Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone

Desert Botanical Gardens; Phoenix AZ
Photo Credit: Doree Weller

I never realized how true that was until I moved to Arizona.  At first, I loved the baking heat (dry heat is really different), the comforting stretches of brown, and the sameness of everything.  The last few years I lived in Pennsylvania were chaotic, and the fact that everything was different than I was used to but looked so uniform comforted me.  We lived in Arizona for 7 years, and it was a really good 7 years.  I got my Master’s Degree, met my best friend, my partner, and found a kindred spirit.  Finding three friends who are “keepers” is always a beautiful thing.

Texas looks a lot like Pennsylvania (at least the part we’ll be living in).  It’s got rolling hills, lots of green, and frequent summer thunderstorms.  My arthritis doesn’t bother me so much here in Arizona, but I didn’t really know how much my heart yearned for green until I learned that I’ll soon be living in it again.

When I left PA seven years ago, I couldn’t wait to get away.  I didn’t look back and wasn’t sad to leave it behind.  The timing was right, and I obviously had something to learn.  It’s going to be with great sadness that I leave Arizona, as it’s been very good to me.  I’m taking away far more than I could have anticipated, and I’ll always be connected to this place.

I’m glad I moved to Arizona and had time to appreciate what I left behind.  Now, I’m heading to the next adventure!

-Hunter S Thompson

Everything is new

Usually, Sunday is the start of my weekend, but because I started this new job last week, Sunday is the end of my weekend, like pretty much everyone else in the world.

I don’t like it.

I still have everything to do!  I took time off during my 4 day weekend and enjoyed myself… can you believe it?  I had Thanksgiving dinner, decorated for the holidays, and took one day to do pretty much nothing.  So today, I have to do everything!  I have to go grocery shopping :(, cook for the week, do my laundry, pay my bills, and go hiking.  I think it’s going to be a busy day.

I’m not a fan of new.  I like all my old friends and don’t feel the need to make new ones (unless I’m living somewhere new; then I make an effort).  I really didn’t want to take a new job.  I’m sort of dreading starting back and working the full week next week.  I just keep reminding myself that in a few weeks, it will be “old” and will be better.  But it’s hard.  I liked my old coworkers, my old office.  I liked my van and my clipboard.  I miss the TV guy and joking around with other teams.  In my new office, I have to speak in an indoor voice and make sure I don’t say anything that could be construed as sexual harassment.

So, today I do my housework, and tomorrow, I go back to the office.

How do you deal with new?