This is the best picture i have of our truck right now but this thing makes me feel small. Im your average 5ft 6. I haven't mastered how to park the thing yet either haha i just cant see anything over the steering wheel. I also still freak out a little when im turning corners when there are cars left and right. It is all good though, i will just need to practise a little more.
Now to a topic that makes my anxiety hit the roof every time i think about it. GUNS! Before i moved to America i was not aware how many people have a gun or 5. Wether it be on them or in there house this freaks me out. I have never lived in a place where this is ok. I remember when Jon said to me he wanted to get a gun for home protection. My answer was "You can get stuffed if you think a gun is coming anywhere near me or my house!!" The thought of having a gun around me scared the hell out of me. When we found the house we wanted to buy everything seemed ok. The house was in a cul-de-sac and the neighbourhood seemed queit. After we had finished the closing out and stuff we were driving down our road when we saw the neighbour who lives 4 doors down. We stopped to ask what it was like in the area. He went on telling us how our neighbour right next door JUST GOT OUT OF JAIL FOR SHOOTING IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD!!!! From this day on i didn't feel safe at all (I never felt safe in the old townhouse but it wasn't as bad). The first thing we got installed in our new house was the security system. This super high tech awesome thing...but i still dont feel safe. Jon leaves for work at 0530 and i will not go back to sleep because im scared someone will break into the house and do something to me. Reading the local newspaper with a new story every week about another shooting or body found or break in probably doesnt help either. I have been to many places in America and i know not all places are as bad as Clarksville but no matter where i go in America it just feels different when it comes to feeling safe. I guess for Americans the whole gun thing is normal and may seem like im crazy but when you dont grow up with this kind of lifestyle it is pretty scary. I do try to come to terms with the fact that it is ok but it is very hard to accept it. When i found out Jon was deploying my first thought was, a knife under my pillow a baseball bat next to my bed and a gun. Yes i want a gun. Im scared to have one but i want one and god forbid i ever have to use it. And you know whats crazy...Jon took me to a gun shop to check out some guns and the lady at the store told me if someone breaks in and trys to go for me its better to SHOOT and KILL because you will get away with it as it was self defence but if you SHOOT and WOUND someone you will get charged for attempted murder?? How twisted is that! I got to shoot 2 guns. A pistol and a Revolver.
I couldnt handle either of them..They were just to big and to powerful for my little hands. Im not even sure if a gun will make me feel any safer in the house because im now paranoid someone will find it and use it to shoot me . Dont laugh! lol. Ahh thanks America for my Anxiety.
So there you have my experience with driving in America and the fact that it is perfectly normal to have a gun. I feel stupid for being so scared but i feel like i live in a movie. No guest blogger just yet but a few people have said they would share some experiences of traveling and long distance relationships. If you would to share anything just leave a comment or email me. Always look forward to reading other peoples experiences. Tomorrow i think im going to talk about FOOD. Have a great weekend!