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The Eye of the Hurricane
December 27, 2007
Isn’t it weird how a year can simultaneously feel like it flew by and still seem like it’s been forever? That’s what happened in 2007, which was a great year for me. In fact, I can’t think of a past year that went as well as this one did. The year brought a ton of changes, mostly good, and a lot of letting go (slightly painful, but still good).
This time last year, I was looking longingly at the 2006 Maui Time Christmas card. I was just freelancing for Maui Time and wasn’t part of the cult… err, ohana. A few months earlier, Samantha Campos had stumbled across an article I wrote for a travel publication and asked me to write for the paper.
Since Holoholo Girl was a Maui celebrity, I was flattered and took her up on the offer. I remember thinking to myself that she had my dream job. I had been writing for years and though I always had an assignment, I wasn’t making a living off of it. As for Sam, I liked her right away–what’s not to like about hot and witty? But still, I totally wanted her job.
In January I was offered a part-time position at the paper as Calendar Editor. The drawback was that I had to quit my almost six-year gig writing for Maui Weekly, which sucked (the quitting, not the gig). In fact, I almost didn’t take the job because of that. But the position had the word “editor” in it and I gave in to the seduction.
For the next six months, I compiled a gazillion calendar events and wrote when asked to–which turned out to be often. Like the Dalai Lama and the future of sex technology–not at the same time, though that would be pretty cool.
On the home front, the first half of the year was also a time of transitions. 2006 sucked ass for my marriage and by the end of the year, my husband and I had had it. Friends, family and ex’s busied themselves exchanging “I told you so’s” while we filled out divorce papers.
Then at the last minute, we changed our minds. I’m not sure if we chickened out or if we both sunk our heels into the ground and decided that we’d channel our stubborn natures into fighting for our relationship. Whatever it was, we agreed on a “trial period” of a few months before we gave each other the final flip-off.
I’m assuming that you all know how it turned out. I got the job and saved my marriage all in 12 short months. And I can tell you how for only three payments of $19.95, so pick up the phone and call in now!
Truth is, I have no idea why everything turned out so well. I guess with the job situation, I was in the right place at the right time. Sure, I’ll take some credit for busting my ass for a decade writing random articles. But mostly, I think it was luck.
As for my marriage, that took a little more, but not as much as I imagined. The lesson for me was about trying to let go of the past–and its people, ideas, wins and losses. It’s been about growing up and focusing on my family instead of everyone around me.
The results have been nothing short of amazing. Here I am, sitting in my very own—though slightly messy—office with my overstuffed chair and Bettie Page poster on the wall, with a solid marriage and a steady paycheck.
Of course, I can’t help but think that things always seem really spiffy before blowing up in your face. Stay tuned for 2008.
Starr Begley would like to party like it’s 1999 one last time. MTW