i tried to get a job at McDonald's when i was 14. i was denied.....and i was devastated. "you have to be at least 15 and have a worker's permit to work here or anywhere in California, period." the following year, at age 15 with a worker's permit in hand, i got a job and began working. i took only a brief break during my freshman year of college where i was too busy choking on the air, walking up hill in the snow to and from school and thawing my nose hairs, in Rexburg, Idaho, to work. with this one exception, i have worked without pause since i was 15.
i am 32.
i've been a door-to-door roof sales person, babysitter, Alameda County Fair fried zucchini booth cashier, sticker & gift wrap packager, Soup Plantation salad bar refresher, food taste tester, dental office assistant, Direct Car Rental car washer, waitress at Chili's, Chrysler Financial receptionist, waitress at Vie de France, Abercrombie & Fitch sales rep, PeopleSoft receptionist, shipping & packaging specialist for cellular accessories company, temp agency extraordinaire, Park City ski lift operator (for 2 days), snowboard/ski shop sales rep, radio promotions office manager, high end boutique sales rep, criminal defense law firm office manager and i'm sure a few others that have escaped me at the moment due to my disbelief that someone actually gave me a job at CalPac Roofing when i was 15 to act as a door-to-door roof salesperson.
i am nearing the departure date for an adventure i have dreamt of but never imagined would become a reality. i leave for Paris in 22 days. one of my best friend's of 25 years, Heather (the planner), is coming with me for the first 11 days. i will be renting a flat in Paris for nearly 3 months. i anticipate living the daily life of a Parisian, weekend adventures to neighboring cities and countries, a week in Spain with Amanda (the surfer), 5 weeks with Jess (the newlywed), as my roommate and my final days will be spent in Italy with Adam (the berger). it doesn't seem real. it doesn't seem possible.
3 more days of my life as i have known it for the past 17 years.
i want to thank any and all of you, you know who you are, who supported my decision to embark on what can simply be described as the adventure of my lifetime. i could not and would not be the person i am today without each and every one of you. i appreciate the hell out of you.
- jv
