Four Christmases

It's not just a movie, it's Sarah's life. Actually I'll call it 6 Christmases....

Christmas 2008: I was fired. Oh excuse me, terminated. Terminated is such a worse word than fired, because it makes one think of being killed. It's like "Congrats Sarah, you are being executed. Holla. Do you prefer the noose, the chair or the firing squad? Or our all popular concrete shoes alternative?" Just say I'm fired. Then it sounds like I've been put in a kiln and I'm a lovely vase. Or I'm a s'more and roasted over a fire. Nom nom.

So this is the jist- Stupid dean (I say stupid because my parents read this blog and my word for him is a word they don't think I know), never gave me proper instruction on his teaching assistantship that he had for me. I was, apparently, supposed to get him published but didn't know my exact duties as I am not an advertising executive nor a publicist. So after months of asking what to do and receiving no answer, I asked to be reassigned. After not receiving an answer about that, I kept writing and writing and asking what my new duties were, either with him or with my reassigned boss. Heard nothing. Until tonight. 9 f*cking days before Christmas, saying that I had not completed my duties and was being terminated. Uhhhh what duties, Einstein. I asked you a million times to give me an assignment. Either way, I got a good case of which I am sure I am 98% in the right. I'm seeing the human resources people on Friday, so we'll see. The only thing I'm scared about is my tuition remission disappearing.... Oh and the whole thing about not having any money and being homeless.... ugh.

Christmas 2007: My now ex-boyfriend (aka Scalini), in so many words set me up for a crime he committed and I was arrested on December 18, 2007. Wow that was like almost a year ago. He is a lawyer himself and ex-step brother for the DA. So I was carted off, spent $7000 on a lawyer and held in what they call "The Tombs" in lower Manhattan. Holy crap. The Tombs. And it is exactly that. The prison guards not only treat you like crap, but I was kicked, pushed and spat on in a holding cell with 20 other women, most of which were strung out on some narcotic and with no working bathroom. We weren't fed and despite the promise that I'd be out of there within 12 hours it was more like 24. So I went to arraignment and yadda yadda I got out on my own recognizance because the judge realized it was such a BS case. So then I had to spend the next day sending back all his stupid holiday presents before escaping to North Dakota for R&R.

Christmas 2006: I had a job I loved at a place called Seedco and I was really good at my job. But unfortunately they downsized and I was laid off on December 22nd. Merry f-in Christmas Sarah. And sure my Mom and sister came to the city for the holiday, but I was so stressed out I could barely enjoy it, because I couldn't afford it!

Christmas 2005: My first Christmas in NYC. I didn't know anyone and was completely lonely and couldn't see my parents as they'd just moved. Luckily I saw my sisters but it just wasn't the ideal situation. I want Christmas with my whole family again, sisters, nephews, etc and going away somewhere warm!

Christmas 2004: I was in the UK, and despite a kind friend inviting me to spend it with her and her family in East Grinstead outside of London, I always kinda felt that I was imposing. It killed me that I didn't have Christmas with my family that year, especially since it would've been the last Christmas in my old house in Collingswood.

Christmas 2003: The best Christmas I can remember. We went to Baja Principe, Mexico and had a glorious time! Tanya and Lisa got engaged, I spent most of my time with 3 non-English speaking Italian guys and it was just a beautiful, relaxing vacation, especially because I hated my job and had the most horrific flu 3 weeks before.

Now several people have told me that to be around Sarah means to know what the word "drama" means. Well I can't really argue with that. But despite all this drama, I think I've done quite well with what I've been dealt. And sure, people create their own drama sometimes, but it's not just because some people try to look for drama. Sometimes it's just because we don't know what to do and make the wrong decisions. Because things map out because of bad choices. My glorious dad made a lovely statement earlier: "You've pursued things higher and higher. And sometimes the higher you go, the rougher the road gets". Thanks Dad :) I think that's quite true. Just because we're supposed to be older and wiser doesn't mean our decisions get wiser. It just means we can offer stupid advice to people 5 years younger than us regarding parents and friends and boyfriends. But we can make the same wrong choices at the age of 15 and the age of 55. And I guarantee you, I will be.

But hell, it creates interesting blogs right? You can all thank me later. After you include cheques in your Christmas cards.... xx