Farewell 2007
2007.
Different. New. Heartbreaking. Uplifting. Exhilarating. Intense…
…Over.
The past 365 days have been nothing short of a whirlwind. I have had so many experiences, both good and bad, that I wouldn’t trade in for the world.
This year I made new friends, lost old ones. I accomplished one of my life goals (twice). I worked at five very different places. I’ve lost weight and gained knowledge. I’ve grown in both personality and life experience.
The year started off, well, to be perfectly honest I don’t quite remember. Not only was it a year ago but I was most likely drunk. Celebrations were held in Utica at Sarah’s brothers’ apartment. I do believe that I’ve spent the past three new years with my best friend, a tradition that I know is going to stay as we go into 2008 tonight, but I hope it remains in place for many years to come.
As 2007 got older I grew much closer to two people who I most assuredly cannot imagine living without right now. This time last year I knew very little about both Steve and Sara. In the past year I have honestly come to consider them family. They, along with Sarah Marris, are my soul mates. Honest. I believe that the moment that cemented my lifelong friendship with both of them occurred on our spring break trip to North Carolina in March. A trip that I wouldn’t have changed for the world.
While I don’t believe that I can fully express my love for these people in words, I do believe that they know how much they mean to me and how much they have made 2007 worth it.
And here I was worried that I was going to have a horrible second semester because my base of friends at Ithaca had all gone abroad save for one or two.
As the semester was coming to an end I found myself at a crossroads; I quite literally had no idea what to do for the summer. And then boom, an idea popped into my head. I ran the idea by Steve, who happened to live close by to me and whose house I was staying at over the summer. Before we knew it we had jobs at the Enchanted Forest in Old Forge.
I can’t speak for Steve really but I know that I was unsure of how the summer was going to unfold. Once it was time to actually begin I was quite worried that I was going to hate it. I didn’t plan on making friends with anyone. I felt that I didn’t really need to. I thought that I would just go into the park every day, do my work and then come home.
Naturally, my expectations were shattered. I met amazing people, far too numerous to name them all. I connected with people so fast and that is just something I never expected to happen. As the summer came to a close I found myself not wanting to leave these people. Maybe it was the circumstances of all of us living in a very small town and spending all of our time together. Maybe it was the fact that we all fulfilled something in each others lives that hadn’t yet been fulfilled. Maybe we all just naturally attract people to our personalities and that’s what happened.
I don’t know what it is or what it was, but it was magical.
At the end of July that chapter of 2007 ended and a new one began.
One of my life goals that I wanted to accomplish before death was to drive across this expansive country. I got the chance to do so, with my three best friends, in August.
The drive was long, I think that goes without saying, but with my three best friends with me and this amazing chance to explore America is what made the trip 100% worth it.
I think the best moment of 2007 for me occurred on my road trip from Clinton to Los Angeles.
Sarah and I were in my car; Steve was with Sara in her car. We were following them, driving on our way to our hotel in Sedona, Arizona. We were either listening to a song on Sarah’s iPod, or talking about something, or just trying to figure out how long we had until we reached our hotel.
We passed a little fire house. Saw a ‘Reduced Speed Ahead’ sign.
And then it happened.
We were quite literally driving down the side of a mountain.
We rolled down the windows to breath in the fresh air. We gasped in awe at the sheer natural beauty that was surrounding us. The sun was getting ready to set and its waning light illuminated the mountains in a way that I don’t think words can really even describe.
As I was driving, at that moment, my eyes began to tear.
To be perfectly honest, as I sit here writing this right now my eyes are tearing again at the memory. I just don’t think that I have ever seen anything as beautiful and I worry that I will never see anything as beautiful again.
At that moment, life was nearly perfect. I had my absolute best friend sitting next to me and my eyes were being exposed to the most gorgeous, truly beautiful landscape that I had ever witnessed. I thought of all the people that I wished could see that beauty with me at that moment. I wanted to call them and express just how amazing it was but I couldn’t find the words to do it justice, I really couldn’t.
At that moment, I didn’t need anything. I didn’t need a lot of money. I didn’t need to worry about graduating college. I didn’t need to think about making it as a scriptwriter in Los Angeles. I didn’t even need to worry about the fact that my gas tank was nearly empty.
I didn’t need anything, because at that moment, I had absolutely everything. I was whole. I was complete. I was fully content with everything.
It gave me a natural high and it made me feel happier than I have ever felt before or since. It was quite literally the most exhilarating moment of my life and I fear that I will never find that feeling again.
As the road trip came to an end, I found myself in the middle of Los Angeles. Writing is something that I have always had a passion for, clearly, and writing for television has been the entire reason for my continued education. To find myself in the middle of the entertainment capital of the world was insane. I was actually there.
