We Are Here

Welcome to the Accidental Akronite. Dave and I are official Akronites now, homeowners in the Rubber City — or the Ak-rowdy as some people we haven’t met yet like to say.

A few days ago, when I decided to call my blog the Accidental Akronite, the name was more about me “accidentally” ending up in Akron with Dave due to a string of events that were somewhat planned but also involved a solid dose of luck, risk, and chance as well. I could go on and on about Fate and how things happen for a reason or how you sometimes meet someone who ends up being an integral piece of your future. But that’s another post for another day.

Back to the name: I also thought the name fit since I will most likely discover much of Akron by accident. I tend to get lost a lot and when I get lost, I don’t ask for directions. Maybe I have more masculine tendencies than I realize. The title seemed humorous, sort of fun and curious. It didn’t take on any sort of gravity until Friday as I was officially returning to our new Akron home after saying goodbye to my friends, family, and the comforts of my cube space at work.

Two hours later, I’m standing in the median of the highway with dust-covered feet, shaking hands, and teary eyes. I was pushed off the highway and involved in my first car accident ever. While I wasn’t physically injured, the scene took an emotional toll as I put the event on repeat in my mind, wondering what I could have done differently, other than not being in the fast lane at Mile 153 on I-71 North at that exact time behind the exact car that hit the brakes which made me brake fast which made someone behind me swerve to avoid me but eventually hit me on the passenger side which threw me into a tailspin in the median with a mere 10 feet between my front end and southbound traffic. Whew.

Definitely fits my definition of an accident – an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance. Since then, we’ve encountered a few more accidents. Our credit card got hacked into, both dogs picked up some sort of parasite from the kennel (which created accidents of the not-so-nice kind to clean up), and we continue to trip over the ruins of boxes and discarded newspaper and bubble wrap as we unpack.

But there have been good accidents, too. I’ve already accidentally fallen in love with a few new things in Akron and in our new home:

Sand Run Metro Park has a six-mile trail with rolling hills that remind me of places in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. Two runs down, plenty more to go as I get back to training for the Akron Half Marathon in September.

Being able to walk to Walgreens, Angel Falls Coffee Co., the bank, and a few other shops on the neighborhood square.

Bricco, a ”phunky” (their word, not mine) restaurant in downtown Akron that is equal parts hip/eclectic and old-fashioned good service.

The number of dogs and cats (much to the chagrin of Alice and Macy) in our new neighborhood.

The way parts of our house actually smell like what I remember my grandparents’ farm in Lebanon smelling like – woodsy and warm. Of course, the humidity and lack of air conditioning might also have something to do with it.

And that’s just the beginning.

I haven’t settled on a theme or broad topic to cover on the blog. For now, you’ll find out what I’ve accidentally found out about Akron as I begin venturing out beyond our block. Our dogs, Alice and Macy, will also be providing their perspective every now and again. The dog’s eye view of this place we’re calling home.

Until the next post, here’s hoping you encounter a happy accident, something unexpected and unplanned that makes you smile.

What I’m reading now :

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See

Before You Know Kindness, Chris Bohjalian