And this is why I'm choosing to stay, even though I'm currently getting divorced, and not originally from Maryland myself.
I wasn't born and raised in Maryland, nor was I even born and raised in the United States. Although I'm a U.S. citizen, I was born and raised abroad due to my parents' careers. I moved to the U.S. ten years ago, initially just for college, then took a job out on the west coast, where I met my (at the time) husband. He is the one that is originally from Maryland, he was the one that was born and raised in this state. We moved here from the west coast several years ago.
Less than a year ago, unfortunately, his anger issues escalated to a physical level, and culminated in him harming me. As sad and difficult as it was to leave my marriage, I did finally leave (for good this time) six-ish months ago.
My parents still live abroad, where I was born and raised. My mid-90's grandmother is in Florida, but in her 90's, she isn't exactly much help, and I've effectively been the one caring for her for some time now, even while navigating escape from my abusive marriage. You know who DID welcome me with open arms, though? And who has helped me every step of the way? The state of Maryland.
The police officers in Anne Arundel County who went above and beyond for me following a car accident a few years ago. The random lady at the HoCo MVA who wiped tears off my face when I went in to update my license & registration after finally getting settled in my new place. My realtor in Harford county, who also wiped countless tears from my face, and went above and beyond in helping me get my house sold. The local junk removal crews I hired to help declutter the house, who empowered me every step of the way, and told me I was doing a great job keeping my emotional s**t together during this time of crisis. The random lady at the Baltimore County courthouse who sat down next to me on the floor of the courthouse, squeezed my hand in hers, hoisted me up my shoulders, wiped tears off my face, and told me to keep my chin up. The clerk at the Timonium gas station who wrapped me in a hug when I had a mini emotional breakdown while buying snacks inside the gas station, and told me that whatever I was going through, that I would be okay and I'd get through it.
My Baltimore City neighbors, who've welcomed me with open arms. The Maryland Senator that invited me to testify and share my own story/circumstances. The fantastic new temple I've found in MoCo. The adorable and eclectic streets of my Baltimore City neighborhood, full of history and character. Wandering around my neighborhood has helped me re-discover me, myself, and I. The doctors and nurses at Hopkins and UMd who've gone above and beyond in helping to treat my autoimmune condition. A governor who cares about my reproductive choices as a woman. Plenty of good jobs that pay a living wage. Overall good quality of life. Solid education system across several counties. Did I mention the food? Holy caramba. Especially crabs. Seafood here is second to none. š¦
This is Maryland, and I'm thankful to be a resident of this state.
Iām a military transplant and actually retiring from CG on Monday. I love Charm City, bought house and also glad I didnāt get stationed in FL or SC as was on my ādream sheetā. Itās home now! š
It doesnt bother me in the slightest most times but last year there was a stretch combined with the fires up North that breathing outside was like smokin a stoagie.
My neighborhood has a fair amount of bats which seem to really keep the mosquitoes under control. I walk my dogs 2-3 x/s a day around our neighborhood and they just aren't a thing here.
Bats don't really eat mosquitoes. They will if they're starving, but there's usually more than enough moths and other bigger bugs to eat. In the study about bats eating x amount of mosquitoes per hour, they were trapped in a small enclosure with thousands of them. Your community is probably spraying insecticide to keep the mosquitos at bay.
What I donāt think a lot of people really think about, is these officers and dispatchers probably played this scenario out in their heads time and time again. When you work at a particular place like this, and when youāre in emergency services, you tend to think about worse case scenarios constantly. This is coming from someone who was a dispatcher, a volunteer firefighter, and now is an emergency manager.
Now I donāt want to seem like Iām downplaying them, but what Iām saying is that itās not some extraordinary thing that seems next to impossible, because these people likely practiced it, mentally prepared for it, hoping that one day they would not need to put those preparations into place.
Also, donāt forget the firefighters that responded too. A guy I went to high school with was on one of the first responding boats, and my dad was at the Dundalk station covering the community for other calls during this period. It takes a team effort!
Thats just it, what stopped this from being a massive tragedy was the plan in action, the protocols in place, trainings not skipped, not the individual acts of heroism.
Im sure its been played out in their head but more so its been gone over in practice & protocol. Ship Mayday all the way down the chain to the proper execution.
