I’m pretty sure that we all ask this question from time to time. WTF am I doing out with my friends the night before my job interview? WTF am I doing with this guy in a bar bathroom? WTF am I doing embezzling funds from my company? Whatever. The circumstances are person specific, but if you’ve never asked the question, you probably don’t have a pulse. In which case, you should ask WTF am I doing alive without a pulse?
In my case, my entire life is a WTF question. I grew up on the East side of Des Moines. I got through high school, graduated, went to college, studied theatre and religion, graduated, and started working professionally in regional theatre. It was hard work but good work, and I was doing great for someone my age. But I was working so much that I started to wonder if that’s all my life was going to be. I wasn’t comfortable with my job being my whole life. So in the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, and with no idea what I was/am going to do, I quit my job and came back home. See? I am the “WTF am I doing?” champion. That’s why I get to write the blog!
I shouldn’t say that I had NO idea what I was doing. I had, and still have, two very promising prospects. The first is to be a free loader. I’ve been doing this for the past five days, and amazingly, I’m already tired of it. My second option is to become a professional hobo, riding the rails, saying very little, knifing the guy who tries to take my can of beans. Or, as a variation, I could be a carny, stop brushing my teeth, beckon unsuspecting people to my booth where I’ll distract them while my “associate” robs them of everything they have, drink lots of whiskey. There’s real possibility there.
What I’ll actually do is get a job. Then I’ll strengthen my ties to Des Moines, familiarize myself with the art scene here, and take on projects that I feel excited about with people I respect. I’ll find an apartment. I’ll be around when my nephew is born and hang out with my family. I’ll spend time with my oldest and most supportive friends, maintain my relationships around the country, and develop new friendships. I’ll try new things and find a few hobbies, causes, and organizations that I want to give my time and energy to. Basically, I’ll build my life.
I invite you all to come along for the ride. This is a blog about all the ridiculous situations I get into, the ideas I develop, and the life that I create. I don’t promise that there will be any great truths. I don’t promise it will be interesting. I don’t even promise that it will end happily, but I’m pretty sure it will. I mean, I still have a good 70 years to work with. Surely I can do something good with that time. Anyway, come along and see what happens.
XOXO
Artschick
PS…In an attempt to keep this from getting too heavy, and in an effort to try new things, in addition to writing about my own shit, I will accept challenges from the readers. For example, I don’t know how to ride a bike. You could challenge me to learn. I would accept, and after finding a bike, I would post about the experience. Maybe you know that I love coffee, but you worry about my caffeine intake. Challenge me to a week without it. Then you can read about my trip to prison. Perhaps you know nothing about me, but think Moby Dick is the best book ever written. Challenge me to read it, and I’ll let you know if I agree. You might challenge me to look into prostitution as source of income. I’d tell you to fuck off. But hey, you get the idea. Bring the ideas.
Hilarious.