Getting my life back

For some reason, life in Boston never really clicked into place for me. Sure, I had moments of normalcy and some really fun times, but I never quite felt like myself during graduate school. As time went on, I became less and less social, opting to stay at home on Saturday nights to watch House marathons instead of going out. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE House. But that's really unlike me. I'm a social butterfly, friends! Except I hate butterflies. I'm like a social puppy. I want to run around wag my tail and smell everything. Okay, this analogy is getting weird.

In my first year of grad school, I sent out emails to my friends saying, "Let's go drinking for St. Patty's Day! Let's go to JP Licks for $1 ice cream day! Let's go to this really cool crafts fair! Let's do this let's do that LET'S DO EVERYTHINGGGGG!" After awhile, I stopped sending those emails because no one ever wanted to come to anything. And the holing myself up in my apartment began.

Being in New York again is like getting back a part of myself that was missing. I get emails and text messages and IMs saying, "Let's get drunk brunch at Calle Ocho! Let's go to restaurant week! Let's see Toy Story! Let's watch soccer games at a bar with sexy Europeans!"

And when I send out those same emails and texts, such as, "Let's get free burgers! Let's go to a street fair! Let's watch soccer games at a bar with sexy Europeans!" (what? Sexy Europeans gather together and you expect me to only do this once??), people actually join me! It's crazy. And I am drinking it alllll in.

When I used to live here, I played volleyball a few times a week at the Y. While I was still in Boston, I emailed my old coach to say that I wasn't sure if he remembered me but I was wondering if the Y still had a volleyball program. He said, "Of course I remember you!" and gave me the schedule.

I was a little apprehensive when I went back last week for the first time in 2 years. I honestly couldn't picture anyone who used to play there other than the coach, and I wondered if I would recognize anyone.

I walked in and the coach gave me a hug, and I started warming up. And then slowly...

"Arielle! Long time!"

"You're back!!!"

"Where did you go!?!?!"

Everywhere I turned were faces (and, surprisingly, names) I remembered. And within 10 minutes it sort of felt like I had never left, except not in a bad way. And except for the fact that I was pretty rusty after not playing for 6 months.

Since then I've been back a few times, and each time I run into new/old people that I used to see. It's wonderful.

I've been back in NYC for 10 days and I already feel more settled in than I have in a really long time. Aside from the fact that I don't have a job and I'll probably have to move back in Jersey in 6 weeks, life is so great and COMFORTABLE I just want to pinch myself.

YAY.