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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Preludes


So I’m moving to Seattle. Many of you already know this. When I first decided take this new step and start this journey, my life was rather different from what it is now—at least in terms of what I’d be leaving behind. The decision was made in late August, after a painful experience in which I lost (for a time) a dear friend and walked through some hard-core rejection and betrayal on several levels. I knew I’d miss my dearest friend Sara and the DC area contingency of my family, but apart from them, I didn’t really feel I had much to miss. Not that I didn’t have other friends, but really, everything else seemed very much leavable, especially for six months. I’ve felt more and more that the NOVA area is not really my scene. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been really happy there and I’ve managed to find great people who aren’t really a part of the general culture and atmosphere of the area. But really…the insanity, the over-scheduling, the striving, the trophy-based existence…not my scene. So I decided it was time to try something else—someWHERE else—for a while.

Seattle worked for me on many levels. I’ve visited the area on several occasions and love it. It’s funky and laid back. My sister Elizabeth and brother (in-law) Joseph (with whom I am very close) and my (almost) two-year-old nephew Caleb live there were the ones who invited me to move out there to live with them. There are Starbucks stores aplenty, so work wouldn’t be a problem. Plus, it’s about as far away as you can get from the DC area. Which, in August, worked greatly in Seattle’s favor.

I find it interesting—how much can happen in six months, how much things can change, how much broken things can be made whole, how indifference transforms into inextricable care, how restlessness can be tamed in a few well-placed lasting moments. In August, leaving would’ve involved a little dusting off of shoes, a shrug, and a sigh of relief. Now, in January, leaving has involved an awful lot of bittersweet, of tears, of aching, and a little clinging to the dust of what I leave behind. Still, I am excited about this new path I’m following. I am hopeful about what these next six months will bring about in my life. I’m ready. Bring it on, Lord. Let’s stretch these life muscles a bit.

3 comments:

  1. Okay, first I MUST ask, what is up with capitalizing so many words?!? Are you using a ghostwriter?

    Second, if the Starbucks thing doesn't work out for a job, there's always our infamous slut hut drive through espresso stands...NOT!!! Don't worry, Mama. Not that she would ever consider it, but if by some fluke she did, it would be over my dead body. I'm pretty sure we'd let her live here free of charge before we would let her stoop to that. Again, not that she would.

    And finally, we're more than happy to help with the stretching of the life muscles. ;)

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  2. thanks for the tip, ellie! i had forgotten about the slut huts. as far as capitalization, i figured i'd be proper, since the majority of humanity is not familiar with my justification for lack of capital letters. but when i comment BACK, well, that's another story... :)

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  3. Makes sense. For what it's worth, "that was a wise choice, Susi." ;)

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