I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends
-- The Beatles

You know, no one ever really tells you that your twenties will be tough. I knew college would be hard. I knew finding a job would be hard, but past that, I guess I just always assumed it was going to be gravy. It's a weird balance between feeling like you still aren't old enough to have such things as mortgages and car payments and the reality of working your butt totally off to pay those bills.

There are a lot of things to figure out - career, personal life, relationships, etc. In my case, it's often a mess. Something odd happens, too, in the post-college world -- your family expands to include those that you don't share DNA with. You find that sometimes the world really isn't as cold and sterile as you think it is. You find that there are people who really would care if you didn't show up for work, or if you just dropped off the earth. There are people who rely on you, count on your opinion and need you just as much as you need them. There are people that laugh with you, cry with you and would totally hold your hair back if you puked. For those of you that fall into that description, I'm truly grateful. It hasn't been my best winter/spring, but from here on out, it's coming up roses, y'all.

love,
ames