what's been up.

[response to email from college roommate]

Hi friend!

it was so nice to hear from you! i am jealous of you living in asheville again. i have only even been back one or two times since college. it's very sad. there are fun things about atlanta, but i'm ready to move on with my life. i've been going home to visit greensboro some lately. most of my family is still around there. my brother baxter and austin got married a couple of years ago and they are still living in new york, where they will stay at least until austin graduates from acupuncture school. i know hooper and that woman he was/is dating moved there, too, although we haven't spoken in years. i'd love to go to new york--the first couple of times i visited i couldn't wait to leave but the last time, perhaps because i went to coney island by myself, i really fell in love with it. unfortunately, hearing my brother talk about the expense of living in new york is a good dissuasive factor, along with the geographical specificity of my field (professors can't really choose where they live).

for my part, i'm still in atlanta. the rumor is, i'll get my phd someday soon, but i feel kind of like a kid who is slowly but surely putting the pieces together that maybe santa claus doesn't really exist after all.. part of it is lack of interest in a career in "sociology" and part of it is the set of "cons" associated with my chosen profession (such as relative inability to choose where you will live, and the research requirement). i really want to move back to greensboro, as ridiculous as that sounds, because my parents are getting older, and my mom found out a few years ago that she has emphysema so i'd like to be close to her. if course, if i found a career i felt passionate about, perhaps living in my mom's backyard wouldn't be such a primary concern, but after years of teaching college kids about inequality only to watch THEM go out and change the world (actually my favorite part of the job), and after years of trying unsuccessfully to force myself to do research when all i want to do is write in my journal and drink tea, i'm starting to wonder if i'll ever find a passion-inspiring career.

probably too much information, but you found me at a very "transitional" point in my life, actually, and i currently have the flu, which allows me the luxury of also writing long rambly emails. :)

as for the rest of my life, i'm living in a small apartment in atlanta with my two sweet cats (sam and max). my orange cat todd died a few years ago of a freak asthma attack, and as you may remember, tubby is living with my mom. i've dated people off and on, but never found one that stuck. my cats have remained with me though, loyal and faithful.

hopefully soon i'll be able to grow up and commit to a career, and decide to find passion elsewhere.

anyway, i was happy to hear from you and i hope you and the ornery goat find a way to heal your friendship. the farm sounds very nice, and i'm very happy that you have found a place for yourself. i wish you and your partner the best of luck, and please do keep me informed of any changes. if i ever make it to asheville, i'd certainly like to make a point of coming to see you and/in your studio.

love,
charity :)