Currently

(random film shots from in between now & when I last posted)

Hi hello, wow it's been a while since I've updated. I haven't had a computer for the longest so it's been difficult.

I have officially lived in Maine for 1 year. I'm still feeling the same as when I last updated about this move - I love Maine & the Northeast, but living here has made me realize that I'm just made to be in the South. We recently moved to a new town up here and it's helped me a decent amount. This town feels like more of a community, something I've missed so much about Jackson. It will help me get by until we move (tbd), and I'm grateful for this new place and the way it's helping me.

Obviously, we did not get married in March. Not only did the Corona Virus start to take down the U.S. during this time, but also Z was incredibly sick and hospitalized for a week (the same week we would have left for New Orleans to get married). We had actually decided back in February to postpone due to financial reasons and stress, and after seeing how March played out I am still in shock of the perfect timing of it all. I think we would have for sure gotten the virus if we hadn't postponed and Z hadn't been sick and we went.

Currently Maine is tryinggg to transition into Spring. Or I guess Summer. Maine literally doesn't have a Spring. Flowers are blooming and I've been able to see the grass for weeks now without snow coming down and hiding it all. It's been so nice and I can't wait for real Summer, especially with the current state of things. We may not be able to travel or go to fun Summer events due to the covid but at least it will be warm enough to swim in the ocean.

The sun is shining today and I am going to go lay in the hammock and read my book 🖤

-s

6 months in

It has officially been 6 months since we packed up everything from our little home in Jackson, Mississippi and moved to Maine.

To be real with y'all - it hasn't been just peachy. I moved here in the dead of Winter and I completely underestimated just how awful the winters are here. When it was still snowing in April I really didn't think I was going to make it to warmer temps. Also things up here are just so different from what i'm used to in the South. Which I expected, but I didn't realize how much it would make homesick for little quirks about the South.

It has been such an adjustment. To be honest, after going through an entire Winter here, I'm not so sure anymore that this is our "end goal". But we are here until next August, so i'm trying to make the best of it. It's not difficult to enjoy Maine in the Summer and Fall. This Summer we have been taking trips to the beach (by trips I mean driving 15 minutes down the road, which is fabulous), swimming in clear running rivers, and sitting at the park eating hotdogs from the local food truck.

Maine is really beautiful in the Summer. We went to Boothbay for the Fourth of July and I wore a sweater. Never in my life did I think i'd be in a sweater on the Fourth of July. We also saw an actual bald eagle on the Fourth, and we see them quite often here. It is so amazing every single time.

I love love love to be by the water. The harbor towns are some of my favorite things about Maine. I've been breaking into film lately and one of my favorite subjects are all things nautical.

We have about a month and a half left of Summer and I'm so sad to see it go. It just started to feel like Summer a month ago. But I'm also excited about Fall here and the adventures we have planned. My sister is coming up in October and we are going to take a trip to Salem, MA to see historical sights from the Salem Witch Trials and also where they filmed Hocus Pocus!

Also - we have a wedding date! March 9th, 2020 we will be eloping in New Orleans, spending a few days there as a honeymoon, then having a reception in Jackson on the 14th. It will be so nice to be able to go down to Nola in the Spring time because here in Maine it will still be Winter and covered in snow and slush.

I never know how to close out a blogpost so hey - thanks for reading if you made it this far.

-sg

Life in Maine

 

I’m officially a Mainer.

On December 30th I packed up my things, got in my car with my best friend, & drove 2,000 miles North to meet my fiancé at our new home in Maine.

I have never lived this far away from my family. My place in Jackson was the first time I had ever lived away from my parents, much less on the complete opposite side of the country. It’s been hard; I’ve cried a lot & am dreading the holidays & birthdays to come where I wont be able to see them in person. I keep reminding myself of what my mom told me when I found out we were officially moving - that there is no better time to do this than now.

Since i’ve lived here it has snowed 3 times & the low for Friday is 2ºF. Yes, that is really fucking cold, but as someone who literally despises being hot & sweaty, I’ll take it over a humid Summer day in the Deep South. I tried to drive to the ocean today but the roads were so slippery I turned around while other people zipped past me with their snow tires. This has been quite an adjustment.

