While I was trying to decide what Throwback Thursday photo
to post this week, I decided to peruse some of my favorite blogs. I have my
system: Kelly Rae Roberts then Jenny Doh then Alisa Burke, they are three of my
favorites. Then I usually go to my friends: Brown Bobbin and Just Simply Divine.
My course of action for tonight was immediately changed when
I got to my friend Mardy’s blog. As soon as I read her latest post my eyes started to well up with tears.
Our friendship started in November of 2011; we worked for the same
company but not at the same location until she was transferred to my office. Marivic,
her given name is twenty years younger than I am, but we became fast friends.
Mardy witnessed the craziness of my life two years ago: divorce, lawsuits, financial
issues, children coping with the divorce, my return to work full-time in a new
field and the learning curve that presents. She had come to the United States 8 years ago from the Philippines. We had such different beginnings, yet shared an amazing connection. We talked about so many different
topics of life.
Whereas I had followed my dream of attending the college that
I wanted and becoming an Interior Designer, Mardy felt that she did not follow
her dream. She took what she felt as the safer route of computer science and it
was starting to tug on her heart strings. Over the course of the next nine
months we talked about what we would both like to do in the future. Whenever Mardy
would say she felt old and that time had passed her by. I would remind her that
I was 20 years her senior and if I could start over at 50 and re-create my life
she surely could do it at 30.
Last summer she decided that she wanted to go to culinary
school. She was accepted the Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena. Starting last August she
would work from 8:00 until 4:30, drive over an hour to school, attend classes
from 6:00 until 10:00 and then drive over an hour back home, and do it all over
the next day. The program consisted of six - 6 week sessions. When she was
second guessing her decision I sent her the following quote:
"A year from now you will wish you had started
today." - Karen Lamb
After the second module, we identified Mardy’s pattern. The
first 2 or 3 days of each module she would want to quit, but by day 5 she would
enjoy it and then she was fine. From the beginning of the program she knew that
she wanted to go to France for the 3 month externship requirement. Mardy has
been in Bonnieux at the two Michelin star resort of Capelongue since May. Spend some time on her blog and enjoy the amazing
pictures of her French experience. She has now completed her program and is
spending some time vacationing in Italy. She will be in Paris next week for her
32 birthday and return to California to start her new career.
What a year.
What an amazing experience.
I am so proud of my dear friend.
1 comment:
Such an amazing story. Thank you! Life is just simply divine. Love you and see you soon!
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