Wrapping up a decade

Inspired by my good friend, Nick, who paved the way of turning thirty and writing an awesome blog post to summarize his twenties, I did the same. I'm sure I missed a few milestones here and there (Hey, I'm thirty now, my memory isn't what it used to be!) but here's the rundown of the past ten years. I'm pretty excited to see what is in store for me next. 

20: A student at Gonzaga University (go Zags!), I spent half of my twentieth year studying abroad in Florence, Italy. By studying I mean travelling around Europe—hitting 16 different countries total, drinking wine and eating lots of pasta and gelato. This was also the year I became an Aunt for the first time (to Corbin).

21: I rang in this birthday in Florence and then returned to the real world where I had to work my butt off to lose the lbs I might have picked up from all the wine, pasta and gelato (totally worth it though!). I also had elective surgery to bring my ta-tas down to a normal size, a decision I am so happy for and experience I often forget even happen since I feel like I now have the body I was meant to have.

22: This was the year that I graduated college then got my first “real” job at a marketing communications agency in Vancouver, WA and moved into an apartment to live by myself for first time. Marking yet another first, I bought a car on my own for the first time—my first, but not last Subaru.

23: At the time it was a tough decision, but I chose to start grad school at Washington State University (Go Cougs!) to get my masters degree in Communication. I picked up and move to the small college town of Pullman, WA which was daunting at the time but gave me a change to be truly independent. As a last hoorah before two-years of being broke and studying, I went  on a cruise of the Blue Danube with my Grandma, Mom and Aunt.  

24: I guess this was a lowkey year for me. With a grad student budget, I was pretty broke and spent my time buried under academic journals. While that sounds kind of depressing, it was far from it. I made good friends and took plenty of study breaks to “play,” including regular visits to 80’s night at the college dance club/bar.

25: I finished grad school classes and left Pullman without finishing my thesis so I could start a new job (don’t recommend doing that, by the way). Fate brought me together with Kate O’Farrell, another Gonzaga graduate, who I lived with in Portland. This was the year I became forever indebted to her as she introduced me to Matt over tequila shots at a bar in Seattle. Oh, and I had my second knee surgery to repair my meniscus which restricted my driving for six weeks forcing me to live with my boss during the week so I could get to/from work. Ah, memories. 

26: This year began with a bang. Matt flew from Knoxville to visit me in Portland for our official first date two days before my birthday and stayed for the whole birthday weekend. Best. Birthday Present. Ever.  No longer a poor college student, I got to vacation again—off to Alaska with my best friend Kristen where we glacier trekked and sea kayaked. Then Matt and I got engaged and I scored a job for an education management company located in Knoxville, Tennessee (I still think it’s crazy to think that I just upped and moved to the South to be with a boy, but it clearly worked out well!).

27: Ring Ring Ring—wedding bells rang this year. Followed by wonderful honeymoon in the Mexican Riviera. And our family grew by one cute puppy (Bounce). We also spent a lot of time exploring the South knowing we wouldn’t live there forever. We had trips to Nashville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; Ashville, North Carolina; Charlottesville, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina. And went in for my third knee surgery (third times a charm?), this time to remove that pesky meniscus. Whew; that was a busy year!

28: I was a cheerleader for a good part of this year as Matt made final strides on finishing his PhD in Accounting, wrapping up our time in Knoxville. To celebrate his new DR. title, we traveled to the Dominican Republic (DR—get it?). Then did a little cross-country move to Sacramento, CA for Matt’s first professor job. Fortunately I also landed a job at a local advertising agency and we officially settled into life as Californians. 

29: I view this year as one were finally are of the age that changes are starting to be fewer and farther between and we can  start to settle (though, not for long!). I kept things interesting though, with big trips to Brussels, Greece and Maui. Plus a little jump out of perfectly good plane. And perhaps the most significant milestone of the year, I finally finished that master degree I started back at age 23 (hallelujah!).