You still with me?

February 28th, 2013 - filed under: The Farm » Family

So, well, there ya go, that’s my story of 2012. Are you still reading? I know, I know . . . wild ride.

But new year, new beginnings, eh? On January 1st we took a beach walk all together, as a family.

Hundreds of shark eggs washed up all over the beach.
It was a really lovely way to begin the new year. Spending time together as a family is important to us, and it’s something we try to do every few weeks. Luckily since we share a car, Waits gets to watch Damian and I interact all the time, as one of us drives the other one home after a kid-switch (whoever has the kid has the car). We’ve got a pretty great arrangement going on here, I think.

In January, a good friend loaned me a spare guitar, and I began to teach myself to play (thank you, youtube tutorials! seriously what did people do before the internet?!). Music is becoming this huge presence in my life, in so many ways, and sort of for the first time ever. I love it. Love it. Love it. Love it.

Waits is learning to skate. His Papa-san (my dad) got him a killer board, and we have so much fun at the skate park on his days off from preschool. He says he’s ready to go inside (mama says not quite yet).

Mid-month I heard about a job opening at the community college where my buddy/boss is a professor. The position was for a lab tech in the biology department – my old stomping grounds. A steady, professional, actually-take-home-a-regular-paycheck kind of job. After confirming that I would not be responsible for any live animals or dissections, I spent an entire afternoon/evening/night polishing up my super-dusty CV, and I applied.

As it turned out, my boss had misunderstood how much the job actually payed, and it ended up being significantly less than I’d thought. When I got that news, do you know what I felt?

Relief.

Which was interesting, because the promise of a steady paycheck sure was appealing. But the thing is, I don’t want to work in a bio lab. Ain’t that the thing. And I took this as a sign (totally don’t believe in signs, but whatevs) that I shouldn’t give up so easily on my actual dreams. Because I have a little time right now, before things get really hairy, and I might as well at least try to pursue my passion . . . right?

So the very next day I woke up and I emailed Victoria Moran, who I’d been going back and forth with, and I said “Yes! Sign me up for the February class at Main Street Vegan Academy!” I just closed my eyes and jumped, committed to an intensive week-long course in New York City, which would happen the following month, and which would result in me becoming a certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator.

Yes Yes, this was better.

Another night at the theatre with my Papa, I finally got to see Hair! // Speaking of hair, this is the worst haircut I’ve ever gotten, ever, and I emerged from the salon (yes, this is how he sent me out into the world) looking like some crackhead 80s lioness in a twisted interpretation of Cats. Sheesh.

Near the end of the month, I took a little trip down to LA for the Vegans Of Instagram first official meet-up. Yay! (also find them on Facebook) Vegans!!!! So so so good to be around my people.

In the final weeks of January, I began blogging again. It was scary, my first post back, but it also felt amazing. And just . . . right. I continued blogging through the end of january, and January made way for February. Life continues. Life is good.

~~~

January, and eventually February, felt like a splendid series of small adventures. Of letting go and enjoying life. Of not thinking too hard or trying too hard or worrying too much because man . . . man. When I quit blogging a year ago, I ended my final post with this thought:

If I only get 100 or so years of existence, I better make damn sure that I enjoy them.

And I feel like, finally, that’s where I’m at. I took that realization and I managed to internalize it. It’s part of me now. Thank goodness.

And that’s how I’m trying to live my life.

And I hope that you’re still here, and maybe you’re still interested in living along beside me. I really hope so.

So cheers, to us! And I guess I’ll see you ’round the net.

♥

http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thank you Kelly, and wow good luck with everything, seems like you are forging an amazing path for yourself!
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thank you Carey. And yes, definitely more soon. ;-)
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thanks Karen, it can be so difficult to navigate life as a new mom. Good luck with everything and I promise, it just gets better and easier the older they get! At least in my experience. Better and better and better. =)
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Vitamin D all the way! Thank megan, it’s so great to be back and hear from all you “old friends” too!
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Yay Kathryn B, definitely more to come!
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Aw thank you Cassie, that is very touching. Truly, it means more to me than you know. I love this space and the amazing people here. I missed you guys!
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thank you Bettina!
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Aw thanks Hope!
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thanks Jen, you will definitely be seeing more, haha.
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Wow thank you Dana. I will keep writing and writing, that I can promise you! =D
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thanks Rebecca, I can’t wait to start sharing evrything I’ve learned. <3
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thanks Crystal!
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thank you, Abby, for reading what I’ve shared. There are a lot of us in that place, “searching for that connection between who I am and how I can support that person both personally and professional.” That’s a great way of putting it – we’ll all work to figure it out together.
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thanks Charley!
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Oh I home so Jamey! Thank you!
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thanks Christina, it feels liberating to be so honest. =)
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thank you thank you, and I agree, dreams > monies.
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

Thank you Jen, I sorta can’t wait to see what’s in my future, too. Ha! =D
Brie

When you went on hiatus, it definitely left a void in my daily internet activity. I still checked back here from time to time to get recipes, tips, etc. so when I checked in a few weeks ago to find recent posts, I was so excited.
Britt!

Heck YAH, Sayward’s back!!!! Whoot, whoot!!!
Dude, I am SO ecstatic that you are back, I can’t even begin to express! I’m glad you’re back, I’m glad you opened up (dude, it was sh** I hated to read, but needed to hear…), and I’m just stoked…to see you again!!! I missed you so very much when you went away! :*( I shared your blog-world with SO MANY people! You changed my live with “no-poo” shampoo, and homemade toothpaste, and ALL your brilliance!!! I’m SO glad you didn’t drop off the face of this planet (Side note, this is the only blog I have ever read, by the way… I didn’t even know what a “blog” was…! Three(+) years ago, when I discovered bonzaiaphrodite, I thought it was the most awesome website EVER; I didn’t know we could actually COMMUNICATE with one another! Hee hee, and then it was on…! I was like a kid in a candy shop, getting all sorts of good advice from you! Eeek, I am SO glad you’re back here, could ya tell?! ; )> Anyhow! What was I saying? Oh, yeah, so I was super bummed when I would show anybody bonzaiaphrodite, knowing it was a dead thing… BUT THEN… A few nights ago, I met a gal with similar passions and introduced her to bonzaiaphrodite, and lo and behold, what should I find??? Sayward’s back!!!!! Alive and well!!! Oh, yip yip yippee! So welcome back, kiddo! It’s good to have you back!
Am I still with you???
Oh, HELL YES!!!
http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

YAY! Thank you Britt, this comment was AWESOME! Aww, made my day. =)

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