I've been in Tennessee for almost three weeks now, and boy, have I been busy!
When I decided to pack up my life in New York after more than 30 years and move to Tennessee, I wasn't exactly sure what I'd be doing once I got here.
Well, three weeks later, I have a social calendar, a growing reading addiction, a consulting company in the works, a business partner who eats all the profits, and a possible Netflix series about my life.
And somehow, I've also agreed to meet complete strangers in the middle of the woods.
But we'll get to that.
A Wedding, a Mountain, and the Letter M
Let's start with my social life, because that's been surprisingly impressive.
I attended an absolutely beautiful mountaintop wedding for a couple I had never met.
Yes, you read that correctly. I met the bride and groom on their wedding day.
Because that's the kind of people who live in Tennessee. They invite complete strangers to one of the most important days of their lives, welcome them with open arms, and tell them the only thing they need to bring is something that I made featuring the letter M.
Not a toaster. Not a check. Not even a bottle of wine.
The letter M.
And let me tell you, my M was fabulous. We're talking flowers, butterflies, a shadow box—the works.
I may have shown up as a complete stranger, but I wasn't about to show up with a mediocre M.
I have to admit, I love it here already.
Although I am beginning to wonder if Tennessee has any actual rules about strangers.
Turning 21, Secret Passwords, and My Professional Golf Career
Next up was celebrating Alyssa's 21st birthday in style!
We started with dinner at Bella, an amazing restaurant with almost perfect Sangria, followed by a trip to a speakeasy in downtown Knoxville.
And when I say speakeasy, I mean walking down a seedy-looking alleyway with secret passwords involved.
Nothing says a classy night out quite like wondering if you're about to enjoy an amazing cocktail or become the opening scene of a crime documentary.
Fortunately, we made it inside, and it was a great night.
Then there was Topgolf.
I've always enjoyed golf. I'm just really bad at it.
And there's something about golf I've never understood. I consistently have the highest score, yet somehow I never win.
You would think the person with the most points would be declared the winner, but nooooo. Golf has its own set of rules.
Personally, I think the scoring system is flawed.
I've decided I'm not bad at golf. I'm just playing a completely different game than everyone else.
And in my game, I'm undefeated.
Remmie Makes Friends, and I Prepare for My Netflix Documentary
I've also signed up for dog walking and pet sitting. Mostly because Remmie needs some new friends, and since he doesn't have a driver's license or a cell phone, his social life is also my social life.
This Friday, we're going hiking with some new friends.
People we've never met in person. Only online. Because that's reassuring.
In the middle of the woods.
Now, here's something I've noticed about Tennessee. Somehow, meeting complete strangers in the middle of the woods seems like a perfectly normal thing to do.
In New York, this would have raised several red flags. In Tennessee, it's just Friday.
For those of you who don't know, I love horror books and movies. I've often wondered why, and I think I've finally figured it out.
I watch so many horrible things happen to people that when something terrible happens in real life, I'm not surprised. I'm prepared.
Some people watch horror movies and think, "That would never happen to me."
I watch them and think, "Well, now I know what to do."
Which brings me back to Friday's hike.
I've seen this movie. It usually starts with a group of friendly strangers, a beautiful wooded trail, and someone saying, "This looks like a great place!"
Next thing you know, someone's running through the woods, there's no cell service, and the person who suggested the hike is suspiciously calm.
But I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time.
And if nobody hears from me, I've already chosen the title for my Netflix docuseries:
MIDDLE OF THE WOODS: The Cyndee Story
Please make sure they use a flattering picture of me. I refuse to become a true-crime documentary with a bad profile photo.
And someone needs to interview Remmie. He'll be the only witness, although I should warn you that his loyalty can be purchased with a chicken strip.
We're also still searching for the perfect dog park. Anyone who knew our dog park in New York understands why finding a replacement has been so difficult.
We were spoiled, and I haven't found anything that compares yet.
