Saturday, November 10, 2007

Way Back When

Inspired by Hope's post yesterday.

30 years ago: My parents didn't know what they had coming. I wasn't even a blip on their radar.

20 years ago: I developed my first boy crush with the neighbor boy Johnnie across the street. We used to climb trees together. He's married now.

10 years ago: Our family came thisclose to moving to a new town the summer before I started high school. This was a year of self discovery, clicks and growing up. I got up the nerve to call my boy crush that year. He may have told me he liked one of my friends. I also went to semi-formal dateless - and I was OK with that.

5 years ago: I wasn't even legally able to drink! You would most likely have found me in the graphic design lab til the wee hours of the morning bonding with some of the best friends I ever made. Or necking behind the garage at my boyfriend's parents' house ;)

2 years ago: I had started my first "real" job. And may or may not have had a crush on my boss. I also met my AWESOME friend Anna that year. Jenn still lived here then... sigh.

1 year ago: I was dating the guy I thought was "the one". Pretty content with life, but ready to leave my job. Started perusing the want ads.

1 month ago: Was enjoying a weekend at Cedar Point with C's family. Had no idea a week later my life was going to completely change.

Yesterday: Saw him for the last time. Did not deal with it well. May have acted a little crazy.

Today: Woke up for the last time on my friend's couch. Waiting for my parents to arrive to help me move. Played with Gracie & Zoey one last time.

Tomorrow: My brand new life begins. In my condo with my kitties. All alone for the first time in my life.

38 comments:

Lisa said...

Happy New Life? Wonder if Hallmark makes a card for that...

Have such a fun time moving!

Lisa said...

Good luck with the move, Michelle! Share photos of the condo when you're all settled in? It sounds perfect.

Miriam said...

Living alone is something all women should do. It teaches us to be strong. I <3 you and I know you ca do this. Holla at your girl if you need to talk :)


http://lspoon.wordpress.com

Kristen said...

good luck! moving may be the closure you need. (where's the pic of your new green toaster?) :)

Kate said...

Good luck! Great post!

Lacey Bean said...

Love the post, probably going to copy it at some point. Good luck on the move, and don't worry about putting on a happy face for everyone... sometimes the best way to get over the saddness is just to be sad, and let yourself have that emotion for awhile to move on.

Tina Poe said...

Yes pictures please!

Next year: Not even going to be thinking of C anymore!

Ashley said...

Good luck with the move and happy new life! xoxo

Anonymous said...

I know it's not under circumstances you would have chosen, but I will tell you I think you'll love living alone and making your own place. I loved only having my messes to clean up, being able to cook what I wanted without worrying about anyone else, and watching whatever I wanted on tv! Every weekend was a chick flick marathon ;)

Good luck with the move--and I'm stealing this meme from you for tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

Alone is going to turn out better than you think. And eventually alone will change into not alone. And that will be wonderful too.

*kb* said...

Embrace this transition and new beginning Michelle!! And guess what? It's ok you didn't deal well with seeing him yesterday. Besides yesterday was yesterday. Today is a new day. :-) Keep going girl, I don't think I'm the only one who checks in on you daily!! We're here!!!!!!!!

sweetanemone said...

living alone is really one of the greatest things ever. i am sure you will love it too!

good luck with your move. i look forward to seeing pics of your new place and your wonderful kitties! xoxo

Anonymous said...

Hang in there, Michelle. Today is the first day of a new life full of hope and possibilities. You should be very excited!

L Sass said...

You have amazing things in front of you for the next year!! Hope you get settled in and feeling like home soon.

Anonymous said...

oh but you're mistaken, see?

you're SO NOT alone. anything but..because, hi? you've got us!

Anonymous said...

You're going to write this same post 5 years from now and not even include *c* in your timeline - speaking of Cedar Point - I was bron in Ohio! Here's to a new start, a new condo and a new everything - yay for Michelle!

Samantha said...

I bought and moved into my first condo a year and a half ago with my cat. It was my first time ever living alone. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made and I have no doubt it will be the same for you. You have no idea how much you will grow into yourself and become independent by living alone. Congratulations on this wonderful first step in your life!

Anonymous said...

New beginnings, Michelle - things are going to be wonderful, I can feel it already.

Jess said...

This is a good retrospective. Good luck with the move. I think and hope that things will be great for you soon.

The Author Of This said...

