Dear me. It seems that my life has taken a 180 degree turn in the last few weeks, and I’m not sure if I should be excited or terrified. In any case, I’m going to Santa Fe, and I’m leaving in a few weeks. By a “few weeks,” I mean that I only have two weekends left in this wonderful city. How effing scary is THAT?”You just have to live life to its fullest,” Danny, the mailman on my block, explained to me when I told him I’d be moving. “That why I think this here is going to be my last year. It’s time to retire.”
My eyes bugged. Danny has been the mailman since before I can remember. “Really?! What are you going to do?” I asked.
He shook his head and smiled. “I haven’t the foggiest.”
“Well, that’s exciting!” I meant it genuinely. The idea of retirement is brilliant.
“Do you mean the fear of the unknown is exciting?” he asked.
Good point. “Yeah, I guess,” I said. And then: “I wish I could retire already.”
“You? You just started! You’ll be fine. I remember when you were a toddler. You’ve grown up now, and you’re going out on your own. You’ll do fine,” he assured me. “Enjoy it. It goes by fast.”
This conversation actually took place. This is typical fodder around here, I guess. I do love this place.
After I said goodbye, I headed up the street towards the subway, but I got sidetracked by Junior, the manager of the parking garage. He gave me a big hug.
“Where the hell have you been?” he asked.
“At work. But no more! I quit!”
This time his eyes bugged.
“It’s okay,” I said. “I have a plan.”
“Good,” he said, and told me about his son in South Carolina who was just offered his dream job in his dream city and things were starting to come together. “He’s a good kid. You’re a good kid. Just remember that: Wherever you go, whatever you do, remember to be good. Then you’ll be fine.”
“Of course,” I said. “I’ll be fine.” And I think I meant it.
I’ll miss this, I know it. But I’ll be back.
“You can’t leave this place,” said Junior. “You can try, but you’ll be back. Before you know it, you’ll be writing for the biggest paper in the world.” He pointed to the New York Times tucked under my arm.
I smiled.
Someday.
26 responses so far ↓
1 edudlooc13 // Apr 20, 2005 at 6:53 am
“Enjoy it. It goes by fast.”He’s a wise man. Your entry made me miss the city. I can’t wait to be back. Hope all goes well for you! Junior is right, you’ll be back.
2 doctorperky // Apr 20, 2005 at 7:18 am
Now don’t be such a parochial New Yorker. The world does not end at the Hudson River! Every city has good and bad parts; you already know the good parts in yours, but IRT your previous post I am certain that there are fabulous restaurants in Santa Fe; it may just take a bit more effort to find them. And don’t ever eat at Applebee’s, anywhere. Not ever. Well, ok, not every city, necessarily. I never saw any good parts in Dallas, when I visited there. But isn’t Santa Fe supposed to be all artsy and stuff?
3 jaki_o // Apr 20, 2005 at 8:47 am
Welcome back! And good for you for going for it. Heh, every other word in that sentance was for.
4 tektoo2 // Apr 20, 2005 at 9:33 am
Good luck out there in Santa Fe. You’ll be fine, no need to worry. You are the most incredible person I know, and you’ll do great.
5 Gabe_Real // Apr 20, 2005 at 10:06 am
I second that… Laura, you’re not only incredible - but witty, smart, funny, and overall rockin’!You are sooooo gonna rock Santa Fe - Positive Vibes all over that! Random statement: There’s supposedly a new Bruce Springsteen album… Regarding Your Comment: I’ve was born a Yankees fan and ugh, George just irks me - $200 million does not a team make. Then again, not many guys go out there and spend money to replace players like George does. Positive Pinstripe Vibes indeed!Take care of you - I have definitely missed you, and all your blog adventuresGabe
6 Didya_evawonda // Apr 20, 2005 at 10:25 am
RYC. We need to talk music tech.
They picked Ratzinger BECAUSE he’s old…not a long committment to whatever policies he might have. Makes sense…while they’ll have to do it all over again in a few years, they have the benefit of a strong administrator at the helm (NOT talking philosophy, just management!), and the other cardinals have time to ponder where to REALLY go next with the next Pope. Apparently, it happens all the time- it just backfires from time to time. The last time was John XXIII…they thought they had an old guy who’d keep the seat warm, and ended up with earth-shattering (for the time at least) revolutionary change that some people still can’t come to terms with.
7 prettypixie7 // Apr 20, 2005 at 10:29 am
I’m so glad you are back. And I’m also glad you are making this move, I’m sure you will have great Santa Fe stories to relate. New Mexico really is a beautiful state, someday I would like to have a ranch out there.
Thank you so much for your compliment on my last post. Honestly, that means a tremendous amount to me coming from you.
8 prettypixie7 // Apr 20, 2005 at 10:38 am
I almost forgot, the 3-day walk is, well, literally a 3 day walk in September. The purpose is to raise money for breast cancer. It’s 60 miles, 20 per day, around Chicago. It should be a lot of fun. The site is http://www.the3day.org.
9 TimsHead // Apr 20, 2005 at 11:39 am
You seem to have a circle of wise men there in NYC. My postman is antisocial, and I don’t think our city has a parking garage with a paid attendant. The opportunities for insightful dialogue I’ve lost in the process.RYC: It’s funny for you to bring up Reality Bites in a caustic manner because I totally slag the movie in my writing. You’ll find the nub of the argument on this page, for what it’s worth. And much of my point is directed at lazy and trend journalism, with a former editor’s perspective, natch; not that I’m saying there aren’t people who followed the stereotype, but certainly not 80 million of them.
