1. The passport
I got my first passport in May of 2009 – three months ago. I got it so that I could go on two cruises, one with my family and one with my best friend. Both were to Mexico. I have been to Mexico five times, Alaska once, the Bahamas for a day all on cruises. I’ve visited New Jersey, Massachusetts, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Utah, Nevada, Washington DC, and Florida. I have slept in a hotel by myself in Reno and Salt Lake City. I drove 1200 miles to Colorado with no one to keep me company but my cat. I lived in New York for a month with 30 of my fellow students and once I was in an airport in Canada. But I have NEVER been outside of North America. I don’t care where I have been, I want my passport to look just as impressive as the life I plan on living.
2. The economy
Alright, to be honest, I don’t follow the news and politics nearly as much as I should. A lot of the news I get is from Yahoo News headlines, the Daily Show and Colbert Report, or Weekend Update. I do subscribe to Time magazine and just finished the New Health Care issue (in which President Obama was on the cover for the TWELFTH time). So with that being said, I may not be able to hold a debate with you on the state of the economy, but I know enough to know that we are in a bit of trouble right now and it’s not going to be solved overnight. And who knows, while abroad, I might even become more interested in politics after seeing how a national health care system works. So, I’ll go take care of some adorable little kids for a year and let Papabama do his magic.
3. The best friend
When my best friend moved a half hour away to Pomona, I thought it would be hard. Then I moved seven hours away to the Bay Area and it’s been extremely difficult. When I told her I might move somewhere else she put her foot down and I relented. Right now she’s the number one person in my life and I need her in it.
My best friend just got married. She’s living in marital bliss with her high school sweetheart and right now, he is number one person in her life, and she is number one in his. I don’t say this fact with hate or remorse either, it’s just the truth and the way it should be. But that being said, I need to be the number one person in someone's life, and if it’s got to be my own…so be it.
4. The boy
When I say “the boy” I am not talking about a boyfriend, or a fling, or even a friend with benefits. I’m talking about that one guy that’s apparently out there for you. It could be someone who’s been around for a while or someone I have yet to meet. But if there is anything there that is meant to be, I’m sure fate won’t mind waiting a year to make it happen. I’m young and single…I’m fairly sure that's an amazing combination.
5. The family
When I graduated from college in June, I had no idea what my plans were. So, instead of wasting money on a down payment for an apartment only to potentially break the lease at the end of summer, I decided to try and save a couple bucks and move back home. It’s the first time in four years that my recent-high-school-graduate sister, my just-finished-his-first-year-of-college brother, and five-year-degree-quarter-life-crises I have lived under the same roof for more than a week. I love my siblings very much, but to be honest, my sister 's friends are drama queens and quite frankly, my brother’s a little shit. And I love my parents too, and it’s natural for them to still think of me as their baby and want to know where I’m going, what I’m doing, and what time I’m getting home, but after being on my own for five years, it just feels like a giant step back. But wherever I go, I know my room at home will always be waiting for me adorned with school awards, pictures, and an extremely large collection of Barbie Dolls.
You are just too cute... I have one of those little brothers too. I admire your courage to jump out there and do something on such a grand scale.
ReplyDeleteHere's to getting your new from Weekend Update. I'm all for that (so much less depressing that way!).
ReplyDeleteLove that you made this gutsy move. I moved from Kansas to NC (not as large as yours), and I've never regretted it. Sometimes you just have to make a break for it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like such a fun adventure. I don't know that I'd ever have the courage to pick up and move that far away. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteHappy Sits day!
Glad you took the dive! I'll be interested in what you think of Holland's health care. It was the main reason why my husband's family left Holland. Their son was ill and they became very
ReplyDeletefrustrated with the system....rationing of care, the long waits, the lack of control, my grandfather-in-law- not being able to receive a stent in his heart when he had a heart attack b/c he was over the age of 70. No paps for women under 25...etc...
Sounds like you are on a very exciting adventure, good for you! :)
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! I wish I was brave enough to do something like that. Actually I wish my daughter would be brave enough to do something like that. I admire you for doing it and hope that you have fun. Just think of what you can tell your kids one day about all the adventures you had.
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS Day!!!
I'm here from SITS. Nice post and I think it's great that you took that leap and really spread your wings. One thing that I've never regretted is anytime I traveled. It's always been a great thing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't done much traveling myself- only to Canada once and VA, which is where I now live. I've never really had the urge to travel.
ReplyDeleteI think what you did is fantastic. People talk about the fantasy of doing something like that all of the time but it is incredible that you went out and did it for yourself!! You rock!
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS day!