past future sense

As a chronic journaler, important life landmarks are always a conundrum. Too much going on and too little time to document it.

Thursday was my final day of work as the director of a non-profit organization I helped start three years ago to revitalize historic downtown Laurel, Miss. On paper, three years doesn't seem that long--it's not even a college career. But I gave that position my all, sometimes as the cost of my happiness, and certainly my health and sanity. Overall, the experience was terribly rewarding. I've been looking forward to my final day for some time now because of what it symbolizes for me: the close of a long, arduous chapter in my life that will shape me forever.

I got a chance to have one last lunch with a few of my favorite folks and returned to my office to find this beautiful arrangement from my former boss Eric Roberts.


As I made my last ever 45-minute commute home, scenes from the past three years began to play out in my head like an old slideshow. And the bittersweetness that comes with any major life change suddenly hit me.


I'll be leaving behind a lot in that town--some great friends, two incredibly supportive former bosses, excellent resources, and who knows exactly what else. Of course, the friends I will be taking with me, but professionally,  I'll be starting over.

I'm thrilled to start my new position working for another revitalization program this time in the town I now live in and have loved for the past 9 years. My first day is Tuesday. I expected to be at least a little nervous about the transition, but honestly it feels like the most natural move ever.

I consider this 4-day weekend of unemployment my last hurrah to do whatever I feel like, gosh! So what did I do? Friday I had a spa appointment at Eden followed by a 4-hour calzone and pizza lunch with my former office neighbor and dear friend Bill Holloway. How very Italian of us. Of course, I couldn't miss Live at Five, one of the last concerts in the spring series downtown. Stayed out a little too late that night, which made it tough to get up, but did not stop Davis and I from tackling a massive two-room paint job at the apartment. We worked from 8 a.m. to well after 5 p.m. With some serious elbow grease, my dressing room/office improvement project is that much closer to completion. 

With so much productivity yesterday, I don't feel so bad about sitting around doing as little as possible today. I bet tomorrow I won't be so fortunate.

(Nancy Drew just couldn't resist getting in the pic)

He mentioned that he was selling all of the items. I made him an offer for $60. Sold! I picked it up on Monday with Adam's help, and there we have it, an incubator for all my folded clothing items that seem to be reproducing in the dark. It's a huge improvement to my office/dressing room situation. The drawers are surprisingly deep, and after putting almost everything away, I still haven't filled it. An excuse to go shopping?

I am officially the worst blogger ever. Maybe you'll understand why when you see this photo of my soon-to-be home office. It's the second bedroom in my 1950's apartment that I've been using as a closet/dressing room and quasi office. (And when I say 1950's, I mean the complex was built then, not that I have decorated it adorably with influence from that time period. Puh-lease.)

The biggest issue with this office is that I'm never motivated to go in there and do work. I always end up in the living room so Davis and I can chat while I write. Or on days when the weather is as lovely as today, I'll set up shop on our tiny front porch, with Nancy Drew looking out the window over my shoulder.

The last couple of weeks have been particularly tumultuous, with the public announcement of my job change and starting work (ever so slowly) on my new side business, not to mention life's usual distractions.
So, please pardon my mess, but under this dreadful pile of clothing and paperwork is a room with some real productivity potential. I am posting it for all the world to judge as motivation to redesign the space into something worth showing off. Ahh, help!

(Excuse the tilted appearance and blur--had to seam 5 photos together using Dermandar.)

Since taking those pics this morning, I have put up all the clothing where it needs to go.
Then I made a list of all the functions that this room needs to achieve.

Now I'm basically Googling creative solutions to all these needs and seeing how all the pieces can fit together in this 10' 9" x 12' 7" space.
Next time, I'll draw out my plans and hopefully by early May, I'll have a brand new room. Any suggestions on paint color?

Oh, I almost forgot! The secret from previous posts is that I got a new job, working finally in the city where I live. I will be able to bike to work!