Conversations with Myself, Part 3
A Conversation With My 24 year-old Self
In this conversation, I was talking with my 24 year-old self. When I was 24, I started my first (and last) teaching job at a school. Around that same time, I also met my husband, Kevin. The “Oma” mentioned in this conversation was my paternal grandmother, who died when I was 14.
Me: How’s it going?
24 year old me: You were right, so much more has happened in the last few years.
Me: Like what?
24 year old me: Well for starts, in November of 1997 Dad and Kathy got married.
Me: They did? That’s great!
24 year old me: Yeah, their wedding was beautiful. I got to light my Oma’s candle since she couldn’t be there to do it, and I also read a scripture during the service.
Me: That’s great!
24 year old me: Yeah, I’m glad he found someone, I know he misses mom.
Me: What else is going on?
24 year old me: So much more has happened. I had to get a job at Wendy’s after graduation just to make a little money to pay bills. Well while I was working at Wendy’s I got a call from a private school in Darlington that’s looking for a French teacher.
Me: And?
24 year old me: I went and interviewed and I got the job!
Me: That’s great! Congratulations!
24 year old me: Thanks. Not only that, I started talking to this great guy named Kevin on America Online.
Me (smiling): Yeah I remember when I first met Kevin on AOL.
24 year old me: Yeah it was kind of weird, he just IMed me after seeing my profile on AOL’s dating site. I haven’t even been looking for anyone.
Me: Well you know sometimes the best opportunities come to you when you’re not looking for them.
24 year old me: Yeah I guess that’s true. We talked on AOL a few times, then started talking on the phone.
Me: And? How did that go.
24 year old me: Pretty good, we talked about a lot of things, like our jobs and our lives, where we’re from, our families and stuff.
Me: He sounds like a nice guy. How has the job been going?
24 year old me: OMG the job has been stressful. It’s better money than I was making, but most of the kids are so hard to deal with — they talk out of turn and some of them have attitudes, like the 7th and 8th graders. I think the one bright spot in my day is when I teach the elementary school kids.
Me: Yeah, I remember that was a real stressful job.
24 year old me: Yeah and I spend a lot of time writing lesson plans, grading papers, attending teachers meetings. I hardly have any time to myself.
Me: Yeah, I remember, I hated not having any time to myself, it sucked.
24 year old me: Does it get any easier?
Me: I hate to say it, but no. As a matter of fact things are going to get worse before they get better. But you’ll get through it, I promise.
24 year old: Oh my gosh, what happens?
Me: All sorts of things, you’ll just have to find out for yourself. I’ll see you again in a few years.
