It was a good thought until I thought about the legistics some more, then it ended up being an ideal.
My thought process started when I thought about going to New York City sometime. I have a few friends out there and I have always wanted to go to New York City. Then I thought it probably wouldn’t be a good idea fo rme to go to New York City, because I would probably love it and I would have yet another place that I would have to visit in my dreams. There are so many places I want to live; so many places I want to be all at once, but it’s just not possible. I think of being by my family and being able to spend dinners together as once cohesive unit rather than three separate places. I want to be in London, Florence, Chicago, Denver, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle all at the same time, and I never want to leave any of them, so this is when this “good thought” occured:
What if we were all destined to live in different places at differnet times in our lives, but we were assigned to these places. Let me explain: what if we are born somewhere, then in 5-10 years have to move somewhere else (with everyone you know) so it’s like the places and people you grew up with are the same people you grow old with, just in different cities. I thought about how great it would be–save stress from having to buy airfare and take vacation time away, or simply just having family around all the time.
Then this thought occured to me: then you would never meet other people. Every time you went somewhere new, there would be new resturants, new faces, but in all reality, you already would have the friends and family you need, so there would be no need to connect with people. It’s the need to belong that brings strangers together, and it’s that need that I think keeps bonds from breaking in new places.
We all know people that stayed in our hometowns and still hang out with the same people, and we take inventory of the last few years, realizing how much we’ve changed and grown. Friends and family come visit us in what has slowly become a new home for ourselves, and we realize that time does not stand still, and while we try as hard as possible to ensure that we will always have those ties to our homes, it is vital that we move on a bit and grow into the people that we are destined to be. I love my friends. I love my family. I love the places I’ve traveled and the places I will hopefully someday visit again, but I realize that the possibilities for me are still endless and maybe someday my ideal can come true–hopefully someday I can take my niece out to dinner or have my brother over for a dinner becuase he lives just down the street, but life has its funny way of mimicing a road that has endless turns and changes so who knows where our roads will end; I guess it’s the actual road that becomes our lives and it takes us to places we don’t even know existed.
One of my favorite memories is from the middle of my freshman year. Freshman year, SPU requires each student to take a class called USEM, kind of a way to have connections with other students and a professor to make the move to college easier. My class was small–about 15 students, and our professor was Dr. Caddell. The name of our class was “My Church from the Back Row.” It was a sociological view of various religious practices and views. On the first day of class, Dr. Caddell told us that he and his wife like to invite the class over to their house in Bremerton to get to know them on a different level.
So, right before the holidays, Dr. and Mrs. Caddell invited us to their house for a Mexican fiesta. Not everyone could go, but the seven of us that could go hopped on a ferry and headed over to Bremerton to the Caddell’s house. We were greeted by his two daughters who loved meeting college students. Mrs. Caddell had dinner ready for us when we walked in–takitos, burritos with homemade tortillas, refried beans and soda. After dinner we thought we were going to head back home, but Dr. Caddell insisted we sit and hang out for a while. He suggested we watch A River Runs Through It, a movie I never thought I would like until then, but now sits on my DVD shelf. While we were watching the movie, Mrs. Caddell made us chocolate cake with chocolate mint icing–she served it to us hot. We didn’t leave until we had to in order to catch the last ferry back to Seattle.
I think I remember that moment because it was the first time I was to a real home since I left Colorado to go to college. I was so impressed with the welcome we had I actually added Sociology to my major because of Dr. Caddell. Throughout my three and a half years of earning my degree, Dr. Caddell was always available for me to talk about school or life. During my last quarter at school, I took “Medical Sociology” with Dr. Caddell. He announced that it was going to be his last year at SPU; he was moving on to a teaching position at the University of Iowa. He sounded excited for the future, but I was sad to know that SPU was losing a kind and passionate professor.
It wasn’t a huge gesture, but I will always remember going to Bremerton to Dr. Caddell’s house. Here are a few pictures from that day I scraped up:
Olivia, Lisa and Lauren
CJ and Cory
Melanie and Me
Something that I am learning about myself is that although I value being taken care of, I am more independent and stubborn than I have admitted in the past. It frustrates me when I am helpless or when I need to sit still or take it easy.
I have been working from home these past three days because I’ve been weak and dizzy. My stomach is still shaky and I just don’t feel like myself yet. This morning I drove to work with hopes that I could make my 2:00 p.m. meeting and 3:30 conference call. Like I usually do, I pushed myself too hard, even walked from the park garage to my office, and before long, my queasiness got the best of me.
On my way home I realized that there are sometimes when working from home is best, recovery is best and slowing down is best. I think that sometimes I push others the way I push myself and I know that’s not best for anyone.
So let’s use “work from home” as a code. I’ll start using it with myself when I start to get out of hand and need to calm down. Or, you can use it when I am pushing you in a way I can handle myself, but shouldn’t expect you do be pushed.
That is what my body is doing to itself. Twice in three months I’ve had food poisoning. Either my body has something in it that it really doesn’t want in it or I really need to start watching what I eat…at least I have the luxury to work from home.
30 months ago you picked me up in your 2006 silver Mazda speed 6, wearing your dark wash jeans and white Quicksilver button down shirt. We played pool at The Garage, then went out to Dennys for Oreo sundaes. I wore my blue t-shirt I loved (but don’t have anymore), dressy jeans and my mustard colored Converse.
You had me right then, mr. grande caramel macchiato. I’m glad you faked liking coffee.
I don’t remember the exact date, but a few months back, Claire came over to our house to pick out buttons for something I don’t remember. Let me start with the reason she was picking out buttons at our house. For those of you who don’t know, Jennie has an extensive collection of buttons from one of her grandmas. Jennie also loves buttons and she loves to share those buttons with other people.
