Hi everyone.
How ya'll doing?
Yeah, me too.
Life is funny, right? Just a few months ago, I posted something about celebrating my 4th year of life in Chicago and working at the Museum. I love it, it loves me.... blah, blah, blah.
And then... just two months ago, I announced that I was engaged! Crazy! Awesome! Exciting!
And, most recently, I posted about my lovely little apartment on Chicago's NW side. So cute, so me, so Chicago.
Ahem.... now I have some more news.
All three of those things are changing. Well, not the engagement, I'm still engaged. But our relationship is about to go through a bit of an adjustment in the coming months. Alright, can't stand the suspense I see, well, here goes...
I've quit my job. I'm leaving Chicago. I'm giving up my apartment.
KABOOM.
I think most of you reading this knew that this was happening. If not, I'm sorry that you're finding out this way, but here are some details:
The Museum was and still is going through some cut-backs, so I took a voluntary buy-out incentive to quit my job. My last day was this past Friday. So far this week I've been living the very strange life of a newly unemployed, hard-working Iowan, which basically means I'm still trying to work. Which is fine and good because I'm focusing all my attention on freelance work right now and my hope is that the Museum will be a client in a few months. I'm also trying to focus on freelance work because I can do it almost anywhere and that's good because....
I'm leaving Chicago. I'm packing up my apartment and heading back to my roots in northwest Iowa. I'm doing all of this for slightly selfish reasons, but also because my mom has been going through chemo for the past few months (on top of the MS she's had for 21 years) and I just really want to be with her. Spend time with her, help her, anything.
I find myself pretty fortunate considering the circumstances. The Museum is going through layoffs and my mom has cancer and MS, yet I'm in a position in life to deal with it the way I want to and need to. I have no mortgage, no kids, no (major) debt, no responsibilities except my cat. I quit my job but I will bounce back and I'm planning on getting as much out of these next few months as possible. I know they're going to be difficult. The adjustment period alone could last more than a few months (i.e. there are no thai or sushi restaurants in Sioux Center :P), but I'm looking on the bright side. You have to, right?
The post I wrote back at the end of May is still very relevant to me, especially this part:
"I'm now 26. And, save for a few things that could be better, I love my life. I love my career and my city. I love my new friends and old friends. I love my upbringing and I love my values. And more than anything, I love and appreciate my family. I know that there are a lot of people who are blessed to grow up and grow old in the same community their entire life, but for me personally, I have been blessed to grow up and then grow up even more in completely different communities."
Interestingly, that statement in the first line where I say, "save for a few things that could be better" refers to exactly why I'm making the change I am. I've struggled with being away from my mom for a few years now. I can't cure cancer or MS, but what I can do is be a daughter. Her daughter. No training required.
