Things We'll Miss in SBC
Alternately Titled: Things You Should Check Out in the SBC
As much as I will miss our friends when we move away in a couple of weeks (more on that later), it is starting to hit me just how many of the things we'll miss here too.
As I make a slew of appointments to wrap up our time here, I am struck by how many wonderful organizations and people we have been taking for granted.
1. CABOSA: The Caddo-Bossier Soccer Association is well run and well organized. My kids have both been playing soccer since they were four-years-old. Many of our happiest memories are from the soccer fields at Cargill Park.
2. The Duck Pond: Of all the great parks in the Shreveport/Bossier areas, the Duck Pond was always our favorite. It is just such a charming little place. And it's proximity to our favorite Shreveport library branch made it the perfect place to spend the days before my kids were old enough for school.
3. Mid City Pediatrics: Before my son was born, we took my daughter to the pediatric clinic on base, where she screamed and cried though every visit. But because of staffing shortages, Dr. Pace from Mid City Pediatrics took care of our son in the hospital when he was born. At the time, my daughter cried whenever an adult tried to talk to her. But Dr. Pace walked into our room, bent down to her level and talked to her without her shedding a tear. She actually conversed with him! And we were hooked. I'm afraid we won't find another pediatric practice like Mid City when we move. I can't say enough about them and how well they've helped me take care of my family.
4. Dr. Holly Cook: A friend of mine who was a dental hygienist before she had kids came up to a group of us at soccer practice one day and announced, "If you don't already have a pediatric dentist you like, I have one you have to try!" It was perfect timing for me because I had just decided to look for a new dentist for the kids. My friend was right. Dr. Cook was so thorough and so good with the kids. Her office is quaint and calm. My only regret is that we found her so late in our lives here in Shreveport.
5. Dr. Pete Nasser: After my son was born, I knew it was time to bite the bullet and finally get my teeth and jaw fixed. I was nervous about having a second round of braces as an adult, and I was anxious about having to have jaw surgery, but upon the recommendation of my dentist, I couldn't have chosen a better orthodontist. Not only were Dr. Nasser and his staff competent and kind, but they went above and beyond what I expected to coordinate with my dentist and surgeon (the excellent Dr. Brian Smith) through the extensive process of redesigning my face. My daughter is just about ready to get braces now and I am sad that she won't be seeing Dr. Nasser. My kids grew up in his office!
6. Target: Whenever anyone asks me where I bought something, my reply is always the same. "Target. That's where everything we own came from." I spend so much time at Target that I'm surprised they haven't started charging me rent. There is a small Target near our new house in Virginia, but the closest Super Target is over a hundred miles away! I am going to miss my home away from home on Youree Drive.
7. Centenary Suzuki School: We knew we wanted our children to study a musical instrument, but we hadn't given much thought to which ones when we were lucky enough to become aware of the Centenary Suzuki strings. Southfield School has a satellite of the Centenary program. When my daughter was just three-years-old and we attended our first Grandparents' Luncheon at Southfield, their Suzuki kids played as the entertainment. We thought they were awesome. After spending a lot of time researching the Suzuki method of teaching and Centenary's program, we knew we couldn't pass up all they had to offer. And so my kids are violinists. It hasn't always been easy as the program requires much dedication and discipline, but our Suzuki teachers have brought much joy to our lives. I will be so sorry to say goodbye to such a wonderful program.
8. Our Squadron: Before the kids went to school, I was always very involved in life on base. I was active in our squadrons and volunteered to help around base in the small ways that I could. In the last couple of years, my husband has been in the best squadron of our lives. I regret that my schedule kept me from being more involved. I hope that my husband's next unit will be as welcoming and active as his current squadron.
9. Our Neighborhood: As much as we are looking forward to owning our own home, I know I will miss many of the benefits that come with living on base. We have had the most wonderful neighbors over the years. Those neighbors helped me through so many deployments. I have also grown used to having all of the base's amenities just a few moments away. If you are a military family who isn't sure if you want to try living on base, I think you should check it out. Not only were we able to save a great deal of money, our community has helped shape who we are. Our kids could not have grown up in a safer place.
10. Southfield School: I will miss Southfield School most of all. The Southfield family has become our family. There are no words to describe what our school has given to my family. This very blog is full of my Southfield stories. There are plenty of fine schools in the Shreveport/Bossier area, but I urge everyone to visit Southfield and check it out for yourself. The feeling that permeates the campus is not something you can read in a brochure. It is an especially wonderful place for military families especially since the Southfield community has shown its commitment to bringing military families into the fold with its military endowment.
I think we'll miss the Shreveport area more than we even realized. As I sit here writing, the number of wonderful places we're leaving behind is overwhelming. From Sutton Children's Hospital to The Boardwalk, the SBC is growing and maturing more and more every year.
We've never gone back and visited a place we've moved away from before. That will have to change now. We'll miss Shreveport, but we will be back.
As much as I will miss our friends when we move away in a couple of weeks (more on that later), it is starting to hit me just how many of the things we'll miss here too.
