The Town that Built Me.

This has been a long time coming

and comes only due to the passing of one of the most genuine, gracious, funny, loving  and infectious women

I have had the pleasure to know and love:

Judy Cochrane Mahood - mother and best friend to Heather Mahood, one of my 'oldest' and closest friends.

Pleasanton, California is.....

the town that built me.

Fairlands Elementary to Harvest Park Middle School

finally made it to Amador Valley High - class of '95.

I remember Boswell's party store's 'adult' section, paying $.50 for a candy bar, Esprit, the era of Craig Jimerson & Tim Roberson, riding bikes through the greenbelt, square dancing, lip synching, detention, tether ball, Heather & Kyle's slimy first kiss, butt's up against the wall,  ghosts in the graveyeard with the Bergets and Hays kids, the dead man's drop that only Victor had perfected. 

I remember spin the bottle at parties, when Jamaica Lucas and Kyle Downs were the new kids at school and when the movie Dirty Dancing was risque. I remember the Soup Dragon's 'Free', Mrs. Quintella, Yo MTV Raps at Jen's house, Its Its, Dance Competition and Ro Randall singing 'It's so hard to say goodbye' by Boyz II Men at our junior high promotion.

I remember sitting in Kristi Yen's room and talking for hours, playing video games at Bridget's house and countless movies at Kim Kits.

I remember church dances that played Depeche Mode and Celine Dion, seminary before school, snow mobiling, dates on top of City water containers, homecoming football games, cheerleading with Jen Marler, Shelley Fleshman, Carrie Dogget, Brooke McKinley, Alison Duthie, Ali Sekany, Andrea Bird, and other gorgeous girls, making Varsity soccer with Amy, driving the Taurus' with Katie and hanging out at Turner's house because her parents were the 'cool parents', hot tubbiing in the spa with plastic champagne cups at Emmy's house (pretty sure we got shushed just a few years ago by the neighbors-somethings really don't ever change), toilet seat bandits, crank calling, cheerleading camp, T.P.ing people's homes, building homecoming floats, Ace Ventura impressions, track meets, soccer games, the quad, the PIT, high school rallies - where Jen Marler lip synched to the Beastie Boys' 'Brass Monkey' (we were robbed), I remeber "a pencil is a very dangerous weapon" speech given to Jen, Carrie and me in Carol DeBoer's chemostry class, attempting to teach Laura Ward how to dance, yogurt & hot dogs, Carlos Binitos, I remember Richie Boitano's Raiders jersey, jean shorts and hiking boots, powder puff football practice, the Wilson family's graciousness during my mom's illness, I remember it all.

 I will always remember the first and last names of the boys I had crushes on, Jason Voit in 2nd grade, you were my first (I could rattle off a list and nearly every guy I liked, Heather managed to snag first, not bitter at all).   I remember red jeans, turquoise high tops and yellow belts, we were kids of the 80's which is why Goonies, the Lost Boys, the Breakfast Club, Top Gun and Say Anything will forever stay in my heart.

I remember yearly camping trips with my family in the station wagon and ultimately the van which we drove to Canada (I wouldn't trade those trips for anything in the world), fighting with Matt and Mandy, I remember my older sister was the nicest gothic person I knew(the only gothic person I knew), weekend trips to soccer tournaments that my parents never missed, I remember girls camp every summer and the girl who always made me laugh, and to this day is the funniest person I know, Emily (Johnson) Davis, I remember Brooke McKinley always managing to get the 2 of us in trouble whether it was at church, school or cheerleading and Cara Germany's dad's Audi and blue van. 

Herb & Sharon Veglahn gave me the childhood of my dreams.  My childhood is the stuff (PG) movies are made of.  I sometimes can't quite believe it was real.

I was a kid for as long as I can remember.

I didn't grow up too fast; in fact I'm still waiting to, and if I'm lucky I may never, grow up.

I was raised with unshakable confidence.

I was raised to have a variety of friendships.

I was raised to believe in kindness.

I was raised to believe in the pursuit of happiness and the journey that takes you there.

