About this blog

I’m a journalist based in Roanoke, Va., and my family and I are about to embark on a yearlong journey to Cambridge, Ma., where I’ve been astonishingly lucky enough to get a Nieman Fellowship for Journalism.

I hope to blog about our experiences with the move — the culture change from South to North, my kids (the 15-year-old is a little less than thrilled by the move), my patient husband who’s ready and willing to move his online teaching job to Boston and maybe — if he’s very Lucky, which he is (cause that’s his name) — the dog.

Goober and Gomer are going to Harvard, is another way of looking at this journey: a couple of Midwesterners who still think Skyline Chili and a cold beer are two of the greatest indulgences in the world.

“So you think I’m smart enough to go to Harvard?” I asked the teenager last night.
“Well. . . . . ” he said.

We shall see.

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11 Comments

  1. Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will often come back someday. I want to encourage that you continue your great work, have a nice morning!

  2. todd jennings

     /  July 8, 2009

    Hmmmm…you’re from Ohio, you’ve lived in Central / Southwest Virginia for nigh on two decades and now you’re going to Hahh-vahhd…my gosh, I cannot imagine the mutated accent you will have developed a year from now!!! You’ll be your own phonetic tri-racial isolate! Hawhaw!

  3. bethmacy

     /  June 25, 2009

    Ellen, you are just so thoughtful. I can’t believe you brought me my favorite kind of stone-ground grits!! What a fabulous good-bye gift. . . . and I thought I was the only one keeping them in business! (I buy them here at Fresh Market and/or Wertz’s… but those are the only places I could find them. . . until they showed up at my front door.) Our apt. in Cambridge has a Trader Joe’s not too far away — I’m really looking forward to that! Thanks again!

  4. Ellen Aiken

     /  June 25, 2009

    Great opportunity for you to live it and for the rest of us to read about it, as only you can write it! You go, girl!

  5. “smart enough to go to Harvard?” hey, they’re paying YOU because they know they’re the lucky ones.

  6. Yo baby-sitter

     /  June 24, 2009

    my favorites so far:

    “you think I’m smart enough to go to Harvard?” Max: “well…” (so Max)

    your ode to Tom. all of it. collective “awwww”

    tom admitting part of your hair’s appeal had to do with how easy you were to spot across a grocery store (needs to go in a quote book somewhere).

    love it!!! really, really good stuff, macy. i’m a tough audience too. you know, i’m a part of the microwave generation. it’s not so easy to keep our attention.

  7. What a great idea this blog is. I look forward to sharing your adventure. And the description “a journalist based in Roanoke” doesn’t do you justice. You’re a word wizard, you are.

    Happy trails!

  8. bethmacy

     /  June 23, 2009

    Yay, I get to hear from Francine again — which makes my day!
    We’ll definitely be seeing you soon, Missy. Keep the long-gone kids’ rooms open for us! 🙂
    (as long as they’re not around, of course.)
    I see more Upper West Side sidewalk cafes in our future. 🙂
    Keep in touch, Love, Beth

  9. francine russo

     /  June 23, 2009

    Well, Beth, it sure is nice to hear your voice even if it’s online. You are a great person to keep company with, and I hope we’ll get to do it face to face before too long in that little town not far from Boston, which folks call New York City!
    Francine

  10. bethmacy

     /  June 23, 2009

    Thanks, Cindy! You’re so kind.
    I still remember going Christmas caroling in the freezing rain — and the way Max insisted on holding your hand. (He has good taste in the ladies, you know!)
    Go for the blog and when you do send me the link!
    xoxo Beth

  11. Cindy Murphy

     /  June 23, 2009

    Congrats on Nieman. That’s fantastic. I just read your blog and couldn’t stop until the last word. This is going to be great.
    I’m about to start one, so I’ve been following several in prep. Your voice is wonderful.
    Best of luck!

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