Tag Archives: austin

How i got here-part 3

November 30, 2012

Here is part 3 of how I got here. To catch up here is part 1 and part 2.

So that’s how it went. Katie stayed up at her school and I carried out the original plan. I got a job at a health food store in town (cashiering and stocking shelves). I worked during the day and baked, knitted, watched movies, and hung out with friends by night. I made a few new friends at work and would tell them elaborate stories about my life to make the time pass as we worked. I was quite the comedian. Anyhow, overall, I wasn’t doing a whole lot and was not in a job that challenged me or even came close to using the degree I had earned. There was nothing wrong with working at the health food store but I knew I was to be somewhere else. I would feel like this even more when, on occasion, my math advisor would come into the store.

With very little direction and feeling pretty down about where I was in my life I began talking to Katie and thinking about my next move. She would be applying to graduate schools and deciding where she would be living for the next few years and I announced that wherever she ended up going I would come along.  Maybe what I needed was a big move! Plus this way we could live together like we had planned.

The decision for her came down to Madison, WI and Austin, TX. Originally I was hoping for Madison because it was close to home and was still in the Midwest. Turned out the program in Austin was better for Katie so that is where she chose. So Austin it was! I was moving to Austin with my best friend.

At the end of the spring I quit my job and moved back home for the summer. I figured I better save all the money I could because I had no idea what to expect when I got to Austin. I did as much as I could ahead of time though. I scoured the internet for jobs and found one that looked promising. It was an after-school position with Citizens Schools. It sounded like a lot of work but it sounded rewarding and interesting which is just what I needed.

Throughout the summer I was in the process of interviewing for the job, Katie and I were doing our best to find a place to live but decided it would be nearly impossible until we were actually there, and we had decided to take just her car and pack only what would fit. We were both very calm about the move and just really excited for this new adventure.

Be sure to come back next Friday for part 4. Have a great weekend!

 

Swimming in barton springs

June 28, 2012

As my days in Austin are dwindling to an end I am determined to spend my time doing high quality activities and having quality time with friends. So far I have been pretty successful. The other day my friend picked me up from work and we headed over to Barton Springs which, as you may know, is a pretty quintessential Austin landmark. It was good timing too as it was the hottest day we’ve had yet. I figured the place would be crawling with people but I was pleasantly surprised that it was not.

I’ve been to Barton Springs a few times over the years but one last trip was essential. We posted up on the hill and took the most refreshing dip in the water. The contrast nearly takes your breath away as the water is always 68 degrees F and it was about 107 degrees F outside. We swam around a bit until we were cooled then dried off in the sun on our towels and did it all over again. The whole experience was made even better by the musicians behind us playing what reminded me of the soundtrack to a French film. Lovely.

For my final days in Austin I need to focus on just enjoying myself. Often times when I’m leaving a place I’ve been for a while I find myself running around like a crazy person trying to do so many things. I think in a way it’s a distraction for me to focus on all of my unnecessary to do’s but I’d like to not do that this time.  For instance I probably don’t need to run all over town visiting all the places that I have memories of. I probably don’t need to buy cheese cloth and collect figs for a recipe I want to try once I’m in Michigan. I’m even allowing myself to not make jewelry for a few days so I can really be present with my friends and myself. So here is to my last few high quality days in Austin.

Seattle: a departure

June 11, 2012

A while back when I announced that Walker got a job in Seattle I also mentioned my summer plans. That went a little like this. I would go with Walker to Seattle when he moved there for a visit. Then he would stay and I would go back to Austin. At the end of June I would go back to Michigan to be with my family and then move myself to Seattle in the fall.

It all sounded perfect except for the part where I wouldn’t see Walker for a few months. I think the reality of that didn’t catch up with us until the evening I was heading out (last night). We had spent so much time taking care of last minute details before we left and then spending 11 days together exploring Seattle and having so much together time. It was so fun and wonderful and then bam it was the day I was flying out.

Of course I was already super sad but it really hit me when Walker started asking when I would be back to visit and when I’d be moving out there. That’s when I question why we’re doing it this way even though we’ve already figured that out. Of course it makes since for the reasons we’ve discussed but does it make sense to miss each other this much? Right now it feels like no.

Walker escorted me to the link rail and after many tearful goodbyes we were and are on our own for a little while. It makes me more sad than I can say and my eyes are welling up again just typing this.

I was doing my best to hold back tears on the way to the airport and for the most part I was successful. For the most part. I had a lot of extra time at the airport so I was calm despite the long security line. It was especially nice when the girl in front of me started to chat. It was perfect timing really and a great distraction. We chatted all the way until we parted to go to our gates. Then she hugged me. Isn’t it wonderful how nice strangers can be? Just when I needed a friend I had one.

Now I must return to Austin and tidy things up and have even more goodbyes before I can begin my summer in Michigan. For a person that resists change there sure is a lot of it happening right now.