Years In Review...

I thought I'd start 2009 off with highlights from my life over the past few years...for those of you that may be out of the loop.

2001: I entered my freshman year at East Carolina as an Art major. I stayed in the program for 2 years. I met Adina in our first Drawing class. We became friends and she is my dearest one to this day. After many inquiries from my father as to what I'd do with an art degree, I changed my major to Business (oh, the excitement).
2002: That May, I had jaw surgery in Chapel Hill. Basically, my surgeon moved my top jaw forward, my bottom jaw back, took 2 of 3 layers of my skull and gave me some cheekbones, and even removed a cyst. A miracle worker. After my surgery, I participated in a post-op study (mostly because it paid) dealing with nerve recovery. It's a small price, but I still lack some feeling on the left side of my chin.
That summer, I met Bill, a Marine stationed at Cherry Point, that summer. He was my first serious boyfriend. We dated on and off for the next 3 years. He was loving, faithful and steadfast, but ultimately, not the one. He got out of the Corps and moved back to NY. I haven't seen him since but we still talk periodically.
2004: I met The Great Love of My Life (Brad) that summer by mistake. We ended up dating that summer; and, off and on (at his convenience) for the next 3-4 years. I loved him more than enough & pretty much unconditionally, but came to find that it wasn't enough. We try to be friends and still talk occassionally, but I haven't seen him face-to-face in over a year. I write about him because he changed my life and he changed my heart.
2006: Adina & I went to XFest in Kinston that fall (to see Shinedown and Saliva...then unknown Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and the Plain White T's were there too), where I met Brad #2. He called 2 days later and that next weekend he came to visit. We dated for the next 8 months. We were even engaged.
2007: I changed my major 4 times (Art, Business, Industrial Technology Design, & a brief stint in Interior Design) before changing it for the final time to Planning. In my 6th and final year, I made the Dean's List and the Chancellor's List before graduating with a BS in Urban & Regional Planning and a Certificate in Design. I double-minored in Art and Business Administration.
My graduation lunch opened my eyes to what life would be like as Brad's wife, but to my parents' dismay, I still went on our cross-country adventure. He had orders to report to Whidbey Island in Washington at the beginning of June. We drove from NC to St. Louis to CO to Vegas to CA and spent our last 3 weeks together. It was a lot of fun but when I came home, I thought long and hard about a long distance engagement and, after my birthday, broke it off and ended our relationship completely. In August, he was still begging me to move out there to be with him but by December he married someone else, whom he'd just met. Clearly, I had made the right decision.
2007 cont'd: That summer, I interned (externed?) with the Town of Knightdale. I gained valuable experience. The highlight was writing my first ordinance; which, was passed by the Town Council before I left. In September, I was offered a job with Cabarrus County. This was the first interview in which I actually showed my portfolio. It (among other things of course) sealed the deal!
At the same time, I was preparing for the NCAPA conference (the planning faculty had chosen me to compete in the student competition!). I hadn't officially accepted the job offer but had decided it was the best choice. When the moderator introduced me, he told the audience that I had accepted the position. My internship supervisor was there, but so was my future boss's boss--I didn't know who he was or what he looked like! Needless to say, after my presentation/Q&A was over, I rushed outside to call to officially accept the offer! Ha. (I did not win the competition but I did speak to one of the judges, who said my paper was chosen as the best..that he would definitely keep it and use it as a reference--HUGE because he is a planning director!...My presentation was different than when I did it for school and that's probably what killed me. Oh well! It was exposure and a great experience!)
2008: My grandma fell off a ladder (missed the last step) and broke her hip just shy of her 80th birthday. Just a couple months ago, she slipped on the stairs, fell and broke her OTHER hip. Not a good year for Ms. Ruthie! :( In August, I adopted Bella. She is my sweet, sweet puppy (weighing in now at approx. 51 pounds!) that I love very much. In October, I celebrated one year in Charlotte and with Cabarrus County as a Planner. I did date a guy or two this year, but none of them are worth the space.

While I hate that so much of my life is defined by men and my relationships with them; but without them, I wouldn't be who I am today..a strong and determined woman who is SO unwilling to settle. Each one changed my life in some way..especially those who did by not so good means. I hope the next few years are not so punctuated by my experiences with men!