I know I haven't posted anything for awhile. The main reason for this is because I had been in San Diego for so long it stopped feeling like so much of an adventure, and more like day to day life. I am not hundred percent sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing but in terms of 'seeing the glass half full' I'm going to say it was a good thing. It's crazy to even believe I was there for six weeks! I would hope the vacation type feeling would wear off a little or start to get old at least.
I am so happy and grateful for all the connections both new and old I made during my time there. LeighAnn felt inspired to pick up and move cross-country and she did. Hell, she already has an apartment and a job in the six weeks I was there! I was able to reconnect with another sorority sister Moriah who is moving here as a pharmacist in March which is looking to be a realistic time frame for myself. I met Jade, a pharmacist from my sorority. I have made a handful of new friends through bars and meet-up groups that I hope even remember my name by the time I get back.
Dana and Daniel. My new family out here. I love those two. She took a shot in the dark and a chance on love and moved cross-country to be with him. They remind me a little of Chris and I, Daniel the simple guy who loves Dana unconditionally. Dana who can find nothing to get upset with Daniel about except falling asleep watching their favorite show. They love each other truly and deeply, and that my friends is hard to find.
I feel like this whole drive back cross-country is almost bitter sweet. I'm ready to start my life there, get the ball rolling! On the other hand I am going to see my family and friends for the holidays and then have a one-way ticket to Hawaii, come on? My Dad said so why are you going to Hawaii, just forget it? I'm going to Hawaii for two reasons; the first is that it was part of the plan from the beginning and I feel like I have to see it through and the second is that whatever new job I get in San Diego is never going to let me take a six week vacation to Hawaii, it's now or never. Now I only bought a one-way ticket because I truly don't know when I will want or need to come back it might be two weeks, it might two months. There is a potential job I am applying for that does not require me to have a California pharmacy license, which would be a reason to stay in Hawaii longer, the licensing paperwork takes forever and hopefully will be done by February. If I get this job and decide to take it that would bring me back much sooner.
Aside from visiting the Lucas family in Houston the drive back has been pretty uneventful which is why it has taken me so long to write. I figured one final wrap-up was the way to go. I stopped in Scottsdale, Arizona for a day of nature and hiking and ended up getting a speeding ticket. I went to New Mexico to see the White Sands National Monument and the Carlsbad Caverns but was so exhausted I couldn't fully enjoy them. That area of New Mexico has absolutely nothing so I almost ran out of gas and went to a military base running of fumes because my GPS said there was a gas station in there and they wouldn't let me in. Thankfully, I somehow made it another 10 miles to the next closest gas station. Seeing Jess and Steve and their kids Landon and Eli was a treat. Jessica is my friend from Lacey we pretty much grew up doing Pop-Warner together. Steve grew up in Lacey too but moved to Houston to work in his brother construction company.
On Friday was the company Christmas party. I beat all the Mexicans at Left, Right, Center two games in a row and won $60 so I had a great time. Saturday, we went to Steve's oldest brother Billy's house for pierogi day. A family tradition where they spend all day taking shots of VO and making 500 pierogies for Christmas Eve. Jess is a busy mother of two boys, 6 and 2 so on Sunday I took her out for the day to try float therapy and then we went to brunch. The float therapy is where you lay in a highly concentrated pod salt bath for an hour. It was pretty relaxing but it was hard to lay there for an hour in silence, thirty minutes to start might have been enough. The weather has significantly dropped and I think I coming down with a cold. I said my goodbyes to the Lucas', I think Landon was the most sad to see me go...and headed for Nashville.
I decided to stop for dinner in Memphis before finishing out the 11 hour drive to Nashville. I went to B.B King's Blues Club which has multiple locations but that was the original and B.B King was from Memphis. I watched their house blues band and ate a traditional creole shrimps and grits. In Nashville the temperature dropped to 17 degrees and the daytime temp was in the 30's. Seeing that I don't even have a coat with me it didn't make me super excited to explore Nashville. Also, country music is probably my least favorite genre, despite its huge popularity in this country. I took a tour of the Grand Ol' Opry where country music all started and went to the Johnny Cash Museum. My hotel was right downtown so afterwards I walked around Honky Tonk Row where they have live country music all night. In retrospect, I would have preferred staying in Memphis listening to blues and jazz vs. country music, but it was fun.
I met two guys that were road-tripping from California back home to Virginia, Michael and JJ. The seemed like good Christian red-necks from Virginia but I couldn't help but notice, Michael who was talking to me way more than JJ had a wedding band on. I asked him about and he told me he was a widower which is why he wore a black wedding band. I couldn't believe it. Not only do I hate when people ask me about wearing a ring on that finger or the tattoo I have on that finger, here I was doing it to someone else and he was a widower driving from California?! I didn't ask him what happened to his wife or why he chose to go out and get a black band to signify that he was a widower, I just said that I too was a widow and we continued talking about our road trip and various other things, like it was no big deal. That was the first time I have ever told someone I was a widow and felt completely comfortable. Makes me think I need to meet more widowers.
So that key to true happiness I was hoping to find on this trip. What is it? I know I love music, it brings people together in ways I never thought possible. Daniel, Dana, and I had some pretty fun playlists going to all kinds of different music! Music, I prescribe as much as possible! Music can help you through so many emotions and there is a song no matter what your mood. Music has gotten me 10,000 miles, 20 states and I know I wouldn't have survived without it.
Travel! I love it! I did a lot on this trip that I never thought possible. That most people would never dream of doing and I definitely want to continue traveling. I prescribe as much as possible. I am so grateful for this opportunity and I think everyone should take the time to see this beautiful country we live in. The national parks are amazing and I hope one day I can say I have visited them all.
Unfortunately, the only thing missing from the equation is that at the end of the day all of us just want that one person to be able to dance and travel with. To share our day and our experiences with. I have embraced being the "lone she wolf" on this trip and I have grown comfortable being with myself. I appreciate all of you for being that person for me. Allowing me to share my experiences with, dancing and traveling along with me.
I know that may never happen again for me. San Diego is a tough place to meet people that are genuine and there is a lot of competition. I am at peace with that. I am not ready to be with anyone. I am still working on me and have a ways to go, but I am happy. True happiness? Who knows what that is? But things could be a lot worse....life is good.
As I embark on the final leg of this trip to Hawaii I will embrace the word Aloha, which I always thought meant Hello or Greetings. Aloha is to consciously manifest life in the present. I can't dwell on the past, I can't fear the future. I have to be in the here and now present, engaging, making real connections.
I am going to take a break from posting on Instagram, choosing a song, and blogging while I am home for the holidays. For the most part I will be working and spending time with family. I will pick everything back up again when I depart for Hawaii on January 5th.
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