Five Years
Five years ago today, I became a resident of the city of Seattle. Five years, gone by in the blink of an eye.
It's hard to believe that I've been living in this beautiful, temperate, brilliant, and ambitious city for half a decade.
It's hard to believe I ever lived anywhere else.
Five years and four days ago, 12 hours after I finished my last law school final, I packed my last bags in the car, handed in my apartment keys, and said goodbye to Washington, D.C. I'd already turned down the big job with the big law firm in Virginia.
The first night, I made it through Chicago... 700 miles between myself and the life I'd always thought I'd lead. Through Chicago because Mark told me I wouldn't make it that far in a single day and I'm never one to back down from a challenge.
On April 30, 2010, just before 7pm, I drove my car across the I-90 bridge over Lake Washington, on my way toward Mark. Toward home.
It's easy to say that I chose a boy over a job.
It's accurate to say I chose my life.
And what an amazing life it's been to lead these last five years.
I found a career I love working with technology startups of the nitty-gritty enterprise IT infrastructure variety. And in finding that career, I discovered a well of creativity and tenacity and courage I didn't know I had.
I figured out how to thaw the "Seattle freeze" enough to make some wonderful, loyal friends.
Mark and I got engaged. We bought a house. We got married in a wonderful ceremony surrounded by the people who love us most.
We have a beautiful daughter, now almost a year old. I learned that it is possible to throw up every day for nine months and still want to have another baby. I learned I had a strength I didn't know was possible.
I didn't choose a job, or a city, or a boy. I didn't cave under the weight of expectations -- either my own or those of others.
I chose my life. Five years, and what a life it is.
It's hard to believe that I've been living in this beautiful, temperate, brilliant, and ambitious city for half a decade.
It's hard to believe I ever lived anywhere else.
Five years and four days ago, 12 hours after I finished my last law school final, I packed my last bags in the car, handed in my apartment keys, and said goodbye to Washington, D.C. I'd already turned down the big job with the big law firm in Virginia.
The first night, I made it through Chicago... 700 miles between myself and the life I'd always thought I'd lead. Through Chicago because Mark told me I wouldn't make it that far in a single day and I'm never one to back down from a challenge.
On April 30, 2010, just before 7pm, I drove my car across the I-90 bridge over Lake Washington, on my way toward Mark. Toward home.
It's easy to say that I chose a boy over a job.
It's accurate to say I chose my life.
And what an amazing life it's been to lead these last five years.
I found a career I love working with technology startups of the nitty-gritty enterprise IT infrastructure variety. And in finding that career, I discovered a well of creativity and tenacity and courage I didn't know I had.
I figured out how to thaw the "Seattle freeze" enough to make some wonderful, loyal friends.
Mark and I got engaged. We bought a house. We got married in a wonderful ceremony surrounded by the people who love us most.
We have a beautiful daughter, now almost a year old. I learned that it is possible to throw up every day for nine months and still want to have another baby. I learned I had a strength I didn't know was possible.
I didn't choose a job, or a city, or a boy. I didn't cave under the weight of expectations -- either my own or those of others.
I chose my life. Five years, and what a life it is.
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