In which it’s all getting all bittersweet and shit because I’m getting ready to move away.
The weather is perfect today, breezy and cool and gorgeous. Bindu and I walked up to Mi-T-Mart so I could treat myself to a Frappucino out of the cooler. Iowa’s showing off for me, I think: Look, I can be pretty too! You’ll remember me fondly when you’re gone! Eh, whatever. One perfect day out of the past ten does not impress me, Iowa. I’ve got your number.
I’ve said this before, but poverty is losing its lustre. Last month has been like so: I earned $800, I paid my rent and the loan I’d taken to get the jeep fixed, and that left me slightly under $50 per week with which to buy food for myself and my dog, worming meds, gasoline, laundry detergent, feminine hygiene products, and cigarettes. Even in Fairfield, which is cheap as hell, that’s not enough. Poverty is just not as wholesome and glamorous as it should be, damn it. Hopefully my one-meal-a-day diet will give me a nice gaunt look.
Yeah, right. I’m Irish. ‘Gaunt’ is not in my genes no matter what I do.
Word’s getting around that I’m leaving. The Ex texted me today and suggested that we hang out a little before I go. AmmZon’s wondering if there shouldn’t be a going away party, maybe at the Little Bar. People are telling me they’ll miss me and wishing me good luck. I’m compiling to-do lists and deciding what things I can stuff into the jeep and what I can live without. I emailed my Grandmother and she confirmed her offer of a spare room. I still feel fantastic about my decision and I’m more excited than I’ve been about anything (except vacations that have taken me out of town) in years. If it weren’t for that non-refundable plane ticket, I’d leave within the week. I wanna go! Go! Go!
September is proving, once again, to be not only my birth month but the best damned month of the year. The weather is kick-ass, excellent things happen, and it’s the beginning of that aching, melancholy feeling autumn always brings. Yee-haw!
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
quit smoking.
^ ditto.
I love reading your change in attitude over the last few posts. Congratulations and go for the life change. We picked up and moved from Chicago to the pine forests and oceans of Maine 6 years ago and are gloriously happy. I lived in Chicago for a decade and don’t miss it at all. We’ve just had all our friends from there come here for Greg’s birthday and it was a blast. You and your friends will find ways to keep together. Good luck!
Thanks, you! -m
Oh yeah, and give up smoking…7 years and 51,100 cigarettes that I didn’t smoke… smoke free here. By the way, thats about $15,000 worth of cigarettes that I haven’t smoked
NEW ADVENTURES YEAAAAAAA!!!!!
YEAH! -m
and yes quit smokin’… i got 10 years smoke free under my belt….
Keep me posted on going-away party or let’s definitely get together before you leave.
Keep smoking, don’t be a quitter.
Will do. Yeah! -m
Airline tickets that are labeled ‘non-refundable’ are usually transferable to another date or to another flight…
So, you can change the ticket to next year around this time and change the route from Iowa/Washington to Washington/Iowa.
That way you can come back to Iowa next year and visit your friends. Or something.
There is a CD release party in October I’d like to be at, but hopefully I’ll have a job I can’t get time off from by then! -m
Meanwhile, I’m happy that I found a nearly new electric blanket at the recycle store for $7 and used it last night. Worked great. It’s getting into the mid forties up here. Brrrrr.
And quit smoking.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Quit smoking. DUH, people.
Winners don’t quit.
Thank you. -m
It will change the curse for the better…
How much better? Noticeably better? -m