...and it starts...NOW

Capital-L LIFE is about to start.

I have a goal again! I have deadlines! I have decisions to make and plans to form! I have a Pro/Con list in the works (and if you know me, you know that's a serious indicator of things to come).

I feel like...yes, I can achieve things in life. That, no, I am not damned to a listless life of hourly wage within FoCo.

I haven't felt this optimistic since my senior year of high school. Isn't that crazy? Somewhere between summer and my Harvard rejection letter, I just didn't care about school. I didn't care if I graduated high school; I felt that I had earned my diploma long ago, that I had put in the man-hours, sweat, blood, and tears, and that it was my God-given-right to get the hell out of NFHS. Then I went to Shorter. While I was never thrilled about my choice, I resigned myself to the knowledge that The Hill was the right place for me at the time. Shorter was small and community-involved (perhaps too much? Regardless, people KNEW you at Shorter). I had a different college experience from many of my friends, but I never saw it as a negative experience. Overall, I enjoyed my time in Rome. I discovered more about myself, my beliefs, and my interests.

Then...this past year. Another growing experience. I don't regret this year. I needed an academic break. I needed to remember why I loved reading and learning. I needed a personal break as well. I was needed at home, needed at work. I was where I needed to be.

But now it's time to move on.

I feel like I've been a caterpillar for the past five years. Maybe I was a caterpillar who awoke too soon and got frostbit. I wasn't ready to leave the cocoon. But I think Spring is finally here...and I'm ready. I'm nervous. I'm afraid of going out into the big, bad world again. But I think I'm a bit stronger now. : )

Sorry for the cryptic blog. If you know me and my plans, you may be able to guess what's happened.

I'm just hesitant to shout my news from the rooftops (or in cyberspace). I have this unfortunate gift of announcing plans/desires/hopes and they pull a 180* on me. The exact opposite happens. Every time. So...once checks are deposited and I've signed my name about a hundred times and everything is OFFICIAL, I'll continue to be a bit more cryptic. : ) Sorry.