Blog Archives
12
Jun, 2014
The Big Purge in L.A.
In preparation for a move at the end of this month – only a few miles away so no need to freak out – I have been gradually going through piles, closets and drawers of things. A giant purge is taking place and even though it is slow and painstaking, I know how good it will feel to shed some dead weight.
I just completed the mostly horrible task of cleaning out a 4-drawer file cabinet. Self-employment in the entertainment industry (contract after contract = PAPER!!!!) and life in general, really stacked up on me over the years. But I did come across some gems like the original artwork for my old pet care business logo. It’s still so cute! And hand-written journals from 2003-2004. Almost every entry talked about how broke I was and how much I was struggling:
“I told my friend Jennie I didn’t think I could afford to pay my rent this month and that I might have to ask my parents for help and she just GAVE me $200. I don’t know what I did to deserve such great friends but I swear I’m going to be the most generous friend when I have money.”
Things have changed a lot since that journal entry. Two major and dysfunctional relationships started and ended, I had a child and somewhere after that 2nd shitty relationship, I found an independence and peace in my life that was worth the struggle. And even through the hardest of times with no money, becoming a single-mother who often couldn’t afford gasoline or groceries, I still loved this city and knew I was where I was meant to be.
I don’t know if I’ve been such a generous friend, but I try and reading some of those old entries reminded me to appreciate how far I’ve come since my dog walking days. I have been in L.A. for almost 13 years now and I love it more than ever. She is the city that told me to keep going when I didn’t know how, she gave me a career, a home and the best friends possible and I can’t think of a more magical backdrop for the life of my daughter.
Here’s to the next chapter in our lives! I can’t wait for the next adventure and if anyone wants a dented, upright, 4-drawer, metal file cabinet – it’s yours if you can take it out of here.