The Lost Years...

Am I going to look back on these two years between undergrad and graduate school and think of them as the 'lost years' of my life?

There is certainly evidence to support this idea, as I:
- worked in menial positions in the family business
- formed no real romantic relationship but had my heart broken
- hardly broadened my horizons
- got rejected from graduate schools and by publishers
- had absolutely no sex
- wondered how much I've grown up at all
- lived at my parents' house for a year
- spent a lot of time in my hometown

But then again, I:
- learned to understand my father much more as a person by working with him
- learned to appreciate being single...and certainly got a lot of fodder for writing
- traveled in Italy and Budapest. And Spain (haven't gone yet, but I will before grad school). And I ran a half marathon. So...how broad did I want them?
- got accepted into graduate programs- one of which I am sure is right for me. also, wrote a lot of poetry and my first novel. And took some great classes at the local community college and at Loyola College- The Absurd in Life and Literature has probably changed my life
- contracted absolutely no STDs
- learned a lot more about what being 'grown up' means
- got to spend a lot more time with my family, who I appreciate more than ever. Plus, I eventually moved out and learned to live in my own place
- viewed my hometown through more adult eyes- and figured out how awesome it is. Realized how much I love living in the country with its wide open spaces, field parties...wine festivals...grass...

Plus let's not forget that, for the most part, I've had a really great time.

I've had two entire years of my life with very little direction. But you know what they say: "all who wander are not lost".

And who knows what's ahead?



Did I create this entire post just to have a place to put fuzzy little koalas? The world may never know...