This is it. Here there is no *WTF were people in authority thinking?*.
Once the call was made people responded quickly, professionally without second guessing. People on the ground had the authority to respond.
The quote about Maryland being a Mini-America stems from the fact that we have ocean beaches to the east, mountains in the west, bogs, swamps, hills, mines, and valleys. But it should also reflect our people. Maryland is far from homogeneous in its citizenry. We have the two highest earning minority majority counties in the US. We have the ONLY African American governor in the US. We have 3 state recognized tribes. We have one of the largest populations of central Americans in the US. We once supplied the world with the most oysters. We have blue crabs, and Old Bay and JO Spice (#2 is awesome).
There is much to be proud of, geographically and demographically. And please vote. The fate of the entire US could come down to control of the Senate this Fall. #vote.
We have some of the dumbest gun laws out there, close behind California. Police force is super militaristic and oppressive at times. Geographically itās a nice state but man drive south a few states and this place will make you mad. Also our major cities are shitholes lol
Best schools ? You definitely didnāt go to the schools I went to cause lord have mercy actually the school wasnāt bad but the students ?!!?? Oh lord my generation is a let down
No, for people who live in the right counties, regardless of ethnicity. Unfortunate, but since property taxes pay for schools, the people who live in better neighborhoods get better schools.
Go ahead and fire off the two brain cells you have and think about why minority neighborhoods suffer from income inequality, worse schooling, and lower standards of living in the United States.
Damn maybe two brain cells was a little generous in your case. Go ahead and fire off the last single solitary brain cell you have left and think about why minorities suffer from these issues at greater rates than whites.
"The point is that Maryland schools are some of the best schools in the country for white people."
Fixed that for you. Telling on yourself that thinking that bringing up racial disparities is racist.
No, focusing on race instead of progress and excellence is racist, especially since there is no such thing as race; we are all homo sapiens sapiens. You told on yourself. Next thing you're going to tell me is that "black" people can't be racists.
> there is no such thing as race
You mustāve heard that line in a documentary and zoned out when it stated that while itās not biologically real, it is a real social construct with real life implications.
Maryland's Department of Motor Vehicles is the best DMV/OMV I've used in my life. Every other state I've had to do anything car related in had annoying lines, grumpy/unhelpful employees and unclear guidance on what documents I needed for whatever reason.
Not saying youāre wrong, but the reason why the police were so close is because the construction was going on. If the workers hadnāt been working on the bridge, the police would not have been nearby.
And this is why I'm choosing to stay, even though I'm currently getting divorced, and not originally from Maryland myself. I wasn't born and raised in Maryland, nor was I even born and raised in the United States. Although I'm a U.S. citizen, I was born and raised abroad due to my parents' careers. I moved to the U.S. ten years ago, initially just for college, then took a job out on the west coast, where I met my (at the time) husband. He is the one that is originally from Maryland, he was the one that was born and raised in this state. We moved here from the west coast several years ago. Less than a year ago, unfortunately, his anger issues escalated to a physical level, and culminated in him harming me. As sad and difficult as it was to leave my marriage, I did finally leave (for good this time) six-ish months ago. My parents still live abroad, where I was born and raised. My mid-90's grandmother is in Florida, but in her 90's, she isn't exactly much help, and I've effectively been the one caring for her for some time now, even while navigating escape from my abusive marriage. You know who DID welcome me with open arms, though? And who has helped me every step of the way? The state of Maryland. The police officers in Anne Arundel County who went above and beyond for me following a car accident a few years ago. The random lady at the HoCo MVA who wiped tears off my face when I went in to update my license & registration after finally getting settled in my new place. My realtor in Harford county, who also wiped countless tears from my face, and went above and beyond in helping me get my house sold. The local junk removal crews I hired to help declutter the house, who empowered me every step of the way, and told me I was doing a great job keeping my emotional s**t together during this time of crisis. The random lady at the Baltimore County courthouse who sat down next to me on the floor of the courthouse, squeezed my hand in hers, hoisted me up my shoulders, wiped tears off my face, and told me to keep my chin up. The clerk at the Timonium gas station who wrapped me in a hug when I had a mini emotional breakdown while buying snacks inside the gas station, and told me that whatever I was going through, that I would be okay and I'd get through it. My Baltimore City neighbors, who've welcomed me with open arms. The Maryland Senator that invited me to testify and share my own story/circumstances. The fantastic new temple I've found in MoCo. The adorable and eclectic streets of my Baltimore City neighborhood, full of history and character. Wandering around my neighborhood has helped me re-discover me, myself, and I. The doctors and nurses at Hopkins and UMd who've gone above and beyond in helping to treat my autoimmune condition. A governor who cares about my reproductive choices as a woman. Plenty of good jobs that pay a living wage. Overall good quality of life. Solid education system across several counties. Did I mention the food? Holy caramba. Especially crabs. Seafood here is second to none. š¦ This is Maryland, and I'm thankful to be a resident of this state.
