Endings and Beginnings
This is the beginning of my last week working for the nonprofit where I've been employed for the past three and a half years. It has been time for me to take my next step for a little while now and I'm excited to be moving on, but there is, of course, always a sadness that comes with this kind of transition. I believe I started this blog during my final two weeks at another job. Funny that it seems like a lifetime ago that I was nervously resigning from my newspaper job. I'm feeling much more confident this time around.
.....
Walking home from the metro today, DC really felt like home. It's my favorite time of year here, one of the first three or four days when it's been warm enough to venture outside in a skirt and short sleeves. The sun was shining, the sky was bright blue, the air is still dry and spring-like, lacking summer's intense humidity, and all of the trees and bushes are in bloom. Something about days like this makes me feel limitless optimism and freedom. My new job is downtown about 10 blocks from my apartment and I'm looking forward to spending more time in this city that I've somehow come to love.
.....
And finally, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Quarterfinals is tomorrow night. My entire being is buzzing with excitement and nerves. I can't totally explain how I became this obsessed with hockey. I am not sure I can even partly explain it. As I sit here I am wearing red and white polka dotted pj pants with a Caps logo on them and a Caps t-shirt. I am currently calculating in my head how early I can leave work tomorrow in order to get home in time to get ready and get to the game early. Tonight I'll probably dream about the game. I'm nuts - but it's so much fun. Go Caps!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Ouch
It hurts to be a sports fan.
The Capitals lost their second game in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Rangers today and it made me and Neil really sad. A year and a half ago, the fact that I just wrote the previous sentence would have been unfathomable. But here I am, a major Capitals fan. I suppose my fandom is a fantastic example of the fact that I am still growing and changing as a person. Being new to this fandom thing has left me ill-equipped to deal with sports-related sadness. I'll get over it and I'll be cheering the team on while watching on TV this Monday, but for now, I'm bummed. We got home from the game this afternoon and literally did not know what to do with ourselves. Neil took a nap and I cooked a recipe that I learned from the lovely Aarti. (It was delicious). So, I suppose, we were both constructive with our sports saddness.
What is funny to me is that we finally allowed ourselves to be sad. We've had a string of less-than-great things happen to us in the past few months and we managed to remain mostly positive. For me, it's a way of coping. The more optimistic I can be, the better. I do believe that positive thinking brings positive results. But I also realize that sometimes we just need to be sad. We need to grieve for a moment, to feel sorry for ourselves. I haven't really allowed myself that luxury lately. I realize that this is a strange complaint - not being sad enough.
Throughout this tough winter and early spring, the Capitals have bouyed my spirits when I needed it most. Being an avid sports fan is a beautiful distraction. When my team wins, no matter what else is going on in my life at the moment, I have an instant excuse to be happy - which is really a gift. Today, being a sports fan helped me get permission to be sad - another less joyful gift, but a gift nonetheless.
(note: I will be less grateful for this gift if the Caps lose the series.)
Joy
We learned some great news tonight - Neil's sister Jaimie is engaged! Her fiance, Jacob, is fantastic. They make each other very happy and are a pleasure to be around. I am really looking forward to many fun times with them in the future and I can't wait to celebrate their wedding.
Change
The weather in DC is finally changing into the beautiful spring weather that makes me love this city. Other things are changing too and I have a good feeling about the coming months for me and Neil. There is a heightened sense of possibility that comes with sunny weather and blooming flowers. Good things are on the horizon.
It hurts to be a sports fan.
The Capitals lost their second game in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Rangers today and it made me and Neil really sad. A year and a half ago, the fact that I just wrote the previous sentence would have been unfathomable. But here I am, a major Capitals fan. I suppose my fandom is a fantastic example of the fact that I am still growing and changing as a person. Being new to this fandom thing has left me ill-equipped to deal with sports-related sadness. I'll get over it and I'll be cheering the team on while watching on TV this Monday, but for now, I'm bummed. We got home from the game this afternoon and literally did not know what to do with ourselves. Neil took a nap and I cooked a recipe that I learned from the lovely Aarti. (It was delicious). So, I suppose, we were both constructive with our sports saddness.
What is funny to me is that we finally allowed ourselves to be sad. We've had a string of less-than-great things happen to us in the past few months and we managed to remain mostly positive. For me, it's a way of coping. The more optimistic I can be, the better. I do believe that positive thinking brings positive results. But I also realize that sometimes we just need to be sad. We need to grieve for a moment, to feel sorry for ourselves. I haven't really allowed myself that luxury lately. I realize that this is a strange complaint - not being sad enough.
Throughout this tough winter and early spring, the Capitals have bouyed my spirits when I needed it most. Being an avid sports fan is a beautiful distraction. When my team wins, no matter what else is going on in my life at the moment, I have an instant excuse to be happy - which is really a gift. Today, being a sports fan helped me get permission to be sad - another less joyful gift, but a gift nonetheless.
(note: I will be less grateful for this gift if the Caps lose the series.)
Joy
We learned some great news tonight - Neil's sister Jaimie is engaged! Her fiance, Jacob, is fantastic. They make each other very happy and are a pleasure to be around. I am really looking forward to many fun times with them in the future and I can't wait to celebrate their wedding.
Change
The weather in DC is finally changing into the beautiful spring weather that makes me love this city. Other things are changing too and I have a good feeling about the coming months for me and Neil. There is a heightened sense of possibility that comes with sunny weather and blooming flowers. Good things are on the horizon.
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