While Pleasanton is no longer my home, it will forever be....

the Town that Built Me.

Growing Pains

A year ago I was living a comfortable, successful and......stagnant life.  It was a good life.  And for all intents and purposes a great life.  A life I'd never dreamt I'd live.  32 years old, ocean-view cottage, successful career, incredible friends, wonderful family and active social life.  But I couldn't shake (true to the cliche) the feeling that I wasn't growing and something was missing.  I had come to a point where change was a must and the question persisted: "what do you want out of life at this point?"  I could have, and many think should have, stayed with my career at the law firm.  The 6.5 years I spent working at McGregor & Ernenwein will forever be a highlight of my life.  I'm eternally indebted to Robert Ernenwein, for everything he taught and gave to me. 

You are family.

But....I believe in growth and learning and as much as I don't like it, change.  So the answer to my question was simple and resounding.  A year ago, if I could have had anything or been anywhere I would have taken the leap and gone to Paris OR been madly in love (cheesy and maybe embarrassing but if I'm going to be honest those were the only 2 things that continuously popped into my head) - both seemed impossible, nonetheless, I was ready in a way I hadn't been before.  Since neither seemed feasible and I couldn't just choose to be in love nor am I capable or interested in dating like a normal person.

I chose Paris. 

As luck would have it, the universe decided to throw me a goofy, D.C. transplant, unexpectedly handsome, curve ball; 3 months after I made the decision to go to Paris the engine in my '03 A4 blew and I met Adam.  Just as I made plans for real change in my life, change was exactly what I was going to get.   So I went to Paris.  I explored.  I grew.  I changed.  And to my surprise, I happily came home with anticipation of a new life only to find even more unexpected adventures ahead...

I am home.

Home is still a cottage with an ocean view, for now.  Adam continues to add excitement and creativity to our home in ways I'd never imagined.  Home has a different and evolving meaning for me now that I left my career, went to Paris and met the man. 

I continue to explore different career paths.  Leaning heavily towards photography although I have MUCH to learn in that department.  I'm flirting with developing a photography tour of my beach town for out of town visitors.  Here are a few pics I've captured of "home"...

  

 

Photos aside I am continuously pulled towards Homeboy Industries and similar organizations that teach at-risk youth and gang members necessary job and life skills in order to build better lives.  I was fortunate enough to meet Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries at Pages a bookstore in Manhattan Beach during a speaking engagement last week.  It is hard to articulate the emotions I had while standing in a room of strangers listening to a man, a human, who is nothing short of my hero, speak with such frankness, compassion, and strength about people that the world would rather lock up and forget. It reminded me why I left my job and did nothing short of inspire me. 

I'm growing.

So I find myself in a continued space of transition.  It isn't what I expected.  It is harder than I expected.  Finding my motivation is tough.  Fear does its best to intimidate me.  But I'm learning.

I'm on my way....

Change is coming.

Don't ever stop growing and learning.

-Jillian

Parisian Lessons

respect for personal space is an american thing.

the french may be "rude" but they always greet you with bonjour/bonsoir (hello - daytime & night time) and leave you with bonjournee/bonsoiree (have a good day/night).

it is light until 10 pm in paris .

the banks of the seine are similar to the beaches of california when its warm out - lined with bathing beauties young and old looking for a tan.

la tour eiffel (eiffel tower) is larger and more mesmerizing than i imagined.

i speak french (well-ish).

paris is BIG on vintage fashion magazines and old/used books - making the old new.

the average european man kicks the american man's ass when it comes to style - rolled khakis/jeans, loafers without socks, vneck tees, scruffy faces, man bags, etc....impeccable and effortless.

living in paris is like living in a beautiful french film.

i love a crepe salee (its a crepe made with wheat flour and salt) with fromage(cheese), champignons(mushrooms) and green olives - heaven!

i'm not as fashion forward as i want to be, paris has inspired me to take chances.

