The One Where Everything Changed

We are only seating complete parties, so if you just arrived, come on back after you’ve regrouped, starting with “Still Here!” and everyone is up to speed.

The one and only interview I had lined up was the one and only resume I had tailored to the position. Yes, I realize they say you have to do that with every job application. But really, who has time for that? Luckily, I was desperate enough to at least try to stand out as a candidate since I had enough time on my hands to do it.

I’ll cut to the chase: I got hired. It was the first thing I’d applied to since I became unhappy as the Art Director, and the first interview I had lined up. I don’t believe in coincidences, so when I kept proceeding through the hiring process, I felt good about my chances.

In the role, I was able to use my skills as a designer, photographer, and writer. It was tailor made for me. The salary I negotiated was slightly higher than what they offered. I started the first week of November, 3 weeks after I got laid off.

The girls were still struggling through online school, trying to make it to the Christmas break. Holton was working overtime like crazy. And I joined a nonprofit organization whose vision, leadership, and work culture are second to none.

While 2020 tried the patience, health, and perseverance of us all, so still must we pay bills, put food on the table, do the laundry, and deal with everyday life. Fortunately, our family is strong, and we stick together. I closed out 2020 on a high note.

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Episode IV: A New Hope

Part 4 of the story starts sometime in the first days of 2021. I had been against the prospect of a dog for many years. In Texas, I vehemently advocated against it. I didn’t want the dirty paws, vet bills, having to keep up with a living creature. None of that was appealing. Despite the pleas from my family, I put my foot down.

When we moved into this House Without RV Parking, the begging began again. I got it from all sides. I was dead-set against it. Especially here in the rain and snow. Forget it! Obedience training, housebreaking, cleaning up after an animal. It’s just too much.

Suddenly, the Bird’s love of dogs became contagious. Fuzzy faces, floppy ears, and sad eyes just got me right in the heart. So, we began our search for a dog. A bullmastiff to be specific. We loved Jedi so much, and we already knew the breed was perfect for our lifestyle. We searched for a few weeks and even looked at shelters. Nothing caught our eye. I expanded the search to include English Mastiffs because I’d always wanted one. And, I had gone from never wanting another dog to wanting a sweet puppy face in my home right. this. minute.

So, what to do? Well, drive to Utah, of course!

It wasn’t planned that way. The gentleman we spoke to had one male left, but he wasn’t willing to ship a dog. With little choice but to pick him up, we made a decision within 15 minutes to drive to Ogden, Utah.

Houston friends, this is what it would have felt like:

Me: I found a dog in St. Louis, but they won’t ship it.

Him: Now what?

Me: We have to pick it up.

Him: In Missouri?

Kids: It’s not that far.

Him: It’s Missouri.

Me: It’s the weekend. Take Monday off.

Him: Alright, everyone get in the car.

And, just like that in 72 hours, we went to Mormon Country and back, with an English Mastiff puppy we named Sir Augustus Kenobi. We call him Gus.

About a week after we got settled back at home, I got a message from my boss, “You free for a meeting in 5?”

I panicked. The last time a quick, last-minute meeting was put on my schedule, I lost my job. I thought of all the questions I hadn’t asked last time and all the reasons I could have done something better. As I scrambled in my head all the ways to mitigate disaster, I was informed that I was being given a 10% raise. Things continue to improve as the days went by.

In March, school reopened and in-person learning began again for the girls.

In August, The Bird began her sophomore year and was officially in High School.

In November, I got a promotion, bringing my annual salary up by more than 25% since I started. I am now the Creative Marketing Manager for a nonprofit organization of nearly 500 employees across Western Washington. All branding and visual communication from social media and apparel through letterhead and signage must go through me first. It’s challenging and rewarding – and gosh, it’s fun!

Naturally, not being one to let everything remain comfortable, I mentally rolled back into my angst over the house.

Still, over 2-1/2 years later, I am so unhappy with how it came into my life. I look at the empty yard where my trailer is supposed to sit. I miss the land where we built in Texas. I see Holton watch hours upon hours of YouTube videos about full-time RV travel, DIY homebuilding, property improvement, and ways to create your own fulfilling path. I just can’t let it go.

And I still don’t have any idea what made me start looking for homes on the market. It was a hobby that I’d indulge every few months. Just “see.” What are the prices? What’s out there? We are in such a small community that is just now seeing a surge of growth, I knew that finding land and building a house would be a pipe dream. But I wanted a home where we could have an RV.

On a lark, in mid-October, I took the family to a house on 5 acres in the north part of town. The seed of curiosity had been planted, and we started looking. Looking turned into going to showings. Going to showings turned into finding a realtor. Finding a realtor brings us to the end of 2021.

Stay tuned for the Saga on Third Street finale, coming soon.