Three years down, a lifetime to go

Over the summer we visited Snoqualmie Falls. The hike to the bottom wasn't bad but it was a beast going back up.

I know, I know. It’s been awhile since you heard from me. A few weeks turned into a couple months which turned into a ridiculous amount of time to update this blog. If it helps, I’ve thought A LOT about crafting a new post. Even started a few. As you can see actions speak louder than words and well…

Anywho. I’m here now.

BIENVENUE!!! Comment allez-vous?

Hopefully life is treating you as well as is has me the last couple months.

I recently celebrated my three year anniversary of moving to Seattle. Whoo hoo! After five days of traveling across more than 3,000 miles I arrived here wide-eyed, hopeful, and excited about what the future had in store for me. I didn’t really have a plan, rather I was confident in my ability to always land on my feet. Of course finding a job and getting my own place were on the top of my list.

Moving to the Pacific Northwest was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve discovered the joys of hiking, kayaking, and eating chicken teriyaki, a Seattle staple. I’ve met some great people, learned my way around the city, and expanded my wardrobe to include more than one pair of jeans and several pairs of Chuck Taylor’s (Seattle takes casual to whole new stratosphere y’all.) I also met Jeff, my partner for life. He’s wonderful.

One thing I've learned along the way is the value of patience.

I've held some interesting and not so interesting jobs/temp assignments since moving here in September 2013. I like to think of it as a "tour de Puget Sound." I've met some cool people, gained insider knowledge on a couple unique companies and even worked at a startup. There's also been some disappointment along the way, but such is life.

Each experience builds on itself and eventually the journey makes sense. A series of events led me to becoming a Reporter and Communications Specialist at Real Change, an award-winning weekly newspaper. It's an opportunity that arrived right on schedule and not a minute too soon.

I'm happy to say I've found “my place” in Seattle.




My first feature as a staff reporter!

Interestingly I began working at Real Change almost exactly three years after leaving WPDE. Maybe you suspected I’d find my way back into a newsroom full-time. I’ve spent the last couple years freelancing for various magazines so I wasn’t sure I would.

It’s great to be back in the saddle - interviewing people, crafting narratives, updating social media accounts, and managing a website. My focus is on arts and equity which has given me the opportunity to write about some amazing writers, activists, and local artists – Barbara Earl Thomas, Tariqa Waters, and Marita Dingus are just a few.

Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project is a nonprofit organization that produces a weekly paper. People who are homeless and low-income sell the paper for $2 making a profit of $1.40 off each issue. We are a part of the International Network of Street Newspapers (INSP). The advocacy side of the organization is focused on economic, social, and racial justice. The nonprofit realm suits me well and I'm a part of the solution.

It's pretty exciting to see my byline.

My life has changed in other ways as well. On Sundays I cheer on the Seattle Seahawks even when they’re playing the Carolina Panthers. My love for plaid shirts is growing with every winter season (the Northwest style is trying to wear me down) and my boot collection is getting out of hand. I can wear them for about nine months out of the year. NINE MONTHS!

It’s also interesting being the “friend who moved away.” Most of the time it was me who stayed put while others relocated to distant places. While it was sad, I always looked forward to visiting them in some part of the country I probably would never visit otherwise.

Now I’m the one who is living thousands of miles away. Now I’m hosting friends who come to visit which allows me to put on my tour guide hat. Now I'm the friend living in a city where stars like Beyonce and Taylor Swift perform and celebrity sightings are common. Since I’m in a different time zone staying in touch with family and friends is a challenge, a surprising litmus test for the strength of personal relationships.

As the title of this post implies, I’ve found my new home. I suspect I’ll always have moments of feeling like a stranger here but this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.

"If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary."

-Jim Rohn