My 20th high school reunion is going on right now but I couldn't make it for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, I am okay with this. (Who needs reunions when you have Facebook?) But I hate to miss a party and therefore I am a little sad tonight. So, I have decided to post the elevator pitch of my life during the last 20 years for you since I can't deliver it there, in person, while cradling a glass of wine and a canapé. Here goes:
Ahem. After high school I went to Madison for my undergrad years. Did a junior year abroad in Budapest, Hungary, months after the Berlin Wall fell. While there realized Kafka's writings were actually non-fiction. After graduation moved to San Francisco. It was fun, there were piercings, but ultimately could not find work so moved back to Budapest. Fell in love with a painter. Took side trips to a war zone and the arctic circle. Wrote a buttload of poetry. Left Hungary after three years and moved to New York City to go to grad school and get an MFA. Hungarian boyfriend followed. We married for love and a work permit. Chickened out of grad school due to enormous tuition and went to work for a software company instead. Spent the Silicon Alley boom in various crazy companies doing various crazy things on the Internet. Divorced Hungarian husband. My best friend moved in and we got a dog. Lost wacky Internet job when company went under in the bust. Watched in abject horror at the World Trade Center burning and collapsing as I stood in Union Square. Best friend proposed. Got my dream job. Married best friend and honeymooned in Paris. We had a baby boy a year later. Started a blog. Quit dream job. Left New York for a small town. Had a baby girl a year ago. Yes, I have a picture of them. I am still blogging and I occasionally still write poetry. Gulp. Nibble, nibble.
So, what have you been up to the last 20 years? One paragraph. Go!
Much of my paragraph would include SCHOOL, SCHOOL, SCHOOL. It seems like I can't get away from it whether I'm teaching or being a student. I'm glad grad school is over, but there is an annoying nagging sense of going on for that doctorate degree. Maybe I should help with my own kids' college first?
My zen tells me that my last 20 years was spent figuring out who I am and trying to be her with some measure of authenticity.
That sounded good, right?
p.s. you make pretty babies.
xoxo
Posted by: Mocha | November 30, 2008 at 08:25 AM
Dr. Mocha has a nice ring to it...
I try not waste time on regret but I do regret not going to grad school when young and single. It seems so out of reach now.
Posted by: LetterB | November 30, 2008 at 09:28 AM
You inspired me. I did my 20 year re-cap today if you want to see it, click on over.
Posted by: shes a rebel | November 30, 2008 at 06:41 PM
Awesome one. Everyone please go read: http://greentshirt.blogspot.com/2008/11/twenty-years-in-nutshell.html
Posted by: LetterB | November 30, 2008 at 07:21 PM