A Bittersweet Farewell

When I left after my 16 hour shift of work on Saturday night, I had no idea that I wouldn't be back and wouldn't get a chance to properly say goodbye to everyone there.  Unfortunately, life throws us little surprises every once in a while and I suddenly found myself unable to return to work on Sunday due to complicated matters.  The day ended with me turning in my official letter of resignation that night and not returning again.

I'm happy to once again be a free woman.  It was a very stressful job that was slowly wearing me down because I wasn't quite cut out for a job like that.  The hours were often way long (16 hour shifts were more common than you would think) and often crazy (like working 24 hours within 32 hours).  There were always so many expectations and responsibilities that it was often hard to keep everything straight and get everything done when necessary and be in the right place at the right time without doing something (or multiple things) wrong.  Though there were great moments (like when one of the girls would do something really momentous like riding a horse for the first time or just having a good day enjoying everyone's company and playing games for a holiday), there were also lots of difficult moments with crazy emotions and drama everywhere.  I'm grateful to be free of it before it wore me down even more.

My biggest regret is that I did not get a chance to say goodbye.  Not to any of the girls, nor to any of my coworkers.  There are so many things that were left unsaid and undone.

I will miss each of the girls and will never forget them.  I hope that they all work hard and do well in the program instead of rebelling against it.  I'm sure each of them will be successful one day as long as they keep trying.  I will miss their unique personalities, the fun times and their friendships.  I have enjoyed seeing their successes and how they have progressed.  My favorite moments were always when one of them realized something that would help them progress or succeeded at something for the first time.  Their joy was always mine as well.

I will miss my coworkers who are some of the strongest women I have ever met.  They are capable of maintaining such composure no matter what the situation and the responsibilities.  I will always respect and admire each of them and hope that they will still remain in contact and still consider me a friend.  I'm sorry to leave them in such a hurry and short staffed.  I hope it won't make things too difficult for them and I hope they get more wonderful coworkers soon who are just as amazing as they are and able to do all the difficult tasks that are required.

Thank you, Uinta Academy, for a wonderful growing experience and all the fun times.  I've learned a lot about others and about myself most of all.  I'm sorry that my time there had to end so suddenly and without any warning but it was a necessary step that had to be taken.

525,600 Minutes (or thereabout)

It's crazy how much can happen in one day and even crazier how much can happen in one year.  You never know who you're going to run into each day or what's going to unfold because of it.  

Approximately 532,800 minutes ago, I went on an errand for my research project and decided to stop at Aggie Ice Cream for lunch.  It just so happened to be lunch hour for those working in the back and to my surprise, one of the workers recognized me and we started talking (which was a strange occurrence itself and all his coworkers remember the day he started talking to a girl out by the counter).  The next day, he asked for my number on Facebook.  All day I waited for him to call which finally happened.  To my dismay, he was asking me on a date for that night but I was already in West Valley at my parents' house helping them with some landscaping.  Not wanting to lose the opportunity, I quickly said that I would be back the next day if he wanted to do something then instead.  The next day, he picked me up and took me to his parents' house to meet his brothers and their dates because we were going on a triple date.  We went on a hike on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail while picking up skipping stones which we used at First Dam.  On our way back along the trail, we stopped to watch the sunset before proceeding to a picnic site up Green Canyon where the boys had already placed a tent of firewood to hold a spot for us.  We roasted marshmallows, had smore's (without the graham crackers) and the brothers sang hilarious camp songs.  It was a very simple and fun first date, but it had a huge impact on both our lives.  He surprised me with his unique personality and fascinating conversations.  We had so much in common and what we didn't have in common, we wanted to share with each other.  Neither of us expected so much to come from that one simple date.

Hans Gunther and I were both on the USU Ballroom Dance Company our sophomore years of college.  We were on different teams but I always thought he was cute and would talk to him whenever I saw him.  I never imagined back then that I would ever be dating him.  It's now been a wonderful, remarkable year and I wouldn't change any of it.  Last night we went on a "one-year-anniversary date" and it perfectly described our relationship.  We watched the movie "Now You See Me" and had a very intellectual conversation about it afterwards, had dinner on the patio at the Elements (check that off my bucket list!), and then played a game of chess at a pavilion at the mouth of Green Canyon while watching the sunset.  In some ways, it was a "typical date" (movie and dinner) but it was also so unique and perfectly described "us" and our relationship.  It's been a remarkable year and I wouldn't change any of it for the world!