I had the great opportunity to intern for CBS Interactive and for Passions at an interesting time in Hollywood. Of course I am referring to the writer’s strike that is still ongoing at this moment.
I think the strike represents more to me than just a world of reruns and insipid reality shows. The WGA are fighting for things that are going to affect me someday, but working for both the writers of Passions and for the interactive department of CBS, I believe that I had one of the most unique experiences during the strike because I was quite literally on both sides.
The outcome of this strike greatly interests me, and will even some day effect me. Whatever the outcome, I hope that both sides haven’t damaged their bonds too much.
While in Los Angeles I was able to make more friends. One of whom, Marina, has most definitely turned into a lifelong connection. Together with her and with Sara, the three of us had an amazing time in Los Angeles.
The American Music Awards. Paramore. In n Out. The Singing Bee. CSI: NY Mid Season Party. The Price is Right. The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Rodeo Drive. Mulholland Drive. Malibu. Santa Monica. Howl at the Moon. Three Clubs.
These are just some of the amazing experiences I was able to partake in.
I did so many things in Los Angeles that had only been dreams and desires. Growing up I had never even thought that it was possible for me to get to Los Angeles, let alone do everything that I was able to do.
I mean, I interviewed the Senior Vice President of Current Programs of CBS for a school assignment! If that’s the type of homework I had on a regular basis then I would never procrastinate again!
I simply cannot wait to make Los Angeles my home and to pursue my dreams of writing for the small screen.
Then it was time to come home.
In order to do so, I had to drive across country again (yay!) but this time, it was by myself (boo!). As cliché as it sounds, I do believe that I learned a bit about myself on my four day trip home. I learned to remain calm in the middle of a blizzard. I learned how dowdy snow makes this country look. I learned that people are generally nice. I learned that I could survive a four day drive across country by myself without a working cell phone.
That last one impresses me quite a bit.
And now here I am, back home in Upstate New York about to get ready to give 2007 a send off.
Will I miss 2007?
Definitely. It has shaped a lot of who I am right now. It has made me stronger, more intelligent, less stubborn and maybe even a little happier.
So here is to you, 2007. May you never be forgotten for the changes you brought into my life.
As for you, 2008. You have a lot to live up to, and I’m looking forward to every second of it.
Different. New. Heartbreaking. Uplifting. Exhilarating. Intense…
…Over.
The past 365 days have been nothing short of a whirlwind. I have had so many experiences, both good and bad, that I wouldn’t trade in for the world.
This year I made new friends, lost old ones. I accomplished one of my life goals (twice). I worked at five very different places. I’ve lost weight and gained knowledge. I’ve grown in both personality and life experience.
The year started off, well, to be perfectly honest I don’t quite remember. Not only was it a year ago but I was most likely drunk. Celebrations were held in Utica at Sarah’s brothers’ apartment. I do believe that I’ve spent the past three new years with my best friend, a tradition that I know is going to stay as we go into 2008 tonight, but I hope it remains in place for many years to come.
As 2007 got older I grew much closer to two people who I most assuredly cannot imagine living without right now. This time last year I knew very little about both Steve and Sara. In the past year I have honestly come to consider them family. They, along with Sarah Marris, are my soul mates. Honest. I believe that the moment that cemented my lifelong friendship with both of them occurred on our spring break trip to North Carolina in March. A trip that I wouldn’t have changed for the world.
While I don’t believe that I can fully express my love for these people in words, I do believe that they know how much they mean to me and how much they have made 2007 worth it.
And here I was worried that I was going to have a horrible second semester because my base of friends at Ithaca had all gone abroad save for one or two.
As the semester was coming to an end I found myself at a crossroads; I quite literally had no idea what to do for the summer. And then boom, an idea popped into my head. I ran the idea by Steve, who happened to live close by to me and whose house I was staying at over the summer. Before we knew it we had jobs at the Enchanted Forest in Old Forge.
I can’t speak for Steve really but I know that I was unsure of how the summer was going to unfold. Once it was time to actually begin I was quite worried that I was going to hate it. I didn’t plan on making friends with anyone. I felt that I didn’t really need to. I thought that I would just go into the park every day, do my work and then come home.
Naturally, my expectations were shattered. I met amazing people, far too numerous to name them all. I connected with people so fast and that is just something I never expected to happen. As the summer came to a close I found myself not wanting to leave these people. Maybe it was the circumstances of all of us living in a very small town and spending all of our time together. Maybe it was the fact that we all fulfilled something in each others lives that hadn’t yet been fulfilled. Maybe we all just naturally attract people to our personalities and that’s what happened.
