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!