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sources // 1) these two 2) cubicle refugee

So, big news, friends. Next Thursday will be my last day at the job I’ve had for the last 2 plus years because, that same day, I’ll be hitting the road and driving east to Virginia(!).

I’ve been given the once in a lifetime opportunity to care for my niece full-time for the next 2 months. I mean, how can you say no to that face? And believe me, that scarf won’t be the most ridiculous thing that girl will wear on her head in 2012–not if I have anything to do with her fashion choices.

It’s hard to believe that around this time last year, I took a trip back to Virginia to meet her for the first time. She was so tiny.

I’m excited about a lot of things that my temporary return to the southeast will bring. Among them:
-making the cross-country road trip with my Memphis penpal (yeah!)
-2 months with family + east coast friends
-quality time with my niece, being around for her first birthday, having rad inside jokes together
-cherry blossoms in April. Maybe I’ll enter the contest!
-the south’s interpretation of Mexican food
-sweet tea
-weekend trips to who knows where
-time to figure out what’s next

I sincerely mean the last one. A lot will be up in the air when I return to California. I was telling a professor about my 2 month stay in Virginia and he said the most encouraging thing. He told me that he doesn’t have many regrets in life, because most mistakes taught him something great. But the one thing he regrets is not picking up, leaving things behind and just wondering around for a while, when he could.

A lot of people have asked me some (well-intentioned) “But then what?” type questions about my decision to leave my job and move away for a bit. They mean well and everything but I think I’m just going to go with the picking it up, leaving it behind thing. At least for a while. At least for now.