Down to the Madlands

[Jesse]

Well, I've finally moved down to Madison.

As a teenager, when you live in Northern Wisconsin, Madison is something of a legend. Too far to bum around in on a regular basis, but just close enough to hear all the cool people on State Street or maybe read an issue of The Onion. So to live here -- well, it's kind of like climbing the bean stalk and moving in with the giant.

I've only been here a couple of weeks, so the novelty hasn't quite worn off yet. The first few days mostly consisted of driving around, checking the stores and places we now have access to -- and we were humbled by the fact that we were constantly in awe of things most people take for granted. For example: "Wow, they have an Olive Garden!" Or: "And I thought Old Navy was something you only read about in storybooks!"

Unfortunately, we've also come to recognize the city's drawbacks. For one thing: It's no fun to cross town during rush hour. Back home, "rush hour" meant that sometimes cars would drive in the second lane even when they don't need to pass. Here, of course, rush hour means being able to put your car in park in the middle of a 6-lane highway. Likewise, we've unfortunately moved next to a deceptively busy road. It didn't seem especially busy when we looked at the place, but now that we've moved in, it's a steady stream of loud engines and louder bass.

Of course, the biggest difference -- for me, anyway -- is the lack of solitude. You can go outside, even at 2am, and hear the sound of traffic whooshing along. And when you look up, you can only just barely make out the stars above the ambient light of the city. It's a mighty big change from home. Home: Where, as a child, I could run out and lose myself in the forest behind my house. Home: Where a camping trip was only an hour away.

I suppose time will tell how well I adjust.