Genocide blows.

One more reason I sincerely love my friends. . . a recent casual conversation with two friends:

Credit card debt sucks.  I was married to a drug addict and walked with $30k in credit card debt that I’m still paying off.  Ugh.

Yeah, well, my dad used to beat me.

Hey!  Me too!

*high fives*

YEAH, WELL, my grandma watched her family die in the Armenian Genocide.

*blink*

Damned genocide’ll get ya every time.

****************
This story leads nicely into a PSA about the Armenian Genocide, which I strongly urge you to take a few moments to consider. 

The above mentioned grandma passed away last week at the age of 101.  She was one of the very few remaining survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and from what I’ve heard, one of the most amazing women to grace this Earth.

In her honor, please join me in taking a small, but meaningful stand.  MSNBC is taking a poll on whether the US should recognize the mass slaughter of as many as 1.5 million Armenians as genocide.  I strongly encourage you to take 5 seconds to vote. 
MSNBC POLL

If you’re unfmailiar with the Armenian Genocide, please take a few moments to educate yourself:
Armenian-Genocide.org
Wikipedia

It’s fascinating that we live in a world where this is even a question. 

Dear Mom’s Work Buddy,

So, the other day, my mom calls.  The conversation starts like this: 

Mom:  I need you to do me a favor, and don’t roll your eyes.

Little does she know that I rolled my eyes over and over again during the entire conversation.  JUST TO SPITE HER!  HA!

So, long story short, she was calling to make a blog request.  A freaking blog request!  Seriously?!  Who ever heard of such a thing?

You see, Mom’s Work Buddy is leaving.  And, it’s a big deal.  Mom’s sad that he’s leaving, and he’s apparently apprehensive about the whole thing himself.  And, she wants me to blog about it.

So, at first, I was like, WHAT THE HELL am I going to say?  Who makes blog requests?  What is she thinking?  My crazy mother!  Argh! 

And, THEN, I was like, WHOA.  Mom’s sad that someone’s leaving!  Holy shit!  (Just FYI, Mom’s Work Buddy, that’s a big deal)

And, then I spent a couple of days thinking about it . . . and, of course, as with all things, I found a way to make it about me.  Me!  Me!  Me! 

Moving to Austin was easily the most terrifying thing I have ever done.  Well. . . besides jumping out of a plane. . . and navigating Italy all by myself. . . but except for those two things, moving to Austin was the most terrifying.

It was terrifying because it was entirely unknown.  Indiana was safe.  Everyone was there.  I had a house and a job and family and friends.  There was comfort in being close to home, security in using my degree to earn a living at the same job with the same asshole, and familiarity in spending time with the same friends.

Austin held NONE of that for me and I wasn’t sure it ever would. 

I contemplated moving for several months before I woke up one day and decided I was going.  I ignored the anxiety and set my mind on meaningful tasks like packing and listing my house and working a ridiculous consulting project that made me want to leap out a window.  And, right up until I hopped in the van to head down to Texas, I stayed calm.

I freaked out a little when we drove away from the house that I loved.  I freaked out a little more when we crossed the state line.  I really freaked out when we drove through Katrina.  Then. . . we got to Austin.  And, I freaked the fuck out.  What the ever loving HELL was I thinking?  AAAAAAH!

But, then I took a deep breath and remembered that this is what life is about.  Taking chances.  Taking huge chances and reaping huge rewards and loving every minute no matter where you are or who you’re with.

This move was the most fantastic thing I have ever done.  It was terrifying, and it changed everything.  And, I think that’s what makes it so awesome.  It changed EVERYTHING. 

It’s not very often that people get the opportunity to change everything.  It’s not very often that people take the opportunity when they get it.  As humans, we’re programmed to resist change. 

But, if you look at the world. . . you’ll find that the happiest people are those who embrace change. . . who squeeze their eyes shut, grit their teeth, and jump in with both feet when they aren’t sure what that will mean.  They’re the ones who learn to swim when they finally get sick of treading water.  They’re the ones who might be afraid to march into a new life and take it by storm. . . but who do it anyway because they are more afraid of regretting they didn’t. 

I’m living proof. 

So, GO!  Hug my mom on your way out, make sure she knows you’re sad you’re leaving, too. . . and then GO.  Don’t question it, don’t worry about it, and don’t look back.  GO. 

And, when you start to wonder what the Hell you were thinking, go make a new friend and have a few shots of tequila.  It will make you forget what you were worried about AND make you more friends. . . I promise!

Good luck. . . I’m pretty sure it only gets better from here. 

STFU

This has been sent to me by enough people that I’m starting to wonder if they mean something by it. . . in which case, see Frame 2.