Plethora

The age of 22

May 9th, 2007

Me being 22 began with going to classes during finals week, eating at the Mariachi Fiesta with Linds, and partying at Bartley’s. It was my first “flippy cup” game and we blew up Bartley’s rubber band ball.

I graduated a week later, marking 2 very significant moments in my life: 1. I graduated from college with 2 degrees, beginning my life and 2. I gave the inaugural student speech at graduation, which went well.

That summer I worked for dad. Big projects: sandblasting at Rausch Brothers, splitting wood, hauling wood to grandma’s, and being on the road with dad. It is now that I miss those times the most, waking up, no need to shower, just throw clothes on and be ready to get a little dirty. Over the summer some highlights: Guse’s party, where I made a mess of myself, I think Back to Doland took place, where I made an ass of myself, Rausch Reunion- awesome seeing everyone and got the biggest game of Ultimate Frisbee I’ve ever seen going, golfing in the couples tournament, and of course the typical day-to-day activities (Twins games, Ultimate, golf, jumping around on the pole vault mat, watching Rox or whatever, and drinking).

Of course, the biggest thing that ocurred over the summer was the France trip and the engagement of Linds and I in the Louvre, Paris, France. On paper it looks romantic, but i gave it a Bryce twist of “lacking romance” somehow. France was awesome and I miss it.

Then came August, when I moved to Philadelphia to start a new chapter of my life. Aside from being broke and 1500 miles from home, my van broke down a month into living out here. So, a temp job to pay some bills, a real job to pay some rent, and a side job to pay for drugs I started my life like many 20 somethings out in the real world, busting my ass, and waiting for my first break.

Some other highlights:
-Got a new car
-Have a 401(k)
-Made Employee of the Month
-Got 2 cats
-Nearly got mugged
-Road a train to a job interview
-Got a GPS system
-Got an HDTV
-Ran an office NCAA pool
-Co-hosted Grey’s Anatomy/The Office night nearly every Thursday
-Made friends with not just white people
-Played some street basketball
-Went to a club
-Went on a booze cruise
-Helped organize the wedding
-Was quoted in a newspaper (similar reach to the Argus Leader)
-Got a raise
-Learned to not trust doctors

During my 22nd year I learned how to live away from family, which is never fun (especially for us), and how to support myself. I also learned how to celebrate holidays with friends rather than family. Labor day-alone, but Thanksgiving and Easter with some of Linds’ classmates. Luckily I did make it home over Christmas, which made it all the more difficult leaving.

What will year 23 bring Bryce? Who the hell knows? More money? More debt? A new place to live? And what tragedies will occur that I’ll be forced to say, “if only I lived closer to home” or “if only we had the money”.

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