The longest summer...

I had to go to India for almost 2 months in very early 2010. I went from freezing winter weather in Colorado one day to the peak of summer in my home town almost over night. What I did not realize that it was not the only summer I would endure in 2010. After I came to Richmond for real (see my earlier blog), we made a trip to Colorado yet again to bring my car back. Over the memorial day weekend, my husband and I drove through 7 states; almost non stop, breaking only  for the bare essential sleep and nature calls.  We made it to Richmond in one piece 2 nights and 3 days later and  me vowing never to do such a trip again!!! The constant theme on our drive back from Colorado was the humidity in the air through the states we drove which turned out to be just my peek into the real summer I was going to face in the River City.

Summer 2010,  many Richmonders would admit has been a very harsh one even by their standards. It was long, harsh and I endured the heat and humidity and the allergy headaches (still need to find out why!) almost on a daily basis. Something to note at this point would be I was still on my break from work and trying to figure out what I wanted to do professionally! I was taking the summer off (June to Sept was going to be my time to relax!) However, me, being me, I was already starting to network in this new town and had met some executives from hi tech companies (even before I went to Colorado to bring my car back) to share details about my background. Everyone I met was quite interested in my experience and background and gave me some hopeful directions in which our discussions would proceed.

At the back of my mind, something was still holding me from being totally excited about going back to Corporate America! The adrenaline rush of deadlines, technology, working with lots of people were enticing but I was not entirely sure I wanted to continue doing it. With the long road trip, my professional transition was once again put on the back burner but not for too long... One thing that became clear  to me right after the road trip was I wanted to spend some time volunteering with an organization with our without a job in Corporate America! I had volunteered during my years in Colorado and had told myself that I would like to get a real job in a non profit organization when I grew older. My years in Colorado had gone way too fast - too many priorities and life events that did not even give me a chance to pause and take a break; let alone think about how I would start working in a non profit organization..

Summer was getting worse by the day and one weekend in early July, I made the mistake of convincing myself and my husband that we should go on a hike! It was the toughest 'easy trail' I had ever done. The humidity of walking uphill by a stream and the 100+ degree weather was too much to bear. I learned one more thing about Virginia - fall would be a better time to hike unlike in Colorado where you hike mostly in summer! GREAT! I was making progress on a different front; I was slowly starting to enjoy Richmond; especially evening walks in Cary Town. It was not Pearl Street Mall in Boulder - my favorite place in the world but it was definitely a vibrant place with interesting things happening.  The summer also provided bright blue skies and the river (every time I crossed it) was providing me with a therapeutic effect like the mountains in Colorado did.  I was actually starting to like this place although I ran the risk of definitely getting lost wherever I drove on my own :-)

It was almost end of October by the time the temperatures cooled off in Richmond and I had also made my transition to the non profit world by then.. It was the longest summer I had endured, was living in a place where I hardly knew anyone but one I hoped would shape my future and perspectives in more ways than one!!