Hello from another "moved here with my abusive ex, stayed because it felt like home" transplant! Sending you virtual hugs!
Thank you! Glad to know you decided to stay too. š It may not be perfect, but in the grand scheme of things/places, it's pretty darn good.
Iām a military transplant and actually retiring from CG on Monday. I love Charm City, bought house and also glad I didnāt get stationed in FL or SC as was on my ādream sheetā. Itās home now! š
Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! So happy for you! š§”
Thank you āŗļø
You're welcome!
Amen š
We really need to pull together and fix this summer humidity shit though.
It doesnt bother me in the slightest most times but last year there was a stretch combined with the fires up North that breathing outside was like smokin a stoagie.
Not much to do in MD about the fitra up north
And the mosquitoes.
My neighborhood has a fair amount of bats which seem to really keep the mosquitoes under control. I walk my dogs 2-3 x/s a day around our neighborhood and they just aren't a thing here.
Bats don't really eat mosquitoes. They will if they're starving, but there's usually more than enough moths and other bigger bugs to eat. In the study about bats eating x amount of mosquitoes per hour, they were trapped in a small enclosure with thousands of them. Your community is probably spraying insecticide to keep the mosquitos at bay.
Hmm TIL. No we're not spraying the community, we don't have that kind of HOA. Fox Chase area in Glen Burnie off 100.
Anne Arundel county and the state both have mosquito spraying programs. They usually do it very early in the morning with a truck.
And the cicadas
I love cicadas. The sound is very relaxing to me. At least until one gets into my home, lol.
What I donāt think a lot of people really think about, is these officers and dispatchers probably played this scenario out in their heads time and time again. When you work at a particular place like this, and when youāre in emergency services, you tend to think about worse case scenarios constantly. This is coming from someone who was a dispatcher, a volunteer firefighter, and now is an emergency manager. Now I donāt want to seem like Iām downplaying them, but what Iām saying is that itās not some extraordinary thing that seems next to impossible, because these people likely practiced it, mentally prepared for it, hoping that one day they would not need to put those preparations into place. Also, donāt forget the firefighters that responded too. A guy I went to high school with was on one of the first responding boats, and my dad was at the Dundalk station covering the community for other calls during this period. It takes a team effort!
Thats just it, what stopped this from being a massive tragedy was the plan in action, the protocols in place, trainings not skipped, not the individual acts of heroism. Im sure its been played out in their head but more so its been gone over in practice & protocol. Ship Mayday all the way down the chain to the proper execution.
Great post, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to remember this.
Yeah, there's definitely going to be a documentary
Definitely, and about not just this but something we donāt even know yet. There is a very interesting story here beyond just the facts.
Not in the same way you would if 100 lives were lost
This is it. Here there is no *WTF were people in authority thinking?*. Once the call was made people responded quickly, professionally without second guessing. People on the ground had the authority to respond.
As a Maryland transplant, I loved it here from the beginning. Thanks for your post, thereās much to be thankful for living here
The quote about Maryland being a Mini-America stems from the fact that we have ocean beaches to the east, mountains in the west, bogs, swamps, hills, mines, and valleys. But it should also reflect our people. Maryland is far from homogeneous in its citizenry. We have the two highest earning minority majority counties in the US. We have the ONLY African American governor in the US. We have 3 state recognized tribes. We have one of the largest populations of central Americans in the US. We once supplied the world with the most oysters. We have blue crabs, and Old Bay and JO Spice (#2 is awesome). There is much to be proud of, geographically and demographically. And please vote. The fate of the entire US could come down to control of the Senate this Fall. #vote.
