The West

I am absolutely loving the West. Wyoming is breathtaking—mountains, valleys, and endless open roads everywhere you look. I can't stop admiring the landscape. It's so different from everything I've known, and the weather is unpredictable yet always pleasant. Yesterday, I was job hunting, enjoying the sunshine in temperatures around the 60s. Then today, I woke up to a full day of snowfall, with the entire town blanketed in white. It's simply amazing.

I do miss the city and the hustle and bustle of people coming and going, but this peaceful atmosphere is exactly what I need right now. I feel like the West might be where I was meant to be. Perhaps this is God's way of showing me that you never know what will happen when you follow your heart and embrace your sense of adventure.

I'm really excited to get back into school and finish my degree. Once that's underway and I have some bills paid off, I'll settle in Denver, Colorado as planned. If all goes well, I hope to land a job at one of the city's great hospitals, either as an X-ray Tech or CNA.

My future feels wide open now that I've let go of all the negative people and places that held me back from reaching my potential. I've also shed a lot of bad habits. Self-doubt will no longer be allowed to control me, especially not from others or myself!

Tuscaloosa Tornado

My heart goes out to everyone in the Southeast. My former community of Tuscaloosa, AL, was hit extremely hard by a tornado on April 27, 2011. It destroyed much of the city and tragically took several lives. I was fortunate enough to have moved just two days before the storm hit. The house I was renting, along with the street I lived on, was destroyed. So far, I’ve been lucky to not hear any devastating news regarding the loss of friends or loved ones.

I'm relieved everyone I care about is safe, and I wish I could be there to offer support and volunteer. I have no doubt that the city and my friends will rebuild and emerge stronger from this tragedy. What doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger. I know my friends and family have Crimson blood and Roll Tide spirit.

I’m sending my thoughts, prayers, and love to all of you. If anyone needs anything, I’m always here. Roll Tide, and God bless!  

Recap on the past few months!

Apologies for the long hiatus since my last update—lots has happened in the meantime.

I recently moved out of the house I was renting from a friend (definitely a win), and found a new place closer to town with another friend. At first, it seemed like a great idea, but by the end, I was ready to be done. I used to joke that he was "the little sister I never wanted," and after living with him, I realized just how true that was. We’re still friends, but I know we’ll never be as close as we once were. I’m not here to badmouth anyone, though, so if that’s what you’re hoping for, you can stop reading now. You can just call me if you want the details—it’s faster that way. 😉

Anyway, after five months of living with him, I was done with the new lease agreement and, honestly, the state of Alabama. I’ve had plans to move to Colorado for years, and it felt like the right time to make a big change. With my dad’s 60th birthday coming up, and my mom needing surgery (which is important for context), I knew it was time to act.

My parents are like my best friends, and I’d do anything for them. Two weeks ago, on a Thursday, my sister called to let me know that she and her family were driving out to Wyoming for Dad’s birthday. I was having a rough morning at work, so during my early lunch break, I called my mom and said I’d join them for Dad’s celebration and stay a while. She was on board, so I told my sister I’d be at her house by 4 p.m. to drive with her.

I returned to work, quit my job, and began packing. After 27 hours of driving with my sister, I spent a week in Wyoming enjoying the mountains and quality time with my parents. Sadly, I had to return to Alabama for a week to pack my belongings and turn off the cable and power (which might explain why my former roommate hasn’t texted me since I left, but I had to do what was best for me).

Now, I’m in Wyoming, smiling and planning my future in the West. I’m so excited to start fresh. As a friend once said, Alabama is like the song Hotel California—you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave. Well, guess what? I left, and I don’t plan on coming back! I’ll miss my friends, of course, but we have Facebook, phones, and video chat. I’ll be just fine. I like to think of it as giving everyone a chance to come visit my sexy self and see some amazing places.

My next step is clear—job and school are the priorities. From there, it’s onward to Colorado. I’m hoping to land a job back in a hospital and finish up my Radiology Tech degree. Here’s hoping the West will bring all the opportunities I’m looking for!