Goodbye, 20-something

In the series about Ender by Orson Scott Card there is a book called Speaker for the Dead. The point of the Speaker for the Dead is to speak the truth about someone's life. To reveal the good, and the bad. Often we gloss over the bad spots, the trials, and just say we had a great life. Well, my 20's were good and bad, high and low. So here is my Speaker for the Dead.

20: Raleigh Temple open house, moved into an apartment, got robbed, moved again, had the biggest snow storm ever, lived with Iguana girl and had the Iguana jump on me, started as a co-op at IBM.


21: Saw BNL with my sibs and BFF, lived with my BFF, had the best halloween ever, went on job interviews to exotic locations like NYC and Austin, got engaged, graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill (Go TarHeels!), got a full-time job at IBM, the project got cut after two weeks, and switched to another job at IBM, got married, moved into MSH (before the nice remodel), and worked in the nursery.


22: Got promoted at IBM, moved to the ghetto at NCSU, got called as the YW Camp Director and had a great time working in YW with my mom and sister, went to Utah for christmas, visited my BFF in honduras where she was working in the peace corps, and got robbed at machete point.


23: Got robbed, again. Rode the bus to work. Changed jobs at IBM because the project went away. Escorted another BFF through the temple, and went with my sister to the temple before she left on her mission to Italy. Went to another BFF's wedding. Finally went to an official girls camp as the director, and was very glad my mom and sister were there. Joined an orchestra.


24: Finally bought a second car, but it has no automatic anything. Bought a house in what was essentially the ghetto. Saw Les Mis, went to my BFF's wedding, and took a train to visit Charlotte.


25: Changed jobs at IBM because the project went away. Went to Boston for work, and flew home in time to see Transiberian Orchestra. Went to Mexico after christmas and climbed the pyramids. Separated from my husband. Moved into an apartment that was not in the ghetto. Saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Taught 5 year olds in Primary.



26: Got divorced. Took my sisters to see Transiberian Orchestra, and some plays (South Pacific and Wizard of Oz and Grease run in my mind, but I may be mixing up years). Taught 11 year old girls in Primary (much easier than the 5 year olds).

27: Bought a lovely townhouse. Changed jobs again at IBM because I was tired of being a tester. First time I ever proactively changed jobs. Took my sisters to see Stomp. Went to Anaheim California for work, and added a vacation to see the whales and SoCal. Helped my sister move out to Boone for grad school, and then went to visit several times over the next few years. It is a great town.



28: Promoted at IBM. Took my family to see Wicked. It was totally awesome. Drove to visit my grandparents in Nauvoo and got to see the Temple. Drove to Chicago for Labor Day with my sisters. Did a report on slavery in Charleston for a class, and got to spend Spring Break there doing research. Went skiing for the first time in Boone.



29: Spent my birthday in St Louis for work, but also on the weekends got to see my sister in her new job in Missouri. My BFF moved in, and we did the Krispy Kreme Challenge. Drove to NYC and Boston for Spring Break, and saw A Blithe Spirit, Phantom and Mama Mia on Broadway. Also got to visit with another BFF and her family in PA which is where they got new jobs. Worked the 2-day Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Chief Programmer at IBM. Saw Coldplay and U2 in concert with friends. Visited my sister in Missouri, and saw Legally Blonde, and her brand new house. Had a totally awesome time eating my way through Provo with my sister. Did a triathlon with my mom and sister. Went to San Jose Cali with my two BFFs for a girls single weekend (yea, imagine that "All the Single Ladies" song). Wrapped it up with a camping trip to the mountains with friends.



If I missed anything you remember, post comments :)

What I can say was great about my 20s was my family, my friends, the ones that were there in the beginning, and the ones I met along the way, and the fantastic trips that were made possible by my job.

A few weeks ago, I asked for ideas on what to do for 30. I decided I would take the GRE. Wish me luck, I take it on Nov 6. Hello, 30!