It took you over 25 years to have one small "crazy stalker" moment. I know chicks that have had 25 moments of "crazy stalker" in less than a month. Therefore, I think you've prepared yourself MORE than adequately for a new start. Onwards and upwards in a flurry of rainbows, halo's and Harley's.

Anonymous said...

good luck with the move. Being alone - while we think it sucks and is horrible - when you get into the swing of things, doing things your way and not having to think of anyone but yourself, really isn't as bad as we think it is when it comes down to it. <3

Virginia said...

You aren't really alone, look at all the great friends you have! Living alone is not so bad...you will learn so much about yourself in the process. And you won't have to share the bathroom with anyone, haha.

Anonymous said...

Hi! Stopping by from 20somethings :]

I had to comment because I was telling someone about Cedar Point recently. I went when I was like in 3rd grade or something and have always wanted to go back!

Good luck with the new condo and kitties :)

the infertile turtle said...

hiya, I found your blog through Samantha (bewitchedinla). Just wanted to wish you lots of luck with the move, and lots of happiness in the new place! I am so sorry for the pain you're in now. Taking these steps toward creating/reclaiming your own independence is the best thing you can be doing for yourself. Starting over is hard and scary as hell...but it's worth it when you look back and see how far you've come. Best of luck!

cdp said...

Hi.

I love you.

That is all.

Miss A said...

a new place?

how exciting!

MLM said...

This is just my opinion, so please take it or leave it. I'm just trying to help a sista out because I'm sorry you're hurting!

Just a thought...when you finish the Behrendt book you're reading now...you may want to check out "10 Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Their Lives" (by Laura Schlessinger). I read it after a bad breakup experience and it really helped. It's similar to the "He's not into you" book you're reading now but a bit more hard-hitting. (So now may be too soon to read it.)

I just hate to hear how torn up you are and want to somehow help and this is the suggestion that came to me. The book helped me not make the same mistakes again, so maybe it will help you find better success with "the Man after C" (whoever he will be).

I know it sounds archaic, but statistics show that people who live together before marriage are more likely to get divorced. I don't know why that is, except maybe that men who want us to live with them before they're ready to walk down the aisle aren't that keen on commitment. (Or atleast not keen on commiting to US!)

Sure, it seems like a commitment to ask someone to move in, but really it's a perk for the man, don't you think? Going halvsies on rent & utilities, not having to pick up or take home after dates...sometimes I wonder if it's not more "convenience" rather than "commitment" that leads men to ask us to move in before they ask us to marry them.

I think too many men live by the old saying, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?". Maybe it's time for us ladies to stand up and say, NO MORE FREE MILK! :o)

Again, feel free to throw my comment in the gutter of your new condo...but hang in there. I don't know you or Clancy or anyone. But I do know that you wouldn't want to spend the rest of your life with someone who is this good at breaking your heart. I'm guessing that my saying that doesn't make the pain go away (because even "good" breakups hurt), but the point is, eventually you will be better off. And that's something to hold on to when you want to hold on to him.

NWO said...

Enjoy the moments. There is a miracle in every single instant--what a great adventure!

stilettoheights said...

good luck with the move, I know it is scary, scary now....but being alone in your place, will actually be a bit liberating after a while.
hang in there.

Liz said...

So how was your first day?

Anonymous said...

Cheers to a brand new life!

k said...

lovely post as always. hope the move isn't too sad or stressful.

Katelin said...

Aw your post is sweet Michelle. And you won't be alone. You have so many friends and family that care about you and you'll be able to learn so much about yourself in the process. You can do it! :)

Princess Pointful said...

Learning to be okay with being alone is one of the best things ever... trust me. Wishing you all the best!!!

Passionista said...

It may not seem like much now, but you have made so many strides on your own (and I just started reading this blog!). You deserve a pat on the back for not letting some not-the-one jerk bring you down. I think you have an opportunity to not only grow from this experience but learn from being alone. Don't forget how strong you are :)

amanda rae said...

i found your blog through a friends blog. i think we may be going through the same thing. just thought i'd say hello!

Ticket 4 Two said...

Good luck girl! You are going to come out of this a much stronger person. Here's to learning more about yourself and life with your kitties.

Anonymous said...

It might be nice to have some alone time to take care of just you. If not, you can spend some time with my 12 year old, he's such a handful, you'll want to have some alone time.

Seriously though, I hope the hurt lessens more each day.