One of my favourite bloggers, and dear friend, Micaela posted a review of the last decade according to her last week and after reading her story I felt inspired to do the same ((yes, that’s a real complimentary way of saying I stole the idea from her… so? )) and since I’m not quite capable of being so concise with my life as she was, I’m going to have to do this in parts. There are some things I’ve omitted, for those involved in the story you may be happy that I’ve done this ((I’m looking at you D.G.)).

Part 1:  A Shift in focus

2000: I was in my last year of high school; I was VP of social events, a member of the music council, and working part-time at the GAP. I had a sweet boyfriend who had secretly loved me for a little while before he made any moves, and who was a dear friend first. He was also the reason I was voted Prom Queen. Life was pretty good but the summer came and D.G. ((the then boyfriend)) and I realised that fighting isn’t all that healthy for a relationship even if we did love each other so much.

I had also decided to take a year off from school ((mostly because I didn’t get into the program I wanted, but also because I couldn’t think of anything else I wanted to do)) and picked up more hours at the GAP. I think I also had a 4 month stint at some office up in Markham where I felt like a drone and wanted to kill myself… making me promise never to work in an office ever again ((I guess 8 yrs is my definition of ‘ever again’)).

2001: I started the year by getting a 2nd job as a hostess at the restaurant across the street from the apartment building my parents and I were staying in. It was my first experience working in a bar ((and my 2nd job)); working with food and making people smile was unlike anything I had ever imagined. I also got a phone call from B.O. on Valentine’s day asking me if I wanted to go out with him sometime ((since he had just broken up with his gf of 3 yrs)), and I always thought he was pretty cute all the days that we worked at the GAP together so I said yes. I also met R.H. at the restaurant; R.H. was hilarious, tall, smart, charming and had a strong personality… all things that I cannot resist in a man.

I started dating both of them and was having a great time for a little while but eventually the time came and I had to choose. I chose B.O. because he was reliable, sweet and certainly seemed more devoted ((even if he wasn’t ‘my type’ in bed)). I also spent three weeks in L.A. that summer, to visit my best friend J.Z. while she studied at USC. It was the best vacation I’ve had till this point in my life I’m pretty sure the vacation was when I decided that I would choose to ‘go steady’ with B.O.

2002: I don’t remember 2002 that much. I think there was a trip to Cuba with B.O. and the gang, and I know I finally left the GAP after 3 and a half years working for them. I was happily dating B.O. and getting to know his friends. I was still working at the restaurant, and picked up a job at Ikea. And oh yes, I started my bachelor’s degree. What a ride I was in for, and I didn’t even know it yet. Oh I also left the restaurant to start school but continued working at Ikea ((because it paid so much more)).

2003: The only thing I can remember about this year was that I left Ikea to start working at the catering company ((we’re going to leave it at that and not name names here)) I would work for, for the next few years and have the time of my life. I only worked part time though because I don’t think I left Ikea until after the summer was over. This was the summer I learned that bartending is the best job in the world.

2004: Oh boy. I was finishing my 2nd semester of my 2nd year at school. It was crunch time. This, and the following semester broke a lot of people in our program. Plus, that summer I had asked my boss at the catering company to give me a chance to manage one of the boats ((there were 7 boats and generally 9 managers though I think that summer, we ended up with only 7 managers – I can’t say I really remember)). Pressure.

I also broke up with B.O. because I cheated on him with D.F. ((someone who doesn’t get mentioned a lot because we’re good friends, and never had romantic feelings for each other – just physical attraction)). And too soon after that I started dating D.B. ((the guy I’ve been calling ‘him’ throughout the years on this blog. Lookit, he has initials now!)). Even sooner still, D.B. and I moved in together and fell madly in love. Sadly, even in these beginning months the tale didn’t have very many happy ‘important’ moments. I recall some serious sobbing on Dec. 23rd while I was away from my family for the first time ever, in a strange country where I constantly felt cold as my body had not adjusted to the dampness. I’m sure there were things I did to hurt him too that may have provoked him to do what he did that night, but even in hindsight I don’t think I deserved what I got that Christmas and it really should have been a wake up call. But the heart wants what it wants and it wanted him.

And this is where part 1 ends. Tune in tomorrow for Part 2!

But first tell me, have I inspired you to review your own personal decade?

Popularity: 11% [?]

Related content:

1. A decade in review… part deux.
2. my 30 before 30
3. Patience
4. Lost but organised
5. In the end, only kindness matters