Now that 2007 came to a halt, and I've read everyone's year-end surveys, I've been thinking of my own year. So here it is, my Year In Review:
Friendship & Sisterhood: The Three Degrees of RachelOne year ago, I was more unhappy than I have ever been. I was broken hearted, alone, and had no friends within 100 miles. I was working 50 to 60 hour weeks, and beginning my shift at 6:00AM. I lived alone in a large but dark and damp basement apartment. My friend Chris nicknamed it The Lonely Basement. Even Crispin, my dog, was miserable. I never ate when I was home. I lost weight, I cried, I made (and destroyed) crappy art, and I slept - in the cold. My only escape was at work, where I got along well with everyone, joked around constantly and made a reputation for myself as "The Crackup". I did well in my job, and for the most part, had fun illustrating yearbook covers.
A few months into the year, I met a girl named Rachel. She and I bonded over our recent breakups. We talked a lot about where we thought our lives were headed just months before, and how we found ourselves suddenly trying to redirect our lives - with no more motivation to do so. Her only solace from the situation, she said, was friends and roommates. I had neither. Until Rachel introduced me to Roque (who's real name is also Rachel).
In April, I moved into a house with Roque and Spencer. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by fun, interesting, wonderful people who served not only as a distraction from my loneliness and longing, but also as genuine friends. I began eating dinner again. Crispin was happier than I have seen him in years.
A month or so later, I found a studio at the AVA mansion. Now, I had friends, I had roommates, I had art space, and I had motivation. But I wasn't fully recovered. Too many things made me think of the past, and the only thing I wanted was to move forward.
Early in June, Roque got a great job as a designer and moved to Las Vegas, and Spencer went home (also to Las Vegas) for the Summer. Lucky for me, I was ready to be alone again. Things were going well. At work, a new girl (Emily) began, and I traveled to yearbook workshops around the West. I went to Seattle, Eugene, San Francisco (twice), Austin, and Sacramento. Emily joined me for the Seattle workshop, and we took off three days early to enjoy our time there. We talked without stopping for three days and bonded - as per usual - through our dire circumstances. Now - I had a friend.
The summer went by smoothly. I had fun at work, and I had someone to spend my free time with too.
A certain boy briefly moved from friend to something closer, but it turned out he was as flaky a beau as he was a friend. He had asked for a "chance", but he blew it quickly. No tears were shed.
Late in the Summer, Roque informed me that the company she was working for was hiring another designer. I got my portfolio together, polished my resume, bought a suit, and took my last day of vacation to secretly fly to Las Vegas for an interview. I got the job. In the meantime, I made another new friend, Jordan, who introduced herself to me as my "new best friend". She was right. She and I were shockingly similar.
When I left Las Vegas, my friends and roommates in Logan threw a going away party/concert. It was easily one of the best nights of my life; I felt loved for the first time since my days in New Mexico. But, sadly, I was leaving again. Jordan helped me move to Las Vegas. I don't know how I would have done it without her.
In Las Vegas, I moved into a perfect house. Roque not only hooked me up with a great job. She also set me up with a great house, and a great roommate. My roommate's name: Rachel.
The job turned out to be far more responsibility and stress than what I had been used to. But it was exciting. My boss was encouraging, and my coworkers were perfect. It was a small office with eight very distinct personalities. Somehow, I fit in. A month later, I went to a week of training in Atlanta. I met the president of the company who knew me by name because my boss had sent him images from my portfolio. I was thrilled. Everything about my new job in Las Vegas was just that - thrilling!
Within only a couple of weeks, I had a group of friends (Roque, Rachel and Diana). Las Vegas was already much better than I had expected. I was meeting new people all the time, and I had old friends come through town to visit me. It wasn't long before I met a boy. Of course, it wasn't long after I met him that I found out I'll be moving again. So we never became a couple, and - again - we both came out unharmed.
As the year ended, Roque moved to Denver, and Rachel is applying to Grad schools. She and I will both be moving away in the Spring, and Diana will probably stay here for a while to see things through with her loved one.
Now, I am happier than I have ever been.
sounds like: the boy least likely to "faith" (the george michael cover)
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