1 tall blonde girl in paris does not attract nearly as much attention as 2 tall blonde girls in paris - sticking out like awkward and clumsy sore thumbs we are.

i want and crave companionship.

i am not a girl who roughs it, i like comfort and i will pay more to get it.

fresh baked parisian pain au chocolate is like crack to me.

the gays in paris are equally as flamboyant and fabulous as they are in LA!

i'm a city girl and small town girl all at once.

note to self: when wearing a long white dress and walking with your similarly built american girl friend down the parisian streets during a gay march - you will be asked with excitement if you just got married.

photography is my passion. i will forever be the girl with a camera in her hand.

army green, striped shirts, fashionable flats and genie pants are IN.

brunettes are in.

paris is messy and unkempt pulled back hair that looks unexpectedly beautiful.

i may finally have kicked my over packing habit.

eating mcdonald's makes me feel like i'm home (such an american i am).

jess and i can be hungover, share a twin bed and watch dvds even in paris.

running is for people who drive cars every day, i walk, everywhere.

buying fresh flowers is something i do for myself no matter where i lay my head at night.

even alone you can never be bored in paris. lonely? yes. bored? never.

crepe sucree w/nutella

butte montmartre - 18th arrondiseement - view of paris

montmartre - city view - street performer

movement

apartment II in the marais - my room

apartment II in the marais - jess' room

apartment II - dining table

the seine (major river in paris)

transient man on the banks of the seine

notre dame

banks of the seine

banks of the seine

la tour eiffel

me

gay pride parade

gay pride parade in paris

jess & jill - she's here!!!

typical street vintage book stands

as always - missing my friends and family but relishing in every moment i'm here.

-jillian

Check, Check and Check!

Paris (week 2) continued to bring unexpected adventures and journeys which I suppose has my trip working out in ways I could never have planned had I tried. Please be reminded, if you weren't already overwhelmingly aware, I did not plan even one aspect of this adventure. And so it goes....

Participate in 70,000 person march to stop France from raising the retirement age and to prevent France from bringing further strife to worker's Unions - Check.

Spend hours at France's largest Flea Market with priceless antiques, endless books and paintings, vintage vinyl, touristy trinkets and literal garbage displayed as if it were finely hand stitched couture on display at a fashion exhibit - Check.

Watch France national soccer (football) team play in the World cup on television in France - Check.

Make use of wonderfully thoughtful going away gift from co-workers at McGregor & Ernenwein, walking photo tour of Paris - Check.

Ride the metro (btw Kelly you were right the metro actually smells like freshly baked bread, croissants and pastries) - Check.

Visit the Louvre and people watch, eat ice cream and nap at Les Tuillieries (garden/park at the Louvre) - Check, Check, Check.

Blend in (was asked for directions by 4 different French people in French) - Check.

Take metro to TGV (high speed train), walk 30 minutes to metro in order to take metro to train station, sweat profusely while entering rental car info instead of train info, curse at ticket machine, leave machine, come back, enter rental car info into train ticket machine again and ultimately realize even in English I can easily become confused - Check.

Visit the south of France (Avignon), participate in French reality TV show "Very Good Trip" and witness/study pigeon mating rituals on multiple occasions - Check, Check and Check.

Buy a beautifully handmade ring made from a silver spoon by a kind Peruvian man in Avignon and get a free hand woven bracelet from the kind man that grants me 3 wishes; all 3 of which I immediately wished for (still waiting for remaining 2 to come true) - Check.

Eat alone, a lot. Drink alone, not a lot, unless its in the privacy of my flat. - Check.

Spend $100 US for a dry manicure/pedicure (absolutely no water involved) while being forced to "rest" my giant boats on the knees of my dainty French pedicurist only to have multiple leg and foot cramps because I refused to actually "rest" my feet on her tiny legs - Check.

Translate from English to French for 4 American girls who wandered into the nail salon and did not know how to ask if they could get pedicures and take photos of the shop - Check.

Buy sneaks and in so doing convince the adorable 20 year old salesman that he needs to get the same pair, we modeled the shoes together, we probably wore the same size (sigh) - Check.

Continue to miss my friends, family and home while soaking in every detail and moment of my adventure - Check, Check, Check and Check.

-Jillian