Sometimes I don't want to walk down memory lane, but with a small bribe, I'll nearly do anything, and last night proved my point. But I'll have you know, I didn't want to do it. You see, I'm living at home, yes, with my parents where I pay rent in love. So, naturally, I need money. And for all of you oh-so-avid blog readers, you've seen a glimpse into my life these last few years. So, this isn't for you so much, as it is for me.
What have I been doing with my life the past two years? Actually let's make it the last six years, since the ending of my high school days, back in 04'. Well, I went to BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, and graduated from BYU. In the interim I worked at fat camp. Yes, a legit fat camp, and I happened to have loved it (at least the reflecting on it part). I moved to Washington, DC in May 2008, and spent the last (almost) two years working for the United States Agency for International Development. And just for the heck of it, I'm just going to throw in there that I traveled to Africa for work, twice. And no, I never attended my five year high school reunion.
I'm not trying to brag or anything, but my life has been pretty great since those high school days, six years ago. But I'll have you know, last night sure made me feel like I've accomplished absolutely nothing. I may claim to be jobless, but that's not entirely true. I've been going catering on occasion, since I've been home, with the
restaurant I used to work at in high school. I am beyond grateful to the Morley's for letting me come back and work for them for a few weeks. They're kind of like an extended family. Anytime I'm looking to make a few extra dollars, they're always more than happy to let me come back to work. So, I'm grateful, I really am. However, last night, I can't say grateful was my attitude.
You see, when I found out I was going to go catering at Hillcrest (my old high school), for the class of 2005 (the year younger than me), for their high school reunion (remember I said I didn't go to mine...to me, five years is just a little TOO soon to be going back to rekindle old friendships), I kind of cringed inside. For good reason too. It was beyond awkward to be serving people who would look at me and say, "Hey, I remember you. Didn't we have (fill in the blank) class together?" Or, "Hey, I didn't know you're STILL working here." Or there were the occasional, "Wow, I haven't seen you forever, how have you been?" questions. But I know deep down they were thinking, wow, you've sure done a lot with your life, I bet you're still living with your parents, too. I kept having to vouch for myself, and throw out there, "I'M GETTING MARRIED IN THREE WEEKS." And "No, I haven't been living with my parents for the last SIX YEARS, I've only been in Utah for a few weeks, and just needing to make a few extra dollars!!!" Or, "Oh, I've just been living in Washington, DC, working for THE GOVERNMENT" Thinking to myself, I promise I have/had a life.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I'd feel like I had to impress people from high school all over again. This time, I wasn't trying to impress the seniors, I was trying to impress the people younger than me. Make them think I'm cool. That I have a life. That I've moved on from Utah, and made something of myself. That I'm about to get married to a really cool guy, and we're about to have a really cool life. And good for them for already being married, and having kids, because I'm going to be doing that, too. But I had fun in the meantime. So there!
Yeah, it was an awkward night for me. But thanks to working at Joe's, I think they thought I was pretty cool. I mean, I'm pretty good at putting a dollop of hot fudge on the mud pie, and dumping more potato salad into the chafing dish. It takes some serious skill.
So, like I said, sometimes I really don't want to walk down memory lane again, especially at a high school reunion that's not even for my class. But, for a small price, sometimes I just have to swallow my pride and bite the bullet. So I swallowed and bit it, bit it hard.
