I originally landed in LA on September 17th of 2007. Innocent and eager, not sure what was in store. I had $300 cash and unable to open a bank account. 2 suitcases and a farm cat from my grandparents land. I knew it was time at 24 to re-invent myself and over the next 7 years I did just that only to leave LA on October 5th with $400 cash to my name, 2 suitcases and a future unknown.
My story upon leaving LA was one of what books are written for. A reconnection with someone important in their life and the possibility of the outcome being fantastical or dramatically tragic. For me, I went in knowing it could go either way and so on October 10th, 2015 I called my best friend in PA. "I'm coming home." I was placed on a plane from Fort Worth, TX and landed in PA the next day. Heartbroken and completely lost. I was 31 years old with no direction, little family and no job.
The next few months were crucial. My friends put me up in their houses and helped me gather myself back to a whole person. I am a person who will adapt to change, no matter the severity. I was lucky enough to find work with a local restaurant and also with the Lancaster Roots and Blues festival, yet I was still unsure about being "Home". Was and is Lancaster, PA home?
Being the dreamer I am, I always imagined myself in a large city where people hustled and bustled in a whirlwind of creativity. Where art and music were of a nightly constant and your calendar was always filled with fun, amazing things to experience. Maybe I will always be a dreamer and hopeful traveler at heart but I plan on spending some meaningful time in this growing city, watching and helping it grow to the unseen eye. It took me a long time to adapt being back where I originally came from. You go through different stages, however they may fall, to the reasons why you ultimately came back. You have thoughts of failure, settling, needing to recharge, reconnect... the list goes on.
So as I come slowly as it seems into my one year mark being back in what I feel as a small town (yet growing city), I evaluate and look towards the positives of what this year has allowed me to experience. I have been thrown back into a familiar yet distant world. Still even after months of trying to figure out where I fit in, I am still finding my comfort. I have been blessed with an amazing work family on both the restaurant and the festival ends. I have made new friends who I cannot foresee ever NOT having in my life and I have found who my forever friends from the West will always be. I think it's god to be knocked down every now and then to only evaluate where you are and who you have become. To take a good look in the mirror and figure out if you like what you see and are willing to make changes to become the person you can only hope to be.
So through that rant, my true intention of Today's blog was to chat about what I am looking forward to this Autumn, now being able to experience the whole of it.
For the years I was away, I would tell my best friend, "If I come home, I want to come home in October for the Farm Show". Truly, I meant it. The Manheim Farm Show was one of my favorite events of the year. I would enter my show bunnies and art, my mom would enter her prized flowers in hopes of a ribbon by the end of the week. During school trips I witnessed livestock coming into the world from birth and at night we roamed the high school grounds for cheeseburgers and milkshakes. Now that I am back, I am thoroughly looking forward to revisiting those childhood and even teen years.
In closing, as this season dawns upon me as a year-stone if you will, I want to let all of you know how thankful I am that you stop by this blog. I am thankful for all of those who have supported me and brought me into your homes and hearts. I look forward to creating new memories to revisit in the years to come as this journey has only just begun.
Cheers and Sheep Wool Luck,
Blondesheep
A Mission Accomplished!
I made it to the beloved farm show! We got to see alpacas, piglets, cows, horses and more! So if you have a chance, get out to the Manheim Farm Show which will be happening until this Saturday!
Cheers and piggley wiggle smiles!
Blondesheep