From dancing together...

To going to The Hobbit premier together...

To just being together...

 

...it's been a wonderful year and I've loved every second of being with him!

Live long and prosper

Today was my birthday.  Normally I ignore my birthday at all costs.  Most people don't know when my birthday is and I generally refuse to tell them.  It's easier and less complicated and embarrassing that way.  Plus less disappointment when things go horribly wrong.

Today it got me thinking of all my most memorable birthdays (both good and bad).  I've had some epically awful birthday memories and some great ones:

• 12th: My friends and I went to see The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in theaters.  Yeah, I was obsessed.... and still am...
• 18th: I had to work at good ol' Coldstone Creamery followed by a "date" with a guy who made all sorts of promises and said that he was my new boyfriend but who only really wanted a one-night stand.  When he found out it wouldn't happen, I never heard from him again.  Literally.  And to make it even better, my family didn't celebrate my birthday until exactly one month later because it was the earliest we could get everyone together.
• 19th: One of my best friends from back home "had something come up" when we were supposed to hang out the night before my birthday and the other lied that he had to work because he was depressed.  On my birthday the next day, the later friend attempted to commit suicide which was only saved because he brother found him.  Then my roommates felt obligated to throw a birthday party which half of them didn't attend and the other half only stayed long enough to get cake and then disappeared to their rooms.
• 20th: For the first time ever I had friends who actually threw me a party because they wanted to and not just out of obligation because they were my roommates.  No matter how silly the gifts were and how simple and small the party was, it was one of the best nights ever and I cried afterwards because I was so touched by their genuine kindness and friendship.
• 22nd:  It was a rather normal day with only some simple festivities but for once, I was fine with people knowing that it was my birthday and not entirely embarrassed about it.  Even when Hans and I went to Texas Roadhouse, I would have been fine with the workers knowing that it was my birthday (and secretly I was kind of hoping for it) although it didn't happen.  The evening was filled with good food, simple moments and special friends.  For the first time ever, I got to spend my birthday with a real boyfriend who is actually here.  Nothing (so far) beats that.

 Our family does have some pretty awesome traditions that do need to mentioned.  For instance, we always play a group game (chosen by the person with the birthday) which involves prizes for everyone at the end of the game.  They're usually cheap prizes that are sometimes silly, but they are fun nonetheless.  The birthday person also gets to choose what they want for their birthday dinner.  And last but certainly not least, there's the cake.  The birthday cake is always decorated to represent either something important to the person or something that has happened recently in their life (or soon will).  For instance, we've had such cake toppers as chocolate chess sets (William), chocolate smurfs (Robyn?), a campfire (with dirt mixed in with the frosting under our bonfire of candles - Mom), tombstones (Mom's over-the-hill), cars (Dad and William), graduation ones, soccer (Rob), dance and cheer ones (mine), Germany-themed (for my study abroad), an epic geology ice cream cake (which also included Robyn's new car) and a huge smurf party scene that covered an entire sheet cake plus some for Mom's 50th surprise party!  (If you are interested in pictures of any of them, let me know and I'll find them when I go back home.)  We may not be professional cake makers or decorators, but we make it work and we enjoy it!  They're definitely traditions that I want to continue someday when I have my own family.

Yeah, the joy of birthdays is finally taking hold...

Thank you to all those who gave me birthday wishes and for those who made my day just wonderful, specifically Hans.  Thank you for helping me enjoy my birthday and not be embarrassed about it.

Stepping stones in life . . .

After debating for many years about whether I should ever create a blog, I have finally decided to take a leaf out of my sister's book and start my own.

Yesterday was a momentous day.  One of my oldest and dearest companions and friends got engaged.  We've been through practically everything together.  Even in the beginning, we were best pals.

And even with the 2 1/2 year age difference, we were practically twinners.  For Halloween....

 And Christmas....

And family pictures.

From matching toys...

 To hunting frogs together...

To making giant snow/ice slides...

And jumping off the roof onto the trampoline...

We've been friends through it all.

Though she's engaged and will be married in 83 days (according to Marc), I hope nothing will change between us.  She will still always be one of my best friends and will always be the greatest and the best sister ever!  Marc is a great guy and I couldn't be happier for them both!  I know he will make her happy.  When she just looks at him, she practically glows especially since yesterday's engagement (although she totally denies it).  I wish them the best of luck and the happiest days and years to come!  I love you, Robyn!

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves

and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double.  

~Toni Morrison