It finally happened:

I have a job.

(Notice the strategically placed pause-
That's so you can digest the gravity of that statement.)
I will be working at the South County YMCA in Rhode Island, and living at mom and dad's house. It's pretty ironic because at the beginning of the search I had a few rules as to what the job had to entail.

1. Related to Teen programs or Child Care- preferably teen!
2. Located Somewhere outside RI and NY- preferably in the Boston area.
3. If I am in RI, there will be a two-month rule placed on the 'living at the parent's house' factor.

Well, I've managed to stick to one of my original rules; I will be working with children during the summer and developing a program for middle school-ers for the school year. However, since the job is twenty minutes from my parent's house, we decided it would be wise and convenient for me to live at their house. The downstairs is pretty self-contained; consisting of a living room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, and separate entrance. So it looks like that is where i'll be residing for a bit. I think it'll be nice.

The best way to tell how it all happened is to give a brief week in review- ready?

• Monday: Interview at Hyde Park YMCA (Boston) -it was a little more disorganized process than i've gotten used to, but the staff was really nice and the kids were sweet.
• Tuesday after work: Receive a message from Hyde Park offering me a position. I decide not to accept right away and to think for a day or so.
• Tuesday night after a movie: Receive a message from Beth Leconte, the Executive Director of the South County Y in RI. She says to give her a call because she thinks she has an opportunity that i may be interested in.
• Wednesday: Call Beth at the South County Y and set up an appointment for Thursday afternoon.
• Thursday: Drive to Warwick (the 'rent's house) and then down to the Y to meet with Beth but she isn't there because she got a migrain. So i meet with a few other people and get the history of that particular Y, what's going on with the community, things like that.
• Thursday night: Call Beth and make new appointment for Saturday. Also call Hyde Park and tell them i am investigating an opportunity that just presented itself to me- that i need a day or two before i can give them a final answer.
• Friday: Buy bridesmaid's dress for friend's wedding in three weeks
• Saturday: Meet with Beth and talk for a while. She tells me what she is seeing in that community and at their Y (she's relatively new there as well) and where she sees potential for growth and a need for another person. Then she offers me a job :)
• Later Saturday: Call Hyde Park and thank them for the opportunity but...
• Sunday: Mom and Dad and i clear out the downstairs so i can move in in a week!

May 23, 2000
Commencement