10/4/10 was my NOLA Anniversary. One year ago, my dad and I packed up a U-haul with all of my possessions, and I moved home...terrified.
I worried about the slow pace of this city and returning to the high rates of crime, the high rates of births of my friend's babies, and the high rates of unemployment.
Not only are these fears not as bad as I imagined, but they are overshadowed by the positive aspects of being home. Crime is still a major problem, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find nomads from California and elsewhere moving into low-income areas. These transplants are starting to add diversity to neighborhoods otherwise heavily segregated. I see some progress.
As for the babies, I was single for the first time in 10 years and felt that all my friends would be married and pregnant. A lot of them are, but I'm not so sure that I am envious. Being single is fun, and I am experiencing romance for the first time in my life. Besides, two of my closest friends are in NOLA and as single as ever.
Unemployment didn't last long either. I found a full time job with a stable company in less than three months.
So many changes... Our losing Saints won the Superbowl, and the city was never so alive. I lost weight, I gained more. I started drinking coffee daily, kicked the habit, and picked it up again more moderately. I discovered my passion for dancing and live music. I dated different types of guys from young and athletic to thoughtful and philosophical. I pay monthly taxes instead of drawing unemployment. I just bought a house - by myself. Who knew? New boys, new friends, quite a change after having been with the same boyfriend for over 5 years.
As we change, we expect others to stay the same, a disillusion that causes pain time and time again. Case in point, I recently emailed my ex-fiance to check in. I was utterly unprepared for the drastic update that I would receive. In less than a year of my moving out, he, well, let me just list his changes,
he is now married
he lives 3,000 miles away
he has a new job
he bought a house
he has a baby on the way
I guess I could have posted that back when I found out in August, but I needed time to wrap my head around it. I guess I have. And I guess he had a baby last month???
These days, people come to me for networking advice and dance party recommendations. I seek out new music. I am figuring out who I am and accepting faults as traits that make me unique. I feel appreciated and loved.
I live with my parents. I don't have to wash dishes. I don't have to pay rent. I nap. I read. I run for the first time in my life.
This new life thing ain't too shabby.
double rainbow i found on the way to work one day