As I make a slew of appointments to wrap up our time here, I am struck by how many wonderful organizations and people we have been taking for granted.
1. CABOSA: The Caddo-Bossier Soccer Association is well run and well organized. My kids have both been playing soccer since they were four-years-old. Many of our happiest memories are from the soccer fields at Cargill Park.
2. The Duck Pond: Of all the great parks in the Shreveport/Bossier areas, the Duck Pond was always our favorite. It is just such a charming little place. And it's proximity to our favorite Shreveport library branch made it the perfect place to spend the days before my kids were old enough for school.
3. Mid City Pediatrics: Before my son was born, we took my daughter to the pediatric clinic on base, where she screamed and cried though every visit. But because of staffing shortages, Dr. Pace from Mid City Pediatrics took care of our son in the hospital when he was born. At the time, my daughter cried whenever an adult tried to talk to her. But Dr. Pace walked into our room, bent down to her level and talked to her without her shedding a tear. She actually conversed with him! And we were hooked. I'm afraid we won't find another pediatric practice like Mid City when we move. I can't say enough about them and how well they've helped me take care of my family.
4. Dr. Holly Cook: A friend of mine who was a dental hygienist before she had kids came up to a group of us at soccer practice one day and announced, "If you don't already have a pediatric dentist you like, I have one you have to try!" It was perfect timing for me because I had just decided to look for a new dentist for the kids. My friend was right. Dr. Cook was so thorough and so good with the kids. Her office is quaint and calm. My only regret is that we found her so late in our lives here in Shreveport.
5. Dr. Pete Nasser: After my son was born, I knew it was time to bite the bullet and finally get my teeth and jaw fixed. I was nervous about having a second round of braces as an adult, and I was anxious about having to have jaw surgery, but upon the recommendation of my dentist, I couldn't have chosen a better orthodontist. Not only were Dr. Nasser and his staff competent and kind, but they went above and beyond what I expected to coordinate with my dentist and surgeon (the excellent Dr. Brian Smith) through the extensive process of redesigning my face. My daughter is just about ready to get braces now and I am sad that she won't be seeing Dr. Nasser. My kids grew up in his office!
6. Target: Whenever anyone asks me where I bought something, my reply is always the same. "Target. That's where everything we own came from." I spend so much time at Target that I'm surprised they haven't started charging me rent. There is a small Target near our new house in Virginia, but the closest Super Target is over a hundred miles away! I am going to miss my home away from home on Youree Drive.
7. Centenary Suzuki School: We knew we wanted our children to study a musical instrument, but we hadn't given much thought to which ones when we were lucky enough to become aware of the Centenary Suzuki strings. Southfield School has a satellite of the Centenary program. When my daughter was just three-years-old and we attended our first Grandparents' Luncheon at Southfield, their Suzuki kids played as the entertainment. We thought they were awesome. After spending a lot of time researching the Suzuki method of teaching and Centenary's program, we knew we couldn't pass up all they had to offer. And so my kids are violinists. It hasn't always been easy as the program requires much dedication and discipline, but our Suzuki teachers have brought much joy to our lives. I will be so sorry to say goodbye to such a wonderful program.
8. Our Squadron: Before the kids went to school, I was always very involved in life on base. I was active in our squadrons and volunteered to help around base in the small ways that I could. In the last couple of years, my husband has been in the best squadron of our lives. I regret that my schedule kept me from being more involved. I hope that my husband's next unit will be as welcoming and active as his current squadron.
9. Our Neighborhood: As much as we are looking forward to owning our own home, I know I will miss many of the benefits that come with living on base. We have had the most wonderful neighbors over the years. Those neighbors helped me through so many deployments. I have also grown used to having all of the base's amenities just a few moments away. If you are a military family who isn't sure if you want to try living on base, I think you should check it out. Not only were we able to save a great deal of money, our community has helped shape who we are. Our kids could not have grown up in a safer place.
10. Southfield School: I will miss Southfield School most of all. The Southfield family has become our family. There are no words to describe what our school has given to my family. This very blog is full of my Southfield stories. There are plenty of fine schools in the Shreveport/Bossier area, but I urge everyone to visit Southfield and check it out for yourself. The feeling that permeates the campus is not something you can read in a brochure. It is an especially wonderful place for military families especially since the Southfield community has shown its commitment to bringing military families into the fold with its military endowment.
I think we'll miss the Shreveport area more than we even realized. As I sit here writing, the number of wonderful places we're leaving behind is overwhelming. From Sutton Children's Hospital to The Boardwalk, the SBC is growing and maturing more and more every year.
We've never gone back and visited a place we've moved away from before. That will have to change now. We'll miss Shreveport, but we will be back.
Labels: activities, doctors, family, free time, housing, military, moving, school, shopping, Shreveport, Southfield, sports, Suzuki, violin
posted by Major Mom at 8:46 PM
Karen is a military wife and stay-at-home mother to a seven-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son. A Boston native who’s lived in the Shreveport-Bossier area for eight years, she spends most of her time volunteering at her kids’ school, supporting her husband, playing with her friends and watching her hair turn gray. In between, she writes about her life here on her blog.
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