What do you do once you’ve decided to leave a job that you love with every fiber of your being? What do you do with your days when they aren’t filled with laughter and adventure seeking brave women? How do you spend your minutes… ensuring that each sixty second block is truly drained to every drop its worth? These are some of the questions i’ve asked myself each day since completing my contract with Chica Brava in September of this year. With these questions brings some rambling, and quite a bit of wandering, but I’m not lost.
From Nicaragua I flew to Atlanta, GA to spend some time with my mom and aunt as well as a few of my best friends. I stayed at Rachel’s house – a place i formerly like to call Mount Pooks B&B – which is nestled in a homey pocket of the ATL known as Vinnings. It’s a bit like the burbs and a lot like home. Rachel’s house comes with my own bedroom, heavenly hot showers, a Harry Potter closet under the stairs filled with all of the things I almost gave away before leaving the country, a conversation room with a fireplace and lots of great books for reading, and a bathrobe. I don’t know how well versed you are in the joys of having a bathrobe. Buy one. Immediately. The drive home with my mom from the airport to Rachel’s house was overwhelming. There are so many options for things to do! Hundreds of air-conditioned restaurants to try, movies to go to, parks to wander… I spent two weeks in Rachel’s house recuperating from the vast amount of things i could do, and instead focused on what I wanted to do. I read books, went on long walks with my frenchie fur nephew Louis, and spent time eating great home cooking and laughing with a best friend I had missed very much. But I still had to get Rosie…
Before Rosie I needed College Football. I am a graduate of Florida State University and with that power comes great responsibility… to football. Rachel and I drove together from ATL to FSU. College is a place of growth. It is the one time in my life I was forced to stay in a single location for more than 6 months, and it is the place in my life that helped shape me the most. Coming back to Tallahassee is like coming back home. I stayed with Lauren- one of my most favorite friends from college. She was a cheerleader and I was so scared to speak to her- I mean being a cheerleader makes you practically famous in my book. I was a pole vaulter and therefore in her eyes “a real athlete” which made me intimidating to her. When we finally did speak sophomore year in college it was love at first sight. I knew I needed this woman’s friendship in my life forever, and so far thats going quite well. We spent the weekend watching Disney, eating at Casey’s country buffet, walking around parks, and tailgating for and attending and winning the FSU vs. Wake Forest game. Go Noles!
Rosie is a red Ford Escape, and after purchasing her two years ago on valentines day I can say with confidence she truly is my great escape. Along with the boxes of goods I had left at Rachel’s, I had also left a trail of things I decided I didn’t need at various friends houses throughout Florida before I fled the country for a life of bliss… it was time to go get those things. I flew from Tallahassee,FL to West Palm Beach, FL where Rosie had been housed. I spent about a week here visiting with Lisa, Casie, and Billie – three of my best south florida girls. There were hours spent line dancing, art festival wandering, and lots of beach time. I even went down to Miami for a few days and saw my gramps and some of my family. Family is so important. Friends are equally as important- they are the family you get to choose.
From West Palm Beach I headed to Orlando, FL. One of my longest and dearest friends, Dianne, has chosen to make Orlando her home. She knows me almost as well as I know myself. She gets the twisted sides, the giddy whimsy sides, and all the other sides in between. We spent two beautiful days together- waking up early to drive out and surf Cocoa beach, eating homemade chicken parm, snuggling with her yellow lab Keyla- another one of my fur babies. She helps me feel whole.
After picking up my bags and loving on my girls in FL, Rosie and I cleared out the Harry Potter closet at Mount Pooks and have set our sites out west. We drove from Atlanta, GA to Dallas, TX and spent a night with one of my mothers childhood best friends. We drove from there to El Paso, TX. There is nothing in EL Paso, TX. And let it be known that that is also nothing in TX between Dallas and El Paso. From there I ended up in Phoenix, AZ at my mommas house. And after momma’s house I ended up in sunny San Diego visiting two of my Chica Brava clients. Both Lori and Jordie call San Diego home. We visited brewery’s, surfed as many breaks as I could cram into a week, and ate at Oscars more times then should in a 24 hour period of time… Lori and Jordie feel like home to me. They are both surfing and smiling just like I hoped they would be since leaving camp. It was so comforting to be around them, such strong, vivacious, and empowering women.
Writing this blog I am sitting on my Mom’s couch in AZ while she works in the other room. I know I need to find a job, and I think i’ll do that in San Diego, CA. I’m still seeking answers and have tons of questions. I don’t think that quest will ever end. So when Noe asked me to check in, I thought it important to be straight up about that. Wherever you go, there you are. I’m still wandering, but i’m not lost.
Enjoy your moments,
Kellyanne
Former Surf Instructor Extraordinaire