There is no in-between with me, & the same thing applies to my feelings towards moving and Maine and the Deep South. I miss Mississippi & the Deep South so. much. I hate that i’m missing Mardi Gras, I hate that i’m not near my family and friends, & I hate not being in the state that I so strongly advocate for (makes me feel like my arguments aren't valid enough). On the flip-side, I love Maine. I love being able to say I leave in a coastal town and near mountains. I love the snow and I love how quaint every single little town in New England is (literally every single one). I love both states so strongly that it makes me feel very confused on how to feel at the moment. I kind of don't feel much at all. Except cold…

I am so glad to be back with Z, though. Being apart for a month and a half was not as rough as I thought it would be; I think that’s mostly due to the fact that Z works all day and then crashes around 6:30PM, so we didn't get to talk on the phone a lot. But as soon as I saw him after being separated I burst into tears and so did he. He had the house looking so cute for my first visit! He did an amazing job decorating the place, & there was even a Christmas tree waiting for me that he literally CHOPPED DOWN FROM THE WOODS. Pls. I cannot with how cute that is.

I haven't had anyone notice my accent yet, which I think might be because I don't have a very strong accent compared to most girls from the South. Or it could also be because saying “ya’ll” is trendy now (dont even get me started). I’ve also been told you can only really notice my accent on certain words (“boil” & “fixin’ to” give it away…).

I’m really excited to explore more of Maine. If you have any suggestions of places I need to check out, comment below! Currently on my list is Camden, Acadia National Park, & Rockland. See y'all soon!

- S

We're Engaged!

Hi, we are engaged!!!

Our story:

Z & I both were both born in Mississippi (Z in Vicksburg, me in Clinton). Both our dads worked for the same company, & knew of each other, but our families didnt hang out or anything. That company then transferred our families to Maine. We lived in Maine for 6 months before moving to Massachusetts, but Z's fam stayed in Maine. My family moved back to Mississippi when I was in the 5th grade, but we moved to Madison instead of Clinton. 4 years later Z's family moved back to Mississippi too, but instead of Vicksburg, they moved to Madison as well. We met our Freshman year of high school at band camp. He was on the drumline & I was on the color guard.

I was immediately smitten. He was not like any of the other guys we went to high school with. He liked all the bands I was raised on (the classics. James Taylor, The Allman Brothers, Bonnie Raitt..), he appreciated art, culture, photography, animals.. We both had a love for New England. We had so much in common. He, on the other hand, was the new kid at school & had no interest in a girlfriend. We both "liked" each other, but we would date other people throughout high school & college. But every time things ended with our s/o, we came back to each other.

Fast forward to my Senior year of college, Z comes back to Jackson after living & working in Maine again. We started hanging out again & it wasnt long before he told me he wanted to be serious this go-around. So on St. Patrick's Day of 2016, we officially started dating!

 

How he asked:

Z & I love the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, particularly the aquariums. Our friend David's (who helped Z plan the proposal, we love you David!) girlfriend, Anne Fairly, sometimes does routine dives to feed the fish. I was told we were going to watch her do a dive. I wanted to go to the pumpkin patch that day, but Z insisted that we go to the science museum & watch her dive instead. When we got there, there were some kids waiting to see the dive with their parents. One of the museum directors plugged up her microphone & started walking us through the dive & telling us about all the fish the diver was feeding.

The diver ended up not being our friend, but we watched anyway. Towards the end of the dive, the diver swam up to the top of the tank & came back down with a small sign. He swam towards the glass holding up a sign that said: “Sara, it’s always been you”. We always tell each other that “it’s always been you” because we always came back to each other when our other relationships ended.

By this time my best friend, a photographer, jumps out & is taking photos, & I look down to see Zander on one knee with a ring that everyone has described as “so me”. After that all I remember is tears & shaky hands; I had to ask Z if I even said yes! 

It has been a month since Z asked me to marry him & I am still in shock. I look at my ring all the time & think about how I met the man I would marry back when I was 16 & had no idea. How I wanted us to date so bad, & cried over it (high school girl stuff, ya know), not knowing that there is a reason for everything & that our time would come. Now I get to marry my best friend!

thank you,

Rachel Watters Photo & The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

BLBN 2018

One of my favorite Jackson events, Bright Lights Belhaven Nights, takes place in the sticky, Southern Summertime. This year I was blown away by the talent from Jackson & the talent that was brought to Jackson. This year we saw performances from my friends Young Valley, Southern Komfort Brass Band, Kingfish, & Robert Randolph & the Family Band.

I will never forget this night. Good friends, watermelon shaved ice, & dancing on stage to one of my favorite bands. Z & I ended the night with a cold shower & Steel Magnolias.

I love you, Jackson.

Birmingham

Spent last Saturday wandering around Birmingham with Rach. We had things we wanted to do & see, but no set plans. It was so fun just doing whatever we wanted & not having a schedule. Eventually we found ourselves in a stunning greenhouse filled with all kinds of cacti. What. A. Dream.