So until then, Remmie and I will continue making new friends, exploring Tennessee, and ignoring every lesson I've ever learned from watching horror movies.
I just hope I'm not the character that everyone is watching and screams at for making stupid decisions.
I've Become a Reader. Who Saw That Coming?
Here's something I didn't expect.
I've finished my first book in years!
Not only did I finish it, but I've already started my second.
Who is this woman?
I've even created a section on my website called Cyndee Reads, where I share what I'm reading, my questionable opinions, and my very sophisticated wine-glass rating system.
Horror is my favorite genre, which probably explains why I willingly spend my free time reading about terrible things happening to people.
Although, as we've already established, I consider this more of an educational experience.
Some people read self-help books.
I read about haunted houses, serial killers, and people making terrible decisions.
And look at me now. I'm practically a survival expert.
Who voluntarily meets strangers in the woods.
Maybe I should start classifying my horror books as self-help.
And Now for My Biggest Adventure Yet...
As much fun as I've been having, there's something much bigger happening behind the scenes.
I'm starting my own consulting company.
Yes. My very own business.
After spending nine years helping grow and manage a company, I've decided it's time to take everything I've learned and put it to work for myself.
My goal is to help smaller home-service companies become more successful, not just financially, but operationally.
And here's the part that matters most to me.
I believe a company's employees are its greatest asset. You cannot build a truly successful business without investing in the people who make that business run.
I want to help business owners improve their operations, strengthen their teams, create fair opportunities for employees, and build companies where everyone has a chance to succeed.
Because I don't believe success should come at the expense of the people doing the work.
I'm calling my new company Crisforte Consulting Group, and I'm incredibly excited about what I'm building.
Will it be easy? Probably not.
Will I make mistakes? Almost certainly.
Do I have everything figured out? Absolutely not.
But for the first time in a long time, I'm building something that's mine.
And that feels pretty damn good.
Besides, I've spent years helping other people make money. I figure it's about time I tried making some for myself.
What could possibly go wrong?
Actually, don't answer that. I've read enough horror books to know better.
My Other Business Partner Has Four Legs and No Work Ethic
As if starting a consulting company wasn't enough, Remmie and I have also been working on a few other business adventures.
We've started developing partnerships through social media and created our very own online stores.
Yes, Remmie has a store.
And yes, he has opinions about the products.
Unfortunately, being in business with Remmie has presented a few challenges.
For starters, he eats all the profits.
Literally.
Every time I think we've found a great dog product to recommend, he seems to think it's a personal gift.
I've tried explaining profit margins, operating expenses, and the importance of reinvesting in the business.
He licked himself and went back to sleep.
Clearly, I'm going to have to handle the financial side of this partnership.
Which is a little concerning, considering I'm also trying to launch a consulting company where I advise other businesses on how to operate successfully.
Meanwhile, my own business partner is eating the merchandise before anyone even clicks the link.
I may have to put him on a performance improvement plan.
So, How's Tennessee Treating Me?
Three weeks ago, I was leaving behind a career, a home, friends, routines, and just about everything familiar.
Today, I'm exploring new places, meeting new people, reading books, making plans, building businesses, and figuring out what I want the next chapter of my life to look like.
Am I successful yet? No.
Am I happy I made the move? Absolutely.
I still have a long way to go, and there are plenty of things I need to figure out.
But I'm not sitting around waiting for life to happen anymore.
I'm actually living it.
And if these first three weeks are any indication, Tennessee and I are going to get along just fine.
Of course, it's only been three weeks.
I've attended a stranger's wedding, wandered down a questionable alleyway using secret passwords, discovered that golf is clearly rigged, and agreed to meet people I've never met in the middle of the woods.
Meanwhile, I'm starting two businesses, reading horror novels for survival tips, and trying to explain financial responsibility to a dog.
I may not know exactly what I’m doing, but I'm excited to find out.
I can't wait to see what happens next.
Hopefully, I'll be around to tell you about it instead of having Netflix do it for me.