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I vividly remember that hot summer day, 10 years ago, Aug 2005. My family had a going away gathering for me because I was headed to Illinois for graduate school. At that point I had gone to college about 3.5hrs away from home but I could easily drive home or even realistically make a turn around trip if I needed to make one. However that lurking move to graduate school would be the farthest I had lived from home. I was not looking forward to that 7 hour drive through the Tennessee mountains, but was ready for a new adventure.

I look back now and wonder why that move was such a big deal… I think it was the reality that I wasn’t just going to be gone for 5yrs like the sign said but rather never really come back home because I never really fit there anyway. At the time it was a celebration for me to go off to grad school and I guess the thought was for me to return there, like finding a job would be a reality. The irony is that now, 10 years later, here I am again… In my hometown, in August, packing my belongings that have been momentarily stored at Mom’s house, to embark upon yet another new adventure. But this time a long car trip won’t work!
#flightsonly #islandgirl #dreamjob

Sincerely,
Stassi Nicole