26 / 27

It's been exactly a year since my last blog post. There are lots of reasons for this. Reasons I don't really want to go into right now. Especially since today is my birthday, and I'd rather think about birthday things today.

Like the new tradition I started last year and will now continue on this new blog that's not connected to an old e-mail address or a past life. (I'm not going west anymore, am I?)

Last year on my birthday, I posted two lists: the 25 things I was proud I'd done at 25 and the 26 things I hoped I'd do at 26. Looking back on that second list today, I realize that there were some items there that I crossed off, no problems, some that I didn't even come close to doing (write a play about Flannery O' Connor-- riiight.), and some that I sort of did, but not at all the way I had planned on doing them.

An uncompleted to-do list like that might bother some people, some people might feel like they'd failed on their hopes and dreams for the year. Heck, a year ago, I probably was "some people." But right now, looking back on 26, I can't really think of any regrets. The simple truth is this: sometimes (most of the time) life doesn't even come close to going the way you planned it. Sometimes your hopes and dreams change. But that doesn't mean you should stop having them. So I've got a whole new list for 27.

But before I get to that....

26 Things I'm Glad I Did at 26.

1. I made wonderful new friends in Richmond who encourage, challenge, and inspire me both artistically and spiritually.
2. I reconnected and rebuilt even better relationships with old friends I'd lost touch with in my years on the west coast.
3. I got to know my parents on a whole new level. I know moving back in with your parents at 26 must sound like a nightmare. And trust me, a year is about all I could handle. But I'm not ashamed to admit it: I totally loved that year. Drinking wine every night with my dad and watching Downton Abbey and way too many episodes of House Hunters with my mom, I started to see my parents as more than the people that raised me. They've become my dearest friends.
4. I actually called someone my boyfriend. This may be hard to believe (if it's not, at least pretend like it is), but before this year, I'd never actually dated someone long enough or officially enough to consider myself "in a relationship." It was a big step for me, and while things didn't end up working out, I grew a lot through the process and am grateful for the experience
5. I dove into Richmond's theatre community head first and found myself constantly creating and collaborating with wonderful and inspiring artists!
6. I acted in three productions: The Stinky Cheese Man, Steel Magnolias, and Life of Hannah, the most shows I've done in one year since high school.
7. I costume designed Life of Hannah for TheatreLAB-- the first show I'd designed since college!
8. I actually sang a song out loud in an audition. Doesn't sound like much, but if you knew how scarring it was to get mocked by dumb MT's in college because I tried out for my first (and last) musical at JMU with "On my Own" you'd know that this was an acomplishment!
9. I worked on a fantastic public speaking theatre residency with seventh grade students at Powhatan Junior High School and Albert Hill Middle School.
10. I taught my first Shakespeare class (and a few Shakespeare workshops).
11. I helped get "Riding the Bull" by August Schulenberg into the Acts of Faith Festival for TheatreLAB, and now I'm directing it!!
12. I went to a square dance in Richmond. On my "things to do at 26" list, I wrote that I wanted to "Get Richmond hipsters into square dancing." Though I do believe it is slowly but surely catching on (what up, square dance at Hardywood on Feb 16!), I can't really claim to have made it happen. Nonetheless, I'm glad RVA is recognizing the greatness of a good square.
13. I attended Bringing Theatre Into The Classroom at Seattle Repertory Theatre and strengthened my teaching artist practice.
14. I went camping on the Olympic Peninsula and explored Olympic National Park.
15. I returned to teach two summer camps at Seattle Children's Theatre. And managed to make my interns wear an oversized clip-on mustache in both camps!!
16. I spent almost a whole month in Seattle and got to spend quality time with my west coast "family."
17. I made it back to JMU for homecoming for the first time since 2009. Go Dukes!
18. I took the GRE and thought a little more about grad school. Maybe next year I'll visit a few ;)
19. I started a big girl job. With a salary, and healthcare, and paid time off.  And not just any big girl job either, but one I somehow managed to talk a theatre company into creating for me. One that fits my skills and passions. One I get pretty geeky-excited about sometimes.
20. I started a story drama program for Virginia Rep and led story drama workshops on Madeline's Christmas at nine Richmond Public Library branches.
21. I started writing my first grant funding request. Letter of Inquiry = Approved! Full proposal is up next!
22. I moved to a cute apartment in the Fan. Ah. Independence. And life outside of suburbia. It's really something.
23. I found a bible study & a group of Christians that I really sort of enjoy being around. I'm not done with the church search yet, but on my quest to find a great faith community, this is a good start.
24. I put an RVA sticker on my car. Guess that means I'm officially a Richmonder now.
25. I made my first trip to NYC in 5 years! Long overdue!
26. I learned that contentment and complacency are not synonyms and began to figure out how to be happy with who I am in the present.

I'll get to my list for 27 tomorrow. Because right now, I've got to live in the present and head to my birthday dinner!