10 Dyrb2 // Apr 20, 2005 at 12:24 pm
Isn’t it just great when life changes and it scares you out of your wits? It makes me feel so alive! Maybe Junior is a prophet sent from the future to drop hints about your legacy to come? Great musical choice last entry! Bob Dylan is a revolutionary in the greatest sense of the word. Congratulations in advance on becoming the biggest writer for the biggest paper in the world.
11 MaximaBella // Apr 20, 2005 at 12:48 pm
Holy moly you are making a move…however nows the time girl..I think 20-26 is when we can and should get away with the most change, until it fits and feels right…aka insurance agent to dog groomer..its great!~
20 hr to dog walk, WOW!!!!!
12 Magazineman // Apr 20, 2005 at 2:52 pm
Woo-hoo! So I guess I won’t get the Aero bar now because you have a job.Congrats on the internship! Santa Fe is not NYC, to be sure, but it’s fun.
13 Magazineman // Apr 20, 2005 at 2:53 pm
Not that I would know. I mean it’s not like there are any really cool magazines based in Santa Fe at all. And if there were, I never worked for them. Nope…
14 Gnarlysurf // Apr 20, 2005 at 3:44 pm
Good for you! That’s awesome to hear that you’ve decided to give Santa Fe a try. I think your mail man is a profound source of intelligent information and not just junk mail. I mean you only do live once and if you don’t take this chance then you’ll never know what would become of it. I hate saying, “gee I wonder what could have been”. So good for you. Oh yeah and by the way I read your catching up comments. True I did forget to mention the lack of cinna-ma-fu’king stick. Its weird there’s a part of me that won’t swear on your site cuz it’s so pure lol.
15 doctorperky // Apr 20, 2005 at 4:09 pm
Yeah, I do know how you feel. I don’t want to leave here, either, and decided I’d rather stay here than chase academic jobs around the country.All I can say for the food available near the airport is, thank God the Waffle House was closed. Have you ever eaten at one of those? YIPE YIPE YIPE!!! You might think, for example, that it is not possible to utterly ruin frozen hash browns. But you would be wrong. You might also think that a grilled cheese sandwhich is a safe option at almost any establishment, but, again, you would be incorrect. The Waffle House has disabused me of both silly notions.
16 x_defying_gravity_x // Apr 20, 2005 at 6:12 pm
I admire you for your bravery…Although I say I’d love to just move away, I know I would find it hard to leave…
By the way, I really enjoy your posts. Your stories often leave me smiling…
17 brotherpriest // Apr 20, 2005 at 6:30 pm
Santa Fe??? Ohhhh snap!
18 colette_and_moi // Apr 20, 2005 at 6:39 pm
Awwww. I think I cried and laughed at the same time. So, I’m sad but really happy for you all at once.
You’re gonna do good!
19 buttm0nkay // Apr 20, 2005 at 6:49 pm
I think you’re haunting me. this is the third time i was browsing blogrings. RANDOM blogrings not the same one three times, and your name was at the top. I’m the girl that a long time ago said your name was funny, and you said so was mine. yeha that’s me. =D
20 Trueblue456 // Apr 20, 2005 at 6:53 pm
lol. I really enjoy reading your posts. They are always so colorful and I agree with “defying_gravity” - they often leave me smiling. You take the “ordinary” events of everyday life and turn them into reasons to smile. You have a healthy way of looking upon the world around us. Dude, I sorta sounded like Oprah there. ah well. Oh! and I totally agree about the NY thing. I visited the city for the first time this past month and it was an absolute blast. I realize a tourist’s view of NY is quite different from that of the residents, but even as an outsider looking in one can see that NY is its own world. And an awesome one at that. :)So anyways have fun in Santa Fe…I’m sure you’ll do great.
21 Brunettebaby1820 // Apr 20, 2005 at 8:21 pm
Hey~ I wish Clarissa Explains it all was still on television! There’s nothing like the classic shows.. Well, I thought I would just drop in and say hello.
Your xanga is so fun and original it always puts a smile on my face. I really hope that you can continue to write even though it sounds like you have some big changes ahead!! Good luck with Santa Fe!!
eDen*
22 trcs // Apr 20, 2005 at 10:50 pm
For some reason I’m experiencing slight anxiety about you leaving New York. Which is…. odd, considering it really doesn’t affect me in any way.
I suppose I could - maybe - suck it up and be excited for you. (!!! Congratulations by the way !!!)
p.s. how’s the Canadian chocolate/candy stash coming along? Any likes or dislikes to report?
23 chicagoartgirl23 // Apr 21, 2005 at 2:51 am
Congratulations! Yay for the cool internship! And hell yeah we should have a cup of joe! I’ll email you some details!
24 AZcowboy // Apr 21, 2005 at 4:41 am
Good Luck and Congrats. Santa Fe is lucky to have your talent.
25 Rod_Lamour // Apr 21, 2005 at 1:06 pm
I love You!!!! Rod Lamour
26 Coccinella // Apr 26, 2005 at 10:07 am
Oh this post was so bittersweet. Good luck to you - I can’t tell you how many times I told you how hilarious you are, your writing is amazing - just don’t forget us xangians while you’re writing for the Times.