Retail.
I was on the West Coast hanging out in Portland when I got a phone call from my old boss. (I used to manage a retail store for several years, saving money to help pay for my PJ degree.) My old boss needed help with a store for the holidays, so the next day I packed my things back into my car and drove straight east in three days. I had a few days in Kentucky and Tennessee to unpack, repack, see some friends and family and then start at this store the week of Thanksgiving. Working 42 hours a week... well 70 hours for a few weeks, I couldn't find time or energy for photo. Hence why my blog has been neglected the past few months, and the only photos that have made it were all after hours shots.
Photo.
I missed photo like crazy. Getting out, meeting people, listening to people's stories, learning new ways of life, and just, well, living. Photo is definitely my passion.
Waiting.
For the past year I have been joyfully jumping through the hoops of the Peace Corps application process. Nominated to do Community Development in Sub-Sahara Africa in April (a nomination is just a nomination folks, don't get excited yet. I will let you know if/when I get an official assignment.) I have been patiently waiting to hear something, and for the past few months its been silence.
Decision.
Right now I am free. I have so many paths I could take. I feel like I am just getting to the juicy part of a choose your own adventure book. I applied for an amazing position with the retail company I was working for, but so did 150+ other qualified people. And retail is just one of those things I am good at.... The company is great, my boss is amazing and I enjoy it. But its not my passion. Photo on the other hand, I live for... I am not great at it, but I love it. And then at the same time I don't want to apply for photo jobs yet. Considering they are few and far between, I would hate to take an opportunity away from another fellow photographer to finally hear from the Peace Corps a few months later. And then there is Haiti... which I feel my heart stings calling me to do some volunteer work there to hold me over for a while. So who knows what the future will bring: retail, photo, volunteer work? I just know today I have a lot to think about and several opportunities to be excited about.