Here is a little glimpse of her collection:
Jennie's Button Collection
This is us picking out buttons for Claire:
the button search begins
for our listening pleasure
The buttons and music made Jennie feel like dancing:
WHOO
Great night.
I found my Lingua the other day and found my poem, Itialian Hickies, in it. Finding that poem as well as spending two hours per day on the bus going to and from work has inspired me to write a poetry blog. Yes. I’ve started to write again, which is exciting. I paid $100,000.00 to write poetry and get a degree doing it, so now I will put that degree to good use. Check it out from time to time. I’m excited about it; it’s what I need heading into the rainy season.
Our relationship of two and a half years has been great. We’ve had some good times and some trials. Over the summer we went through a rough patch when you decided it was best to only have produce and cheese for samples, but we made it through. I want to talk to you about something that’s been on my mind for a while–ever since you introduced me to your key lime cheesecake. I feel like you don’t listen to me sometimes and you play with my emotions. Whenever I see that there is a sample in the bakery section I hope that you will have your cheesecake again, but you never do. Toying with my emotions like this isn’t how a real relationship is supposed to work. Last week you had pumpkin pie for sample and the week before that some sort of coffee cake. Three weeks ago you had a similar looking sample to that of your cheesecake, but alas, you reeled me in than teased me with your coconut cream pie. Out of all the cream pies in the world, coconut is the worst, and you tricked me. That’s what hurts the most.
I’m not writing this to you so you feel bad; I just want you to know that I’m hurt. I’m confused. Why only have the key lime cheesecake just once? It seems like you always have cheese or salsa out. I’m not ready to break up with you yet; we’ve been through too much, and I think you have the best deal on eggs. I’m just saying that I think maybe we need to take a break from each other until you can figure out whether or not your samples should get better. This last week was better–you introduced me to the chicken meatballs, but it’s going to take more than that for me to trust you completely. You can’t just take for granted that I love getting the $1.50 hot dog/drink combo when I’m there on Saturdays. It’s like you expect me to come every weekend, but what if one of these Saturdays I can’t come or we don’t need anything from you? What then? What will it take for your samples to get better and for you to bring back that delicious key lime cheesecake? Don’t taunt me and don’t play with my heart. Just think about it, and until you can show me that you’re listening to me, I’m going to have to stick to coupon items. Bring back good samples and I may stray, but not until you can show me that you care.
Love,
Jyl
During my 5 month unemployment stint, I had the distinct priviledge of working with Jenna. Jenna has gumption and an appreciation for her fellow co-workers that is unparalleled to any that I have ever seen. Jenna is a very easy person to want to be friends with, and a very easy person to talk to about anything.
Originally, I wanted to write a blog entry comparing Jenna with Lorainne (the very funny MADtv character Jenna introduced our office to–probably one of the biggest mistakes she could have made because of reasons that I will fail to disclose in this blog out of respect for Lorainne, I mean Jenna), BUT after giving it much thought, I will simply say that Jenna is a great friend, co-worker and a very loving human being.
I miss working with her, even though I tell her I don’t. I think that everyone needs a Jenna to carry around with them in their pocket to cheer them up when they’re down. (there has never before been a person I let call me “Jylian” and not get upset with them–Jenna, you were on thin ice….just kidding)
For the record, Jenna–you are NOTHING like the rain…..
*NOTE: there are a lot of inside jokes and things the average person probably thinks are stupid in this post, and to those people I say, “sorry. I’ll blog about something else at a later date; I just promised Jenna a blog post and I didn’t want to disappoint her.”
I like reading people’s blogs. I like hearing what’s going on in other people’s lives and stepping into a world that I may or may not be attached to directly. It’s a great way for me to catch up with people without having to do more than click my mouse on their link and indulge in some blog posts. Let’s be honest, we’re not good at catching up with each other, and I’m sure you do the same. We have our select few that we see all the time and the rest we play with the idea of getting together, but in all reality it just stays on Facebook wall posts.
Where I was going with this whole thing isn’t to confess that I usually don’t make plans with people I don’t see on a regular basis (with a few exceptions), but to talk about the people whose blogs I read. I don’t know about you, but the whole work during the week, sleep on the weekends thing seems a little less exciting than living overseas or getting married, having a baby, moving, traveling, anything out of the ordinary. You know, when you read someone’s blog you love to live vicariously though you look at yourself, sitting in your cubicle, desk, whatever, and wish for a second that you had something really exciting going on in your life.
“so and so is teaching English in Japan.”
“so and so is getting married in Greece!”
“so and so just got engaged.”
“so and so have been planning on buying a house in Chicago.”
So how do you become a “so and so?” I think you have to make your excitement. I’m trying to find the fun in the ordinary, and I’m not going to lie, it’s hard. I like to complain about nothing going on and I like to be the center of attention. (I’m not going to deny it. I know you all know I like talking about myself and I know that too…) So I’m trying to find little things in life that make life exciting EVERYDAY. This may not be Italy, I may not be getting married soon, my niece is kind of old news (even though she’s still the cutest thing I’ve ever seen), and my new job will soon grow into old news, BUT what about the seasons changing and the new shirt I know is new but no one in my office knows is new because I just started? What about finding two designer shirts I’ve had my eye on for months being on sale? What about getting excited when my boyfriend makes a reservation at The Barking Frog and I get the confirmation email re. the reservation? What about being able to laugh with my best friend over things that most people don’t get? What about getting an email from an old friend or having a middle school friend move to Seattle and getting to see them from time to time? What about being reminded how lovely my family is because of a little Asian girl dancing at the bus stop and flashing back to my own childhood? What about a phone call from my brother or Skyping with my niece?
Life is great. My life is great. So whether or not I’m a “so and so” at someone’s dinner, I’m finding out that what is seemingly ordinary is actually pretty awesome.
