The growing circus aside, I was happier than I’d been in a very long time.  I had been a bit worried. I thought it might prove rather difficult- discovering contacts/sources- old and new. But, I caught on quickly. It had been three years since I switched to the “soft” side of reporting. Now, I was back to the “hard” side and a bit surprised at how easily everything was falling into place.  I was getting a great deal of work done- without overextending myself.

I worked mostly from home; every now and then, I’d go out for an assignment (or for some sun).  I was looking at everything with new eyes. I could tell that this was going to be a very selfish period of my life.  Now that I had a fresh start- it was all about me. It was about seeing the weaknesses in my own work- about urging every muscle in my body to do better and better still. I became so caught up in myself- in the daily chiding and praising- that I’d almost forgotten that it was not too long ago that I’d woken up to unemployment.  Indeed, now, I was looking back on everything with nothing but pure amusement.

I maintained contact with a few of my former co-workers from the newspaper. From time to time, we met up to hang-out and to laugh because there wasn’t much to cry about. From time to time, I had to assure some gaping mouth that the news was true: I was no longer with the paper, but was, among other things, freelancing for an online agency. They would express severe concern until they noted my sincere nonchalance and overall happiness. Then they’d comment “well, so life goes” and “I know you have it covered”.

Sometimes, when typing up a story, I’d look down at my fingers in amusement. Everything felt so right and natural. I had to bask in it. I wasn’t afraid of it. I wasn’t sitting in some corner- waiting for something to go wrong. I was truly living and working- like I’d always wanted.

I was working mostly for a company which was still quite the baby. But I too was a baby. It was new to be so very out there on my own.  There was no creeping- I had to learn to walk right away. There was to be no groaning when I found myself needing a particular tool for the job. I couldn’t look to my employer to get it.  I had to go out and get it.  I knew I could look to no one for aid in ferreting out riveting content. I knew I didn’t have to. I would have to give a lot and expect very little in return by way of a supporting structure. I was happy (and at least not severely underpaid).

I hadn’t embraced this new path because I liked the tinge of scary uncertainty. And, I certainly wasn’t on this road because it was “fashionable” to go against the grain. The road less travelled had gotten attractive for me because it was just time that it did.

Tune in next Tuesday for the next update.