52 Weeks....to the Real Me

Where do I begin?
Last weekend I went to Syracuse to hang out with my best friend and her family. She has 3 little boys, ages 8,6, and 1. This was the 2nd time I’d seen the youngest, Lincoln. The 4th or 5th time for the middle, Cole, and about the 6th or 7th time for the oldest, Leo. That’s rather pathetic - 7 times in 8 years! 2 of which were in the last 6 months. (and 2 were in the first year). I’m ashamed. I’ve always been bad with keeping up with long distance friends. (Melissa and her family have lived in 4 states since we were in College -- none of which was the state I lived in and they are moving to state #5 (8hrs away from me) next Summer.) This situation is especially bad because this isn’t just some friend I haven’t kept up with, this is someone who is like a sister to me.... to her boys, I am AUNT Megan.

So this Spring, as I was deciding who I really wanted to be, I decided that I want to re-connect with friends that I’ve lost touch with. Facebook has been greatly beneficial in this endeavor. I’m proud to say that this summer I’ve communicated with Melissa, Ben, Mandy, and Matt with regularity. (I’ve also been catching up with other college friends, family members, and high school classmates.)

One night back in April, Melissa and I were talking -- actually ON THE PHONE, and I was at a fork in the road. The school wanted to RIF me (reduction in force) so I needed to figure out what to do with my life. I had not intended on staying there for long anyway, but still, decisions needed to be made. I’m still living with my parents, driving an hour each way to work, and not feeling at all like a 30 year old. *I have since qualified for a continuing contract and am no longer under the threat of RIF* But as we were talking Melissa suggested that I move out to the same area of Illinois that they were going to move to. Hmmm.

2 winters ago I was all set to move. I had done research as to the various areas I was interested in, where teaching was better (i.e. pay, unions, retirement, etc) and Illinois had actually come out quite high. But I hadn’t actually considered it because I had no real reason to go there.

So this proposition was an interesting one. I thought about it. I talked to some of my trusted co-workers about it. I eventually mentioned it to my parents, once I was fairly certain it was something I was seriously considering. Living in the same area would give several perks -- I would have a girlfriend. A real friend that I trust, could go out with, could hang out with. One that KNOWS me. We’ve been friends since 1st grade! (That’s about 25 years!)

Ok, so about my weekend (that was now 2 weekends ago!) I was nervous. Nervous because, even though I’m a teacher, I’m not very good with little kids. Or I should say more specifically I don’t know how to act with them. (Why I want to teach OLDER ones!) I was worried because they (the boys) don’t know me. I’m just some stranger coming to their house. I’m hoping that the more I see them the better I will get. I think back to how my mom acts around her nephews (she’s got a ton of them). Well anyway, I got there LATE Thursday night. Friday during the day we went to Target (the boys and I explored the toy section while Melissa shopped for a bachelorette party gift), then we went to the MOST, a Science Museum. It was pretty cool. I’ll post pics eventually. They had a toothpick city!! (1 of 2 in the world, the other is in Spain). Then we headed out for the evening. (Just Melissa and I ..lol) We went to a nice restaurant and then a Karaoke bar. (I’ll comment about the Karaoke bar later...remind me)

Saturday (after my bout with severe back doms) we headed to the beach (Lake Ontario, actually). It was a great day. The kids swam, built sandcastles, we ate lunch, played on the playground. I was feeling more comfortable. As we were driving back to Melissa’s, I was thinking about how nice it would be to have them in my life more. To see them on a much more regular basis. To have that special Aunt-Nephew relationships with them. As we were nearing their house we saw a rainbow - the kind that goes from one side of the sky to the other!

Rainbows have a special significance for me. (See My Religious Beliefs post). To me this was a sign. A sign that the way my life was heading was the right way. That I was meant to be in their lives more.

I had a lot more I was going to say about my trip. But since it’s taken me two weeks to write this, I can’t remember everything I was going to say. So I’ll end it here. For now. I have much more to add.... eventually.

Note. The other posts mentioned in this have NOT been created yet. I’ll let you know when I type them!!