At The End Of The Rainbow
October 29, 2007
I never wanted to be a starving artist. You know: those people who stand in a walkway, pretending to paint a picture and hoping you’ll buy it, or bent over on a crowded side street squeezing out a tune from a gleaming saxophone. Inevitably there’d be a hat turned upward and discarded on the pavement, indirectly begging for any amount of change, though dollar bills were preferred.
Through high school and college, that’s what I equated with writing. It was fools’ gold, something that you could only do if you never expected to have a mortgage or regularly pay your bills. So I earned my degree in Technical Writing and Editing, since I figured that would be the only way to get to do what I loved, writing, and still earn a salary. (Somehow journalism didn’t occur to me, and I’m still not sure how that is possible considering how many hours I spent with my academic advisor, laboring over the decision to apply for an English degree or to choose something more practical, like Business Management.)
For the last several years I’ve worked in mergers and acquisitions. I handled the legal side, drafting contracts and researching the companies whose assets we were purchasing, and for the most part, it was fairly interesting. Then a year ago, on a whim, I started interviewing outside my field. I just thought there had to be something more – something better suited to me – out there somewhere. Turns out there was.
I’ve taken a writing position with a subsidiary of one of the largest travel agencies in the world. That subsidiary’s headquarters is here in Dallas. And today was my first day.
For a long time, Roger and I thought we were moving out of Texas – that maybe we’d settle in Seattle or San Francisco – and that may still happen in the future. But for now, we’ve found our treasure. And it’s every bit as real as we’d hoped it would be.
Comments
Congratulations! Everyone should have the chance to do what they love. That's wonderful!
And let me tell you, I'm a journalist, and though I love it, it's nothing like I thought it would be, and shockingly, as I've moved up the ranks, it involves far less writing than I'd ever hoped. As an editor, all I do is ... edit. It's very sad and edit-y.
Posted by: jonniker | October 29, 2007 10:03 PM
!!!!!!!!! That's awesome! Congrats!!
Posted by: Courtney | October 29, 2007 11:56 PM
I love hearing stories about people who make huge changes like this. Congratulations and bravo on going after happiness
Posted by: Loralee | October 30, 2007 03:46 AM
Congratulations on changing and staying : )
Posted by: Kathy | October 30, 2007 06:01 AM
Good for you, Jes!
Posted by: Juliness | October 30, 2007 07:46 AM
Congratulations! Wonderful news for you! I will be making a happy career move too. How are the running mantras working out for you?
Posted by: andrea_frets | October 30, 2007 08:53 AM
woohoo!
Posted by: brid | October 30, 2007 09:25 AM
So glad the first day went well! Yay!!!! :) Can't wait to hear more about it.
Posted by: Erica | October 30, 2007 09:35 AM
Congratulations!! How absolutley thrilling! Enjoy your first day!
Posted by: Janssen | October 30, 2007 10:08 AM
Oh Jes, how exciting...you are living your dream!! How many people have that chance...Mazel Tov lady!
Posted by: CPA Mom and Soccer Mom Angela | October 30, 2007 10:45 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Indygirl | October 30, 2007 11:00 AM
Jes! AWESOME! I'm so thrilled! for you and Roger. I hope the job is all you wanted, and more.
I'm close to the same place, career-wise, wanting to do what I studied, to expand on it, to add my voice to a team that needs and wants it. Now that we live in a new city, it feels like it really can and will happen. Hurrah! for new and exciting changes.
Posted by: kerrianne | October 30, 2007 11:59 AM
That's terrific! It sounds like an awesome job, and I'm totally jealous. :) I always wanted to be a writer, but instead went for the more boring, practical major. I'm living vicariously through you, I guess, so - more details! I hope it keeps going well and being fun.
Posted by: Lia | October 30, 2007 12:10 PM
You must know how happy I am for you! and, honestly, how terribly jealous!
I have been wrestling lately with making some changes in my life... have tosses about moving, going back to school, ending a relationship, moving a relationship to the next level and quitting my job (of almost 6 years)..... I simply lack the nerve to act on any of it.
Kudos to you for acting, leaping and living!
Posted by: Willow | October 30, 2007 12:58 PM
Congratulations! It's so exciting when people get to live their dream. Woot!
Posted by: Angella | October 30, 2007 01:22 PM
Yay! Congrats!
Posted by: -R- | October 30, 2007 02:09 PM
So I already knew (yep internet I know Jes in person we even roomed together TWICE - I'm cool, I've accepted that) but I'm glad you finally put it out there for all the world to know. Wahoooooo!
Posted by: Katie | October 30, 2007 02:58 PM
I hope you really love it there.
Congratulations!
Posted by: witchypoo | October 30, 2007 04:56 PM
I'm so happy for you, Jes! Best of luck to you in your new job!
Posted by: metalia | October 30, 2007 07:20 PM
Way to go Jes! My DREAM job has always been to travel and write about my travels. Or just take pictures of my travels.
Your job is so close to my dream.
So very cool.
Posted by: Amstaff Mom | October 30, 2007 07:39 PM
Very cool Jes, please send me all of your stuff to proof read... just kidding!
hugs.
Posted by: eddeaux | October 30, 2007 09:07 PM
Hi There!
I'm SO happy for you - everyone should get a chance to do what they love. Congratulations to you (and Roger, who I'm sure was helpful in your change-over).
Yeah!
Maya
Posted by: Maya | October 31, 2007 02:24 AM
Congratulations! That's so awesome and you give me hope that i can have a tech writing job in such a great industry some day.
Good luck!
Posted by: Claire | October 31, 2007 09:18 AM
You got a job as a writer! That is amazing, well-deserved, and, and, YAY!!! Congratulations, Jes. I'm so glad you are doing something you love AND getting paid for it :)
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 31, 2007 10:06 AM
That sounds like a really fun job! Will you get to travel around? You'll have to tell us where we can read your articles. :)
Posted by: Giselle | October 31, 2007 04:07 PM
YAY! So excited for you! Can't wait to hear more about it! YAYAYAYAYAY!!!
Posted by: my life is brilliant | October 31, 2007 05:32 PM
YAY! So excited for you! Can't wait to hear more about it! YAYAYAYAYAY!!!
Posted by: my life is brilliant | October 31, 2007 05:32 PM
Fantastic! Congratulations! I was a journalism major myself and didn't ever go into it - ended up in market research. I still have hopes of perhaps being a writer. You are an inspiration to us all.
Posted by: Mauigirl | October 31, 2007 08:26 PM
Wow - very awesome! Congrats!
Posted by: chickadee | October 31, 2007 10:01 PM
How awesome is that? I'm so excited for you! What kind of writing will you be doing for this company?
Posted by: Zandria | November 1, 2007 09:57 PM
Congrats!!!! I hope it's everything you dreamed of.
(Sorry for the delay...was traveling myself.)
Posted by: Daily Tragedies | November 12, 2007 02:16 PM