Year in Review
2009 was marked by many significant things for me. As a matter of a fact, I think it is safe to say that 2009 was my most significant year ever. I am going to attempt to review the entire year based upon the events that occurred. I will organize them by their importance- most important first. I get too easily excited to organize my year by the months.
September 27. The most meaningful (for lack of a better term) event to occur this year was the death of my brother, Reece. Reece passed away in the wee hours of September 27. He was 2 years and three months old. The medical examiner told us that Reece did not suffer at all and merely breathed until he had no more breath. This event was most assuredly unplanned, unforeseen, and tragic. My family has had a very difficult time dealing with his death. I have had a very difficult time dealing with his death. I have decided though that there is a time for sadness and pain and there is a time to not be sad anymore. It is now the time to not be sad anymore. Of course I do not mean that just because a few months has passed that now we can forget about Reece. I just mean that now we can celebrate his life and the happiness and smiles that he brought everyone. Reece taught everyone some life lessons. I am still learning mine.
May 9th. The second biggest event of 2009 was my college graduation. I am officially the recipient of a BA in Public Administration. Graduation day was marked with some tears (Scott and I broke up in the early hours of the 9th), but was more so marked with happiness and elation. I have achieved one of my big goals in life, to graduate with my 4-year degree before I turned 21. Go me! Yay!
Spring Break, March 12-23. Scott and I road tripped from Atlanta to Los Angeles. His job relocated him so I helped him pack up his apartment and we ventured across the country. It took 3 1/2 days and it was enormous amounts of fun. I fell in love with the West Coast.
September 13. I turned 21! Yay! Too bad I had mono so I didn’t party very hard.
September 22. Someone broke into my house and tried to accost my roommate. This has scarred me for life. I am a big paranoid fraidy cat already so this gave me actual reason to be scared and I don’t like it.
August 10-17. I went to Portland, OR to see my old friend Valorie. While this does not seem like a very significant event, it was most definitely one of the highlights of my year. I loved, loved, loved Portland. Everything about the city was amazing. We trekked up to Seattle, which I also adored. I got to go into my first ever Betsey Johnson store there! The upper West Coast is absolutely beautiful. I got to see the Goonies house! Amazing. Greatest vacation ever.
April (don’t remember the day!). I got my letter of acceptance into graduate school.
June 30th. My first day of college as a graduate student!
May15-21. I went to NYC to see my friend Brian and also some relatives I hadn’t seen in a while. I miss New York. I really love that state/city.
May 14th. Got to see Saves the Day! They were not very good, but I’ve always wanted to see them live and never got an opportunity to.
October. My grandmother (Mom’s mom) died.
October. I decided to go backpacking in Europe with some old friends after the new year. I leave January 4th and will be going to Prague, Switzerland, Paris, and where ever we decide to roam in between.
August. I decide to do my concentration in Public Finance. Our finance professor asks me to take the PhD seminar in budgeting. I was afraid, but did it anyway. And made an A! For the first time in my life I have reason to feel intelligent ;)
January 14th. Scott and I go see the Pretty Things Peepshow in Atlanta. My first burlesque show! Pretty cool.
July 1st. Jenny and I move into our first house. I love it.
February 14th. Scott gives me the Suicide Girls book for Valentine’s Day. Best V-day present EVER.
Current. I am in talks to move to South Korea after graduation and teach Public Finance and Budgeting to undergraduate students in Seoul.
This year I have made lots of new friends and also rekindled some old friendships. I have been single for the longest amount of time in my life. I have realized that I would rather be single than miserable. I am in a very temporary mindset because I know I am leaving soon.
I get to wrap up the year in the best way I can think of: Scott is coming back to Auburn for a few days, we are all going to Huntsville to party for the new year, I am shooting my first wedding ever, I have a phone interview in the JFK airport, and then I am off to Prague! 2010 will be amazing.
I should add photos, but I would have to sort through my external hard drive. Blah. I probably also left out some significant events. I will just repost when I think of them :)
Thank you for reading.
xo
katie