Week 3

      One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.~ Andre Gide

      I graduated college seven weeks ago, not much time in the grand scheme of things but yet my life is completely different than I imagined it less than two months ago.  If anything had gone according to plan right now I would be sight seeing my way back to Vermont from California.  While in some ways I am sad that my trip did happen but in other ways it was the best thing that could have happened to me.  That’s what a lot of people didn’t get when I told them the trip was canceled they thought I should be mad or at the very least sad.  Trust me I was crushed that a trip I had planned for more than six months went up in smoke in a matter of six minutes but when I look back I’m so happy how it worked out.

      Now after having lived in a camper in Bee Spring, Kentucky for the last three weeks.  My first foray into living alone it’s amazing how much I’ve changed.  I only realized this today when I posted a status about how much Rian has changed in my time here.  When I posted this Kathy who among many roles in my life is my best friend Jacki’s Mom and my mom’s best friend as well.  Kathy was always the one telling me to go away, be a kid, get dirty, get lost in the woods.  After a camping trip with what felt like a million pre teen and teenage boys I understood why she told me that. But back to what I’m talking about :)

      Kathy posted that she was thinking the same about how much I’ve grown up too. Until that moment I really hadn’t realized how much I had grown up.   So I thought about it, I’m living alone, having to do my own food shopping and feed myself in a place where I knew no one until I started working here and really still don’t’ know anyone and I’m not running scared.  In fact I’m loving it and seriously considering finding a position with the COE anywhere I can get one.

      Which is in total contradiction anything and everything I have said over the last four years in school.  I bet if any of my professors read this especially Coupe and Grover they are shaking their head right now but I guess this is part of growing up.  I guess I’m finally growing enough to reach the potential so many people thought I had when I wasn’t sure.  I can only imagine how different I will be after the four weeks I have left here and then the five I will be in Europe.

For once in my life I’m not going to fight this change, I have no doubt Laurie, Rachel and Staci will get phone calls from me spazzing that I’m convinced I’m making a huge mistake but I know they will make sure I keep doing what is making me happy.