to Louisville more than eight years ago.
Louisville isn't a large city, but it has more culture and "big city" opportunities than most give it credit for. My neighborhood, the Highlands, is known for artsy shops and boutiques, great restaurants (many of them ethnic) and an appreciation for the fine art of people-watching. I was actually in the legendary Haight-Ashbury AND Castro neighborhoods in San Francisco only a few weeks ago, and aside from the two stark-naked gentlemen we saw walking down the sidewalk at 3 p.m. on a normal Sunday, it reminded me a lot of the Highland's own Bardstown Road.
In the Highlands, one of my favorite stops (although not bragged about to the tourists) is the Valu Market, a locally-owned grocery store that offers the best selection of Indian food ingredients and employs some of the kindest and most eccentric developmentally-disabled people in the neighborhood. I know, totally un-PC! But I mention it only because the locals know these particular employees, who have been regular staples at the store for ages (even when it was Buehler's Market and Winn-Dixie before that.) To me, this shows a real loyalty to their employees (who they've inherited from long before it was a Winn-Dixie) and a real handle on the neighborhood. For this, I am more than happy to shop there and give them my business.
Another of my neighborhood favorites, Keith's Hardware, is run by a former music teacher (that explains a lot!) Everytime I go in there, I see the most diverse group of pony-tailed, ironic band name t-shirt wearing, helpful staff. The store itself is tiny, but they literally have everything! As someone who hates household repairs, let alone shopping for "hardware" supplies, I'm comforted that I need only walk inside the door where I'm greeted with a knowledgeable (failed career musician or artist) professional who retrieves my merchandise, explains how to apply/use/replace said merchandise and I'm on my way. Last weekend I had a lengthy conversation with a lovely staff person who made it his Saturday morning goal to help me find the best rubber mat to catch that pesky cat litter from tracking all over my hard-wood floors. A homo working in a hardware store... only in the Highlands!
I do realize how lucky I am to live in this neighborhood, and I know that my new apartment will feel more comfortable with each day. Until then, I look forward to getting to know my new neighbors, the 1st-shift grave digger at the cemetery across the road and the kindly wheelchair-accessible van driver for the home for developmentally-disabled, who I've heard more than once yelling some really unsavory words out the window to those inpatiently honking at him from behind. I used to worry about whether his language was appropriate in front of his clients. But, then I figured if you can't enjoy a good cuss word when you're severely physically and mentally disabled like those riding his van, when can you?
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