I don’t know what it is or what it was, but it was magical.
At the end of July that chapter of 2007 ended and a new one began.
One of my life goals that I wanted to accomplish before death was to drive across this expansive country. I got the chance to do so, with my three best friends, in August.
The drive was long, I think that goes without saying, but with my three best friends with me and this amazing chance to explore America is what made the trip 100% worth it.
I think the best moment of 2007 for me occurred on my road trip from Clinton to Los Angeles.
Sarah and I were in my car; Steve was with Sara in her car. We were following them, driving on our way to our hotel in Sedona, Arizona. We were either listening to a song on Sarah’s iPod, or talking about something, or just trying to figure out how long we had until we reached our hotel.
We passed a little fire house. Saw a ‘Reduced Speed Ahead’ sign.
And then it happened.
We were quite literally driving down the side of a mountain.
We rolled down the windows to breath in the fresh air. We gasped in awe at the sheer natural beauty that was surrounding us. The sun was getting ready to set and its waning light illuminated the mountains in a way that I don’t think words can really even describe.
As I was driving, at that moment, my eyes began to tear.
To be perfectly honest, as I sit here writing this right now my eyes are tearing again at the memory. I just don’t think that I have ever seen anything as beautiful and I worry that I will never see anything as beautiful again.
At that moment, life was nearly perfect. I had my absolute best friend sitting next to me and my eyes were being exposed to the most gorgeous, truly beautiful landscape that I had ever witnessed. I thought of all the people that I wished could see that beauty with me at that moment. I wanted to call them and express just how amazing it was but I couldn’t find the words to do it justice, I really couldn’t.
At that moment, I didn’t need anything. I didn’t need a lot of money. I didn’t need to worry about graduating college. I didn’t need to think about making it as a scriptwriter in Los Angeles. I didn’t even need to worry about the fact that my gas tank was nearly empty.
I didn’t need anything, because at that moment, I had absolutely everything. I was whole. I was complete. I was fully content with everything.
It gave me a natural high and it made me feel happier than I have ever felt before or since. It was quite literally the most exhilarating moment of my life and I fear that I will never find that feeling again.
As the road trip came to an end, I found myself in the middle of Los Angeles. Writing is something that I have always had a passion for, clearly, and writing for television has been the entire reason for my continued education. To find myself in the middle of the entertainment capital of the world was insane. I was actually there.
I had the great opportunity to intern for CBS Interactive and for Passions at an interesting time in Hollywood. Of course I am referring to the writer’s strike that is still ongoing at this moment.
I think the strike represents more to me than just a world of reruns and insipid reality shows. The WGA are fighting for things that are going to affect me someday, but working for both the writers of Passions and for the interactive department of CBS, I believe that I had one of the most unique experiences during the strike because I was quite literally on both sides.
The outcome of this strike greatly interests me, and will even some day effect me. Whatever the outcome, I hope that both sides haven’t damaged their bonds too much.
While in Los Angeles I was able to make more friends. One of whom, Marina, has most definitely turned into a lifelong connection. Together with her and with Sara, the three of us had an amazing time in Los Angeles.
The American Music Awards. Paramore. In n Out. The Singing Bee. CSI: NY Mid Season Party. The Price is Right. The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Rodeo Drive. Mulholland Drive. Malibu. Santa Monica. Howl at the Moon. Three Clubs.
These are just some of the amazing experiences I was able to partake in.
I did so many things in Los Angeles that had only been dreams and desires. Growing up I had never even thought that it was possible for me to get to Los Angeles, let alone do everything that I was able to do.
I mean, I interviewed the Senior Vice President of Current Programs of CBS for a school assignment! If that’s the type of homework I had on a regular basis then I would never procrastinate again!
I simply cannot wait to make Los Angeles my home and to pursue my dreams of writing for the small screen.
Then it was time to come home.
In order to do so, I had to drive across country again (yay!) but this time, it was by myself (boo!). As cliché as it sounds, I do believe that I learned a bit about myself on my four day trip home. I learned to remain calm in the middle of a blizzard. I learned how dowdy snow makes this country look. I learned that people are generally nice. I learned that I could survive a four day drive across country by myself without a working cell phone.
That last one impresses me quite a bit.
And now here I am, back home in Upstate New York about to get ready to give 2007 a send off.
Will I miss 2007?
Definitely. It has shaped a lot of who I am right now. It has made me stronger, more intelligent, less stubborn and maybe even a little happier.
So here is to you, 2007. May you never be forgotten for the changes you brought into my life.
As for you, 2008. You have a lot to live up to, and I’m looking forward to every second of it.