FREEDOM!

Me at my job interview, 2004

It's been an interesting first few days of freedom, a.k.a. "unemployment."

I shouldn't say I'm entirely unemployed, because technically I am still on the roster at my part-time job, but four hours a week doesn't qualify for much.

I can do whatever I want and need to do throughout the day - and all while businesses are actually open! I don't have to rush to Home Depot at the end of the day after work: I can just meander on over there any ol' time! However, it also means other yokels with nothing to do are also meandering, which is bad.

For example, at the Home Depot waiting in line for paint, I encountered Idiot Paint Can Lady, who walked into the store with a wet paint can lid and stirrer, and demanded that the employee match this paint and create some more. Let's not point out the uselessness of trying to match wet paint to dry paint of the same color - or the fact that the wet paint had covered the actual name of the paint she wanted - but rather let's focus on this lady purveying her inane request to the detriment of the five other people waiting in line behind her. The store is busy! Pick out your own damn paint color!

Anyway. I have enjoyed doing things around the house, although I think I would ultimately choose full-time employment over this, especially if you throw a screaming infant into the mix. I've already got two naughty bunnies, so I'm partway there. (As I said today to Dave: "They are some pissed-off bunnies, and they are punishing us with their fecal matter.")

However, all this freedom is reminding me of a passage I read from "The Devil Wears Prada," which I have been meaning to quote in a blog post but hasn't actually fit a theme of a post until now:

"Now I had a concrete reason to leave Connecticut and move - all on my own, as a real adult would - to Manhattan and make it my home. As I pulled into the driveway of my childhood house, sheer exhileration took over. My cheeks looked red and windburned in the rearview mirror, and my hair was flying wildly about. There was no makeup on my face, and my jeans were dirty around the bottom from trudging through the city slush. But at that moment, I felt beautiful. Natural and cold and clean and crisp, I threw open the front door and called out for my mother. It was the last time in my life I remember feeling so light."

I am beginning to feel light - and free - again.