My First Year in Columbus, Georgia, Has Been a Non-event and Full of Events

I couldn't have have predicted on any level how my first year in Columbus, Georgia, would have progressed. Moving to a new city has been something I have loathed each time I have made the decision. Usually, the checklist on the "con" side of the ledger goes like this: packing and unpacking, finding a place to live, finding a new church, making new friends, etc. The top of my list is always the same...my number one peeved pet...finding someone to cut my hair! I am a founding member of the "need a hair cut now" club. In fact, now is the time to get my hair cut. It's 9:30p on Sunday night and I have spent a few minutes considering why I would waste my time wondering if there was anyway to get a haircut now. I am thankful I wasted only a few minutes.

I want to find a place that is close with friendly, qualified ladies that cut mens' hair with scissors. I prefer to have a lady cut my hair although for a few years my hair trimming specialist was a man and he was quick, consistent and efficient. I knew when he worked, and he always worked me in somehow.

Back to the subject of discussion. In this latest move, the cons grew and grew as usual and the only pro was "better job opportunity"...or so I thought. It seems that Columbus is counted as part of the US Economy. So when I read the entire economy was floundering, I should have known Columbus would be no different. Being a larger city than where I formerly resided, more opportunities would be available I reasoned. I had reasoned well. There are more opportunities in this larger city...to be told "we aren't hiring".

I also reasoned that as I was dating someone who lived near this city with friends in the city, so I would had some friends to help me get settled so all would be well in that arena. Well as anyone who has dated knows, a very thin, in fact, microscopic, thread ties all of the friends of the person you are dating together. In the breakup, one slight tug draws all the "friends" together, away from you, as tightly as a cluck of chicks around a mother hen. Well in this particular breakup, one of those confounded threads was attached to my new hairstylist...how annoying. She was good and she used scissors and I knew when she worked.

Additionally, I am directionally challenged so finding a new hairstylist is going to be no easy feat. In fact, I still drive 40 minutes to my old salon as it is not inconvenient yet. I have since found a new love and she has recently offered to introduce me to her hair stylist. Is Charlie Brown going run and kick the ball Lucy is holding? Absolutely not! ...well, maybe. Good 'ol Charles. No hairstylist commitment for me before we've been dating three months I say to myself and only then if she uses scissors, is easy to find and I can remember when she works ...what a non eventful year...sigh...

Having lived here a year now, there are several unexpected "pro"s I can now add to my ledger. The number one is the number of events in this wonderful city where new friends are easy to meet and the bar-b-que restaurants are all good...pass the sauce, please. My goodness!, the list of quality entertainment is broad and deep. Tastes as broad as The Columbus Symphony Orchestra to professional bull riding and hockey. Live jazz at The Loft and Bluegrass at Country's. In 1996, the Olympics staged softball here. There are monster truck rallies at the Civic Center and Broadway showtunes at the RiverCenter. One of my all time favorites is the Springer Opera House performances. Quality live plays... Recently, I took my 8 year-old daughter to see "James and the Giant Peach". We enjoyed it thoroughly and attend the venue whenever we can. The Libetry Theatre where "Ma" Rainey performed is still entertaining guests with marvelous performances. You can see "Ma" Rainey's Home and purchase her music "Ma" Rainey's Home

If you are a visitor or a resident, it pays to do your homework before making plans. The choices are many changing continuously. At Greatercolumbusga.com we try to keep tabs on the all the events for you. We have a page committed to giving you quick, centrally located access to all the major venues. Use it and get used to it at
Columbus Ga Events. We are working to bring the smaller venues to the page as well.

Currently, the newest entertainment expansion plans are to bring 2.5 miles of whitewater rafting on the Chattahoochee River to Columbus Ga early next year. I think I'll try it. My hair looks neater when it's wet. So if the new hairstylist doesn't use scissors or I can't remember when she works...