Twenty-two is the new Forty

Today marks exactly one month since graduation. So here is my one month analysis of life after college.

I thoroughly enjoy my living situation. How couldn't I? I live for free in suburban Chaska with a comfy bed, nice living quarters, two dogs (an animal I have never lived with), two cats (an animal I have lived with my entire life), a huge meal every other night on average, and free parking. Oh, and my roommate and I are pretty tight.

My work situation is, well, fine. Between my two obligations I make out to about 60-hour work weeks. Several early mornings straight into late nights (when it comes to work standards). The drive isn't as bad as I thought it would be, making a triangle between Chaska, Shakopee and Eden Prairie. Rarely bad traffic and pretty straight shots from place to place. I really enjoy my internship as a programs and events specialist(?). I get to do arts and crafts with kids at libraries in the area. I have been searching for a 1950's mock Big Band to play for an event which takes place in a plane hangar. This means I contact managers and listen/watch material they send in, begging to be hired. For the same event I have been put to the task to find a catering service. Looking at food on the internet, talking main and side dishes, budget and service. I also found out that Canterbury Park has boxes filled with used playing cards and if you contact the right people, they are willing to give them away in mass quantities. I asked for 200, the woman's reply "No problem. Just let me know when you are coming and I will meet you at the valet." Now I'm thinking I might shoot for 300. Keep a few for myself.

I have numerously described my actual (for the very short time being) job in pre-debt collections as "numbing". It may sound terrible but it's a far cry from hating it. The time passes, not fast or slow, just passes. I have a window cubicle so I am able to aimlessly waste time by staring at the tree tops. I have a portable iHome that as quietly as possible plays my tunes all day long. I make on average around 600 phone calls a day and am able to read while they ring. Ninety percent of people don't answer so that is plenty of ringing. I have even been able to master the art of leaving voice-mails, always the same script, while I continue to read. Not just look at the words on the page, actually read and understand while talking into a headset about a completely opposite topic. My walls are decorated with post-it note pen drawings, art history and Spanish study notes and other work related papers. I am unable to decorate with the pictures of family as every one else in the office does because I can't let anyone know that I date Tawny. Who might I add not only works there; she sits behind me through the glass walls of my boss' office. Oh, and our boss is her sister. You can understand what other employees would think if they found out that the boss' sister, brother, cousin, and basically brother-in-law all work under her. I've always been told that it's all about who you know.

But the thing I have noticed more now than any time in my life is how physically worn out I am. It makes sense. Wake up at 6 or 7 every morning, get home at 8 or 9 every night. Most week nights I find myself in bed by ten, as if I had curfew like in Junior High again. For the first three weeks I blamed it on my work schedule. My body just hadn't adjusted yet. But one specific night this past week put my new life into perspective. One night that made me feel like a changing of the guards had already happened in my life. I am notorious for needing bathrooms breaks on average two times a night. Usually between 2 and 3, and again between 5 and 6. These are the times I would usually refer to as "the middle of the night", for obvious reason. Well on this one specific night, not only was I in bed by 9:15, but my middle of the night calling came much earlier. As of one month ago, I had rarely been to bed before 11:30 in four years. On this night as I returned from my business I peaked at the clock to see "11:25", quite possibly the first mid-night calling that came pre-midnight.

This may seem like a small bump in the road moment to most, but not for me. Everyone has those moments that seem stupid and small yet are remembered forever. This is no doubt one of them. For the first time in 22 years, I felt like I had truly moved on to a new stage of my life, even more so than the transfer from high school to college. I suddenly felt like a true adult. It was like a mid-life crisis at 22 but instead of buying a Harley or getting a tattoo, I bought myself new running shoes. Maybe to prove to myself I am still young enough to always find time to be active. Maybe just because it was time. I do know for certain that when I got back into bed that night after seeing that clock, I lied on my back, stared at the ceiling, and quietly giggled to myself because of this realization. And yes, I did immediately set an alarm on my cell phone to write this post.