well, my time in denver is coming to a close. i always thought
when it was all said and done that i’d leave colorado without really looking
back-how wrong i was. not to say that i’m not excited for chicago, i am. i just
will miss some things here in denver.
things i will miss:
martile rowland
is my hero and one of my biggest champions. seriously, that woman re-instilled
a love of singing. i will never forget the first conversation i had with her. i
was still living in chicago and had been arguing with the irs for two hours. i
got a call from a number with an area code i didn’t recognize and assumed it
was the irs calling me back. i picked up the phone and said a very venomous,
‘hello’. ‘hello, hello jessie? this is martile rowland’… ‘oh, i thought you
were the irs’. from that moment on i knew i’d like her. when i came out to
colorado, i had pretty much given up on singing. my last year of grad school
was rough. my teacher and i didn’t agree on anything in regards to my voice and
the lessons had become down right abusive. i came out to colorado to do vocal
arts symposium as a final hurrah to singing little did i know that the decision
to come out here for three weeks would end up changing the trajectory of my
life forever. three weeks after the end of vocal arts symposium i learned how to drive and moved out to
colorado. i came here to study with martile and sing the mother in hansel and
gretel with opera theatre of the rockies.
i thought i’d be here for a year, than two, and now i’m leaving after
six years. over the course of six years i’ve switched fachs, performed in three
mainstage shows with opera theatre of the rockies, and felt like i’ve become a
better person and singer.
my friends:
two of the
closest friends i have in colorado were met within hours of landing here for
singing. claire anderson was the person assigned to come pick me up from the
airport when i came out here to sing for VAS. who would have guessed that it
would start a six year friendship that i attribute as one of my dearest. i met
marisa the first night of VAS and a year later she moved to colorado. i know
these girls will always be a phone call away but it will be sad not to have
yoga time or hbo time with them. i am so
lucky to have formed so many great friendships while out here. sarah s, amy,
rainey, sarah m, catie, linder, lauren, kevin, the list could just keep going
on. i will miss you all. you all have a standing invitation to come visit
chicago.
fun, weird,
completely inappropriate.
i never
thought i would be discussing how much i’m
going to miss my gym. honestly though, i was so fortunate to fall into this
community. they’re such a fun, funny, smart,
fit pack of weirdoes. i would never be able to thank tj and lindsay enough for
their kindness, motivation, and ass kicking. thank you to all who welcomed me
and made me felt a part of the group and not just like the fat girl in the
corner.
i haven’t
made it one day since being back in denver without crying over leaving my job. the
kids i teach are so special. they make me laugh, challenge me, and give me hope
for the generation to come. seriously, if only i could move this entire place
and all the people in it with me, i would. in the three years i’ve worked at
ygp there has never been a day where i am not excited to go to my job. no
matter how crummy i feel, or what drama may have happened in my life, getting
up and going to work is a sheer joy. how many people actually get to say that? i
know how fortunate i’ve been and i don’t take that for granted…not even for an
instant. BEST JOB EVER. i am happy that marisa is taking it over. i feel like i’m
leaving them with someone who will not only be a great teacher but also someone
who will love and care for the kids here.
seriously folks i do this for a living
Aww! Ok.. I know I'm super emotional right now because I'm homesick for my friends and family in Chicago, but this post made me cry! I know Chicago is more than excited to welcome you home, Jessie!
ReplyDeletelol, "fat girl in the corner", more like bamf who is pressing most of the skinny girls overhead on push press. You will be missed and will leave a void in our community that will be difficult to fill. Love you girl!
ReplyDeletesniff, sniff...i really, can't adequately express how much i'm going to miss all of you at jai. love you, too.
Deleteerin, how are things in louisiana going?