And the Plants Aligned

Sometimes life pulls you in a different direction.

A relationship that was deeply important to me did not work out. There. I said it.

But from this blunderous summer I believe I have managed to create something beautiful. I will not be returning to Western Washington this year. And sure, part of it has to do with my recent breakup. But more importantly, by not returning to Western I will be giving myself the opportunity to go abroad. I have wanted to go abroad for a very long time. I never knew how to afford going abroad while going to Western, or how to hold on to a lease while abroad for half of the year. And I admit, I was in a relationship that I didn't want to risk loosing over going away from several months. Now that relationship is over and I realize how silly it was to ever let it hold me back.

So I thought...alright. I'm going. It's now or never-I only have one year left until I graduate. So I would have to go Spring semester. That means I would be able to go to Western for one quarter before I leave. I would set up my apartment and buy furniture for it just to be leaving in two and a half months. The odds of someone subletting my place for winter and spring are less likely then if I put it up for rent now.

And then I thought long and hard about it. Practically, it makes more sense for me to stay a semester at UAA. I need the money. But I didn't really want to stay at UAA. And I really thought I was too late. Classes from UAA started Monday and it was already Thursday. So I decided I would only stay at UAA for a semester under the following conditions: I can keep working part-time at VECO, I can register for things that I need at UAA without really transfering, and that my apartment quickly was rented.

Step one: part-time job at VECO. Within an hour I was approved by the president of the company for up to twenty hours a week on the intern pay-scale (and by intern pay scale I mean chi-ching chi-ching). I get to pick my own hours and they are moving me into a nice, new workspace.

Step two: sublet the apartment. I was flooded by calls an hour after I posted the apartment on craigslist. A wonderful girl that has already rented from my property mangement company called and told me that she had seen the inside of the studio I am renting out and would love to take over the lease. I called my property management company and they told me that she was a good friend of the manager of my building and that there shouldn't be a problem approving her. She has agreed to pay in full for the deposit and told me that she would contact me first if she ever was moving out to see if I would like the apartment back.

Step three: contact UAA. They told me I was still in their system and required no transcript from me. They let me sign up for all the upper-division classes I needed.

And within two days it was all settled: work, apartment, and classes. I registered on Thursday and went to school that evening. And once I arrived I discovered an old friend of mine in the class. And as I drove home that night there was an enormous, perfect rainbow across Eagle River Valley. What a cheesy good omen.

I've already gotten in touch with some friends that are still in Eagle River. And it is wonderful to sit and talk with familiar people that are from the same place I am. This morning I sat in the coffee shop and flipped through my new textbooks and got the most overwhelming feeling that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.

It's been a while since the planets have aligned for me. But I've had this feeling before. Good things will follow.