The Gypsy With A Memorable Foot

I have tattoos.

I have a cross on my side that is only seen during bikini season. I have cherry blossoms on my back that are often showcased on warm summer days when I pull out the tank tops and summer dresses. And I have a music staff on my right foot that is almost always visible since I rarely wear socks and am almost always in flip flops or heels.

I am used to being stopped and complimented for said tattoos and I don't mind it in the least. Hey, I paid for them and I love them. By all means, take a look (thank you, I think they're cool too.) Or ask me how long they took (my side took 45 mins, my foot took about an hour and a half, and my back took about 3 1/2 hours.) Sure, ask me where I got them (the first two were done by Rich at Peace of Art in Chicago Heights and my back was done by Carissa at The Crux in Saugatuck, MI.) Ask me if they hurt (my side and my back were a piece of cake. My foot, on the other hand, I made him take a break half way through because I thought I was going to pass out.) And, of course, ask me what song it is (Canon in D Major by Pachelbel.)

This past weekend, I had the ODDEST and, yet, most amusing tattoo experience to date. I was standing next to a guy, who just happened to look down at my foot and then looked back up and said, "I've meet you before." Startled, and grasping for familiarity, I looked back at him and said, "You have?" He replied, "Yes, unless someone else has *that* tattoo." Laughing, I replied, "I really doubt that." After a couple minutes, he pinpointed meeting me at the networking group that I had attended for my boss a couple weeks ago.

Before getting tattoos, I imagined a whole range of reactions from people, but never had I dreamed of being recognized for one. It cracks me up, but just proves... my tattoos ARE unique!

What's A Gypsy To Do (Next)?

From the outside looking in, many people mistakenly assume that I have no direction. I'm simply dust in the wind waiting for the next breeze to take me away. To their credit, it does appear that way. But, honestly, I do have direction. And, more than direction, I have a goal. The goal may seem absent, but, to the contrary, it is ever present. The goal is simply this: unwavering quest to find my real, true passion. I have found that many long for that passion; that "bigger purpose" in life. However, instead of chasing down their dreams, they settle and long for that piece (and peace) that's missing.

I'll admit, I'm still not sure what will make me happy nor am I'm not even sure whether or not I'm pointing in the right direction. What I do know are the things that have brought me joy in the past, paired with my skill set (as well as the things that I am capable of learning,) offer me a wide range of possibilities. And I'm not too proud to experiment and play until I find just the right combination that makes me want to jump out of bed in the morning just so I can get to work.

In my last post I revealed just exactly how "all over the place" I really am. And honestly, after searching the recesses of my memory to name all the places I've lived and the jobs I've held, I'm a little bamboozled that I'm not exhausted from moving (on average 1.5 times per year) or learning how to do each job that I've held. So, why not test my luck further?

For those of you who don't know, I moved back to my parents house a couple of months ago in order to meet two goals: 1. To pay off debt and 2. To go back to school and pursue my teaching certification.

If you know me well or if you read my last entry, you know that I've actually traveled this road of wanting to be a teacher before - and I couldn't quite settle into just exactly it was that I wanted to teach during my time in college. And, I'll be honest, I still haven't quite nailed it down yet. But, I'm am confident that it's something that I want to try - even if I find that teaching is just another stop on my journey.

Being back at home with mom and dad is humbling. You have to relearn how to structure your day. And, for me, I had to learn how to live with people again (I'm still working on this.) I'm still getting used to running into people that have known my family for generations while around town. And, let's be honest, when outsiders hear that you're in your late 20's, living at home with your parents, and working part-time jobs, they just assume that you're a bum. So, dealing with that stigma has been rough.

But, I am blessed. I have great people in my life that recognize my assets and have given me jobs, which they are willing to be flexible with in order to accommodate my (eventual) school schedule. My parents invited me back into their home. I'm convenient to my sister and friends again. And I get to try something new.

I'd be lying if I told you that it was all rainbows and unicorns. Sure, there are obstacles and frustrations - but life would be so boring with out them. There are days when I am so frustrated, it takes every effort to keep from collapsing into a sobbing heap on the floor. But, at the end of the day (or the next morning,) I count my blessings and look for the lesson in the obstacle.

The Gypsy's Holy Sainthood

My friends (and especially my parents) will have a shiny gold star next to their names when they get to heaven. I'm sure everyone feels this way about their loved ones. I mean, we're all walking disaster areas. But my circle surely deserves it. I could prove this to you in a nearly 3 decade long autobiography, but I'll spare you the tedious details and just give you the highlights.

I change my mind constantly (and passionately.) Some people call this indecisive; I prefer to look at it more positively as exploration and the desire to learn. One in the same? Maybe. In college, I declared five majors. Musical Theatre (well, this wasn't so much declared as it was my intended major), Elementary Education, English, English/Secondary Education, and the degree I graduated with: Communication. Honestly, I didn't know what I wanted to do (obvious, right?) and I wasn't anywhere near ready to make the decision. So, I found a fun major and went with it.

But my mind-changing doesn't stop there. Since 2004, I have moved eight times, lived at six addresses, in three states, and gone back to my parents' house 3 times. And I loved every minute of it. Honestly, I would probably continue to move to new places if I had someone to do it with. It's just too exhausting to completely start over like that all the time.

Oh, and how about jobs. Non profit volunteer management/event planning/fundraising, Marketing/Event Planning/Sales for a small, local computer shop, a short trip back into non profit volunteer management/event planning/fundraising (this is a result of the nearly deadly "it couldn't have been as bad as I remember it." No, Spaz, it was that bad.) Sprinkled in there were part time experiments in retail clothing and bartending. And if you want to go all the way back, I have worked:

Filing at a doctor's office.
Bagging groceries, pushing carts, and putting people's unwanted food back at the Jewel.
Retail sales in a bath boutique.
Phones and check out for a carryout Italian restaurant.
Flower arranger/balloon inflater/water sprinkler/container gardener/sun-tanner at a garden center.
Park District day camp counselor.
Call center for alumni donations.
College basketball game ticket sales.
And football sales.
Summer camp counselor. Twice.
TV Producer. (7am local access sucks.)
The voice of the Hope College Admissions Office (Hope College Admissions. How may I help you?)
The occasional face of the Hope College Admissions office (as long as I wasn't wearing my "Friends Don't Let Friends Go To Calvin" t-shirt.)
Waitress.
Consulting firm administration.
Shipping and billing for a woodstove manufacturer.
Nanny.
Cold calling -- err, "Admissions Representative" for an online university.
Barista and manager for a coffee house.
Receptionist for a salon and day spa.

Seriously, I probably need an intervention. And I'm sure I've left at least one or two jobs out. But I'm kinda proud that I can honestly say that I can do all that stuff (well, MOST of that stuff.) And that I've lived all of those places. I mean, life is an adventure. How boring to do the same thing every day.

So, like I said, my friends and family all deserve a gold star. Firstly, for keeping up with my latest life experiments. And, secondly, for letting me ride that ride until I'm ready to get off and never once giving me crap for always being ready to try the next new thing.

Sure, why not.

After hearing comments from multiple friends for many years about how I should blog (such a commitment) or how I should Tweet (I tried; I didn't like it), I've decided to give it a shot.

Like most things in my life, I'm not sure how long it will last, but I hope you'll enjoy me while it does.

Love, peace and many impromptu adventures,
The Spaz.