Today is August 3, 2009. One year ago, I made my inaugural voyage to Charleston, SC. I had been through Charleston a number of times before, but had never stopped by. It was always a pass through situation.
My initial ‘deal’ was a 3 month contract. I figured I’d drop in for a bit and be home by Christmas. Well, the market didn’t exactly improve that much within 3 months, as a matter of fact, it got worse. There were more job losses! I decided to sit tight for a bit.
I remember when my first day when I got my badge. It had an expiration date of 8/3/2009. I remember looking at that date with as much disbelief and disdain as one might have when viewing the above bug crawling across one’s favorite food. I’ll not be here a year, I thought. No way! So, here I sit, in Charleston one year later. I guess that I was wrong. 
Though it has been tough, in some respects, it has been tremendous in others. I’ve grown so much as an individual and, for that, I am very thankful. My alone time, most times, does not equate to loneliness. I’ve gotten a chance to grow up in some areas that I needed to.
BTW, the bug shown above was a very polite bug. He found my son, Pedro, quite to his liking. Pedro picked up him and let him crawl on his arm and hands. When he tried to let the little guy go, he kept clinging on and didn’t want to leave. Finally, with a shake of his arm, Pedro convinced him to fly away and alight somewhere else!
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8 Responses to “A whole year later!”
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Paul, congratulations on reaching your one year anniversary! Even if it wasn’t what or how you planned it you can feel good about making the best of the situation. That’s in itself is an accomplishment worthy of celebration.
Congratulations, Odysseus. The journey is fruitful though oftimes beleaguered by demons and such.
@Earl: It’s funny how many things do not go according to plan. You’d think that I would have learned that by now. But I haven’t!
@Robert: There have been demons aplenty and they still fly about the apartment in the night!
I remember so well your posts at the beginnings of this stage of your journey. Who could have guessed then what the future held? I agree with Earl that this should be a celebration of an accomplishment. This has been a strenuous test, and you have survived where many would have faltered. Here’s to the next stage of this particular adventure. May you forge ahead with continued grace and have the strength to share what you learn with the rest of us.
Flying demons in that apartment? Yikes. Have you spoken to your landlord? Can’t Orkin handle this?
After a certain age we just call the journey not going according to plan, life.
@Anita: LOL! Orkin said that they don’t do demons! I’m on my own with that. I’ll tell you, you can’t count on anyone but yourself.
You’re right. Darn it, we just keep learning that we have to do everything ourselves. I think Orkin is missing out on a lot of business here.
Wow…a year. It sounds like it was a year of mixed blessings and growth.
Love the image of that little bug.