When the training wheels come off and the hand holding (literally) ends...

Dear Family & Friends,

Flashback Heart Attack, Downstairs, Nov. 12 2010

It has been almost a month since my last (first!) post… I have now been a resident of Park City for two months! I must apologize for the infrequency of these updates, but I have been extremely busy in the best possible way. Anyhow, as I began to type this entry, I did a double take at the date on the calendar icon at the bottom of my screen. I have known all day that today’s date is November 25^th – the fourth Thursday of the month, Thanksgiving day (more importantly), one day before Casey and Catherine come to visit, and six days before I touch down in Los Angeles… I just wasn’t aware of the date itself. It is strange to consider that I am already two full months into this year(ish)-long adventure.

But when I reconsider all that has happened since I last wrote, I suppose I really cannot be surprised that a month has passed. It would be an understatement to say that things have undergone some change recently -- I went from being an Admin Assistant in Training to The Admin Assistant; from being a girl in a relationship to the girl just out of one; and, to mention a force bigger than any of my own transitions, Fall is steadily chugging on to Winter.

I am, however, still adapting well. I miss my family dearly, but as I mentioned before I have been given permission to take a few days to regroup at home before the resort opens and ski season commences (read: Armageddon). All jokes aside, I am really very lucky to have the opportunity to go home for a mini-vacation (seemingly a rarity in the hospitality industry. Ironic, eh?). I can’t wait to be in awe of my nephew’s every move, to laze (yes, a fantastic verb) with my siblings, and to drive familiar highways in my old car. This is not to say I don’t enjoy work, though. I love work. I LOOOOVE work. That sounds weird to say, but when my alarm goes off in the morning I am far from unhappy about having to show up at the ol' office (aside from getting out of the warm covers into subzero temperatures). I look forward to following up on pending tasks, catching up with my coworkers, and learning all manner of things about property management and client interaction. I am getting more confident in the answers I give and even a little more comfortable exercising my role in the office.

Just another day at the office...shoveling decks, Nov. 23. 2010

If only things in my personal life were headed in the same settling direction… I am hesitant to say too much about my recent breakup, but I will say for no one to worry (hard as that may be since you all know how hypersensitive I am). I am OK. While I would have wished for a different outcome, I also accept the shortcomings that came with the decision to move hundreds of miles away. More than anything, I am thankful for where we’ve been, and optimistic about maintaining a friendship in the future. And of course, it never hurts to recite the mantra “Everything happens for a reason” a few dozen times a day...

Even though the temperatures in the last 72 hours have been the coldest I have ever experienced in my life, I LOVE the snow. I have several moments a day when I just smile to myself in awe of how beautiful this winter wonderland is. Sure, building fires with frozen fingers is difficult, driving on ice is terrifying, and the wind chill on bare skin is painful. But it is damn beautiful here, and I feel like a child in the snow with the way I play (and awkwardly slide around) in it. Polly and I often find ourselves in fits of laughter simply at the previously unimaginable situation we happen to be in at the time. And neighborly kindness could not come as any more of a relief than that felt from the assistance one gets with those vexing winter tasks. It’s enough to warm any cold heart. Seriously.

Nov. 20, 2010

Nov. 20, 2010

All in all, life is good. After all, these challenges are what drew me to Utah, right?

With love,

Jan