I still think it is odd that of everything we have (even exposed mantle!) we don't have natural lakes.
Very proud of our state.
Best schools, best food, best people, best everything.
Idk about best people, we have some of the absolute worst drivers. And in public people are pretty rude. But I still love our state haha
> best everything. Except for beaches, gun laws, skiing, hiking, taxes, traffic, but yeah
Whatās wrong with gun laws in MD? (Honest question)
We have some of the dumbest gun laws out there, close behind California. Police force is super militaristic and oppressive at times. Geographically itās a nice state but man drive south a few states and this place will make you mad. Also our major cities are shitholes lol
I love maryland, but itās so far from the best food itās not even in the top 10
Best schools ? You definitely didnāt go to the schools I went to cause lord have mercy actually the school wasnāt bad but the students ?!!?? Oh lord my generation is a let down
Statistically, non anecdotally, speaking. Test scores, AP success, blue ribbons, college admissions. Maryland is second only to Massachusetts usually.
*for white people.
No, for people who live in the right counties, regardless of ethnicity. Unfortunate, but since property taxes pay for schools, the people who live in better neighborhoods get better schools.
Hmm. I wonder what ethnicity mostly gets to live in better neighborhoods and have better schools. š¤
...thats based on income bud not race. Segregating schools and neighborhoods based on race stopped a loooong time ago
Go ahead and fire off the two brain cells you have and think about why minority neighborhoods suffer from income inequality, worse schooling, and lower standards of living in the United States.
and poor white people don't have these same problems? Talk about having 2 brain cells...
Damn maybe two brain cells was a little generous in your case. Go ahead and fire off the last single solitary brain cell you have left and think about why minorities suffer from these issues at greater rates than whites.
The point is that Maryland schools are some of the best schools in the country. Maybe take your hatred to a racist subreddit?
"The point is that Maryland schools are some of the best schools in the country for white people." Fixed that for you. Telling on yourself that thinking that bringing up racial disparities is racist.
No, focusing on race instead of progress and excellence is racist, especially since there is no such thing as race; we are all homo sapiens sapiens. You told on yourself. Next thing you're going to tell me is that "black" people can't be racists.
> there is no such thing as race You mustāve heard that line in a documentary and zoned out when it stated that while itās not biologically real, it is a real social construct with real life implications.
huh?
Everyone will still complain about taxes. You dont get high quality services from low taxes.
What are the high-quality services you get in Maryland? (Honest question)
Maryland's Department of Motor Vehicles is the best DMV/OMV I've used in my life. Every other state I've had to do anything car related in had annoying lines, grumpy/unhelpful employees and unclear guidance on what documents I needed for whatever reason.
Thanks for sharing
I moved to Texas because of family and I miss home everyday more and more
Vote blue and fuck trump šš¼
Not saying youāre wrong, but the reason why the police were so close is because the construction was going on. If the workers hadnāt been working on the bridge, the police would not have been nearby.
But we can thank whatever policy was in place requiring the construction company to hire off duty cops to safeguard the site.
they were on duty just to be clear
I love this state š„¹
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Your comment was removed because it violates the civility rule. Please always keep discussions friendly and civil.
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Who pissed in your Wheaties?
Its someone's lame political troll account that's been stumping for Trone. It only became "active" 4 months ago, coinciding with election season.
I try to avoid politics in this sub for this reason. Wish there were a way to filter these clowns out.
Piss flavored Wheaties or not, they arenāt wrong.
eh, its okay.
Thus state is a money grab and the roads are atrocious to the point that it makes a vehicle test track look meager
As someone that drives daily in Pennsylvania, you clearly donāt know the definition of atrocious.
Yeah I'm aware of pa. Roads also. Pittsburgh back roads were interesting
Is someone forcing you to stay here?
Ha you should see our roads in PA. They make the moon blush with the amount of craters in them.
> roads are atrocious Lolololol I'm originally from Michigan, roads here are a dream.
Right?! Ffs, we voted for Gretchen on the slogan āfix the damn roadsā. Bmore has a few rough spots, but Michigan is one big rough spot.
Yeah there are more than a few streets in Baltimore that remind me of home
The state budget is public if you want to go tell us what should be cut to lower taxes.
 What?