it’s clearly been awhile since i have last posted and shared anything on my blog even though i constantly think about writing them or i start to and then loss the motivation to finish them, but here we are again, because i love writing and i love sharing things that get me thinking, or excited, or even the things i have learned that i feel might help even just one person.

for those of you who may not know the summer after my freshman year of college i got a job working at a souvenir and candy shop downtown. i live on a small island in southeast, alaska called ketchikan. it is a super touristy town in the summer with all of the cruise ships that come in so most young adults tend to work in the tourist industry since there is a high need.

that said; two weeks ago was the last time, not only of the season, but forever that i will be working at the candy/souviner shop seeing that it is going out of business. this was my first job and although i only worked part time this year due to taking a position more in my field of degree it has been a place that became apart of me.

it’s kind of funny how looking back i was so nervous about working there. i did not know how to run a register, i did not know any one that i would be working with, and i had no clue what was going to come of it or if i would like it. BUT i honestly would not have asked for anything to change because i truly could not have asked for a better group of people to work with, or for a better boss. these people who i worked with became like family to me and it made even the most boring of work days entertaining and fun.

so when it came to closing that last register for the last time, i got to thinking how strange seasons could be. how bittersweet it was to think back on all the memories that this building held and how many friendships were made during the past 4 years. as i thought to myself i was a bit sadden by the fact that there would be no new memories that would ever be quite like the ones before. yes, there would always be the memories, but it also meant that the chapter was closing into something new again and that sometimes something new can be a bit nerve wrecking at first; like the first day of work, or college.

even though i was saddened by the thought that things would never quite be the same i was also thinking of how happy i am with were my life has been going. i love my job working in the child’s mental health department and although the work is not always easy; snotty kids, or kids running, kicking, not listening, being sassy, or parents, being PARENTS my job has been exactly what i needed (truly i am exactly where i need to).

if you are in a season of change just know it’s completely okay to be feeling some mixed emotions. it’s hard closing chapters, but it’s also exciting to see what is ahead. keep living my loves. the world is a big place and there is so much in store for you to see and do, and people to meet, and food to try let's not let the past chapter hold us back from what lies ahead. so many good things are coming.

here’s to the strangers that became family

mo: was the first person i knew i would be working with, mainly because he told me. we really did not know each other super well, but i am so glad to have worked with him because who else would i have bugged all the time lol
raevynn; i remember she had followed me on social media and i did not follow her back because i was i did not know this youngster, but then i got to know her, i am not even completely sure how, but i was like wow this girl is super cool and now we are practically sisters, fetty sisters to be exact
camille; was so quite at first and i am pretty sure it took us awhile before really talking to one another, but ever since we did we just seem to get each other and i will forever love our late night talks/walks and frozen yogurt runs. god bless my soul sis
ashly: again i unfortunately do not recall our first encounter, but man i don’t know what i would do without her! such a sweet soul and one of my closest friends. forever my favorite game night person
gabe: was always, i mean ALWAYS working on the candy side or restocking t-shirts. he was definitely one of the hardest workers at the store. we always had the best conversations about youtube and random stuff and it was so weird not having the boys around the store the last year, even though i was only part time - it just was not the same
micheal: another hard worker always restocking, and taking pictures on everyone’s phones, or drawing little pictures and making stories in the back. okay some of that kind of makes it seem like he did not work as hard as he could but honestly those little random drawings or writings made work fun and exciting because you never expected what was coming and it provided a good little chuckle as you were working in the back
renzo: aka flip-flop! i’m not even too sure how to describe him, but there were also so many laughs shared between us and the others. renzo is just a funny dude and my experience would not have been the same if he wasn’t there (also mad props for washing the windows - a job only he would do).
nelly: oh nelly, she is a goof, but in the best way possible! singing and dancing around the store she brought the energy
freddy: seeing that he mainly worked at the other store he only stopped by periodically, but he sure has a presence. fred is probably one of the most hard working people i have met to this day. driven to get things done, but also fun and light hearted. honestly, his little visits were always a pleasure, plus i enjoyed teasing each other
mark: was so quite and only engaged in minimal conversation at first. clearly seeing that i would being closing the shop with him every weekend i could not let that slide so i naturally teased him until he was able to come out of his shell. like the other guys mark was one of the hardest workers and he made closing a breeze. all in all he became a pretty good friend.
shiree: you could always count on her to fill your in on the latest news around town as well as the most random facts. regardless, there was always something to chat about and like the rest of the crew we were always joking around, such a fun atmosphere of people