Stories From the Not-So-Far-Away Past

   This is something I wrote last year.  I thought I would be brave and post it on my blog, I guess it's a non-profit self-publishing thing, so that's what I'm going to do.  It's not entirely finished, but it's a start.

Leaving Rexburg

   My younger sister, whom I was staying with for a while until I figured things out, suggested I move home.  “But that’s easy,” I responded.  So what if it was?

   Patrick, the guy that was working with me (from Utah College of Massage Therapy) told me the same thing I thought: going home is easy.  But was it really?

   Once I made the decision to go home, with careful thought and meditation, everything came together.  I contacted my old boss at Subway in Iowa and she was thrilled to hire me yet again.  I got a cheap ride home –train and a free shuttle to Orem, Utah, where I would stay with my older brother, Neil, for a few days and then take the train home. 

   While I was staying at my sister’s, school started again, fall semester.  Everyone came back from summer break and moved in and went back to school.  A lot of my friends had come back and I made the effort to spend time with them before I left.  It was kind of bittersweet – spending time with my friends, yet knowing that in a week’s time, I would be 2000 miles away in Iowa.

   As I had nothing to do – well, I had nothing to do all summer  -  but having nothing to do while knowing that I would soon be leaving, I had a lot of time to think and contemplate about my life.

   I thought about how prideful I had been in the past few months; some of the stupid choices I had made; and how much I had taken Rexburg and everything about it for granted.  I was now realizing what I had and what I would soon be saying good-bye to for I didn't know how long.

   Just a few weeks ago I had come to the crossroads of my life:  I didn't know where to go or what to do.  In truth, I still don’t know one hundred per cent for sure what I need to do in this life, but I have a pretty good idea.

   Finish school.  No matter how long it takes, get it down.  Or, I guess I should say finish school at BYU-Idaho.  There are so many great people that go there and I have made so many great friends and how can I just write them off?  I cannot.

   This was the second time that I tried to get away from Rexburg, making it sound like God had other plans for me.  But I was wrong.  Twice.  I guess third time’s the charm, right?  We shall see to that.

   

Random Thoughts About What I Love Most: Writing and Words

   For about the past week, I've been spending most of my time watching this TV show I found online called, House of Anubis.  I watched all three season in one week.  Seeing as that I do not have a job at the moment and not a whole lot to do during any hours of the day, I didn't see it as a real problem.

   It wasn't really a 'problem' but it wasn't entirely good either.  I could have enjoyed it and spent some time doing other things.  Anyways, what am I saying, why am I saying this?  Er, I can't remember, rats!

   Oh!  I think I remember.  So, I've become a reclusive as my parents fear and need to get back in the swing of things.  Tonight, I was too lazy or whatever to write or read, so instead I watched a movie online, one that I had seen before.  But the interesting thing is watching that movie inspired me to write.  Ironic, isn't it?

   I told myself, 'I can't go to bed until I write on my blog.'  So here I am, following orders, from myself.

   Something else random:  On Saturday, I was feeling rather frustrated with some certain people in my life and one of my older sisters suggested that I write a letter and then give it to them.  I did write the letter, but I did not give the letter to them.  I noticed, however, that something changed inside of me, something real, biology, chemical, something, really changed and I felt so much better.  I also noticed that same feeling when I wrote a letter to two other friends and then actually mailed them off.

   It was like a feeling of wholeness and completion.  It was an interesting and interesting in a very good and positive manner.  Perhaps it is because I am a writer and I must do the best I can of expressing myself through the written word.

   Which is why I have decided to go back to school and study English, Creative Writing.  I understand, no, not really, I realize, sort of, that writers don't get paid a lot and a lot of writers don't get their work published (and get paid for it) but it still is a part of me that I can't and that I don't want to let go.  As my other older sister described, being a writer is a lifestyle.

   Writers and I see the world differently.  I see stories wherever I go; I watch and observe people, both in film and literature and in my daily waking life.  I read up on stuff because I want to know more, I want to learn more.

   Words and songs get stuck in my head for any measure of time and it's almost like it's consuming me, or rather, I am internalizing it, making it a part of myself; taking something from someone else's mind and heart and making it my own.  And it's not just words and songs, it's books and movies and TV shows; pretty much anything that relays communication.

   I love writing and I love words.  That is something that I have discovered in recent years, that I love words.  I think that I have loved words for a long time, but didn't come to realize in until recently.  (I know, I totally just said the same thing twice but in two different ways; but hey this is just a blog, not a best-selling novel in New York).

   When I took Latin in college, that's when I realized how much I love words and that English is just like music, both are languages.  For me, it's easier to describe how letters are like notes and going in that direction versus the other way.

   I am grateful for people who inspire me to do what I love and to be who I truly am.  Thank you (directly and indirectly).

   That's another reason why I think I enjoy quotations so much:  they are a quick, few, simple yet profound words that can change the life of a human being - that is pretty powerful, and maybe even a little intimidating.

This post tonight is pretty random, but so am I, so it works.

Until next time and good night,
-Megan :)

P.S. Actually talking to people is beneficial in SO many ways and WAY better than virtual or social networking.  Eck, I always feel so empty after being online either all day or all day for many days.  Go out and talk to someone, they'll feel better, you'll feel better. That is all.

Closing A Chapter

   I wanted to make a 'public statement' if you will, about my sudden departure from the long-term position concerning sandwiches.  Yes, I have worked for a certain sub-making company for over two years; but not two years continuously, on and off whilst I was serving a mission and then going to school in another state.

   While making sandwiches is not my dream job, it was fun and I tried to make the most of it and enjoy the time I spent there, more or less a third of my day (a third of 24 hours, that is); as well as get to know my co-workers and the customers I served.

   I have learned so much from this institution - I don't know if I should call it that, but that's what I'm going to say - not just about how to best cut the bread, or how to make the meat and cheese look delectable on the bread, or how best to dress a sandwich, or the quickest method for wrapping a six-inch.  No, not even how to change the garbage in an orderly and efficient way, or the ins and outs for food prep and frozen stock.  I learned more than how to close this sandwich-making store, including the register, counting and bagging bread, cleaning the entire store, packing up and putting away the contents of the bain, sweeping and mopping, turning off that three thousand dollar turbochef tornado oven, taking the pop nozzles off (though that was hard at first, among almost everything). shutting the place down and locking doors, checking one last time that we were good to go.

   I learned more than just about how to run Subway - that's where my awesome sandwich-making skills come from; jealous, I know you are.

   I learned how to be on time and even early to work and everywhere else for that matter.  I learned how to work with others, even when we had such different perspectives and ideas of what things meant.  I learned how to focus on work and really enjoy it, even the not-so-envied tasks.

  I learned life skills and as always I saw how I can apply the simplest of things into my daily life.  In short, I learned so much, more than I can possibly write on this one night post.  And perhaps someday I will write a complete book of what I really learned at Subway; but until then, I just want to let you know what while it was a quick and unexpected departure, it was one that needed to be made, however cold and hurtful it may have seemed.  Those were not my intentions, but sometimes in life we just have to cut things out of our lives. And welcome them in too, but that's for another story :)

Love from,
Megan