Narcissistic Sundays #13: Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

Giving my 3 week notice to my job in Phoenix, turned out to be more difficult than I thought it would be. I did like the guys I worked with (except for the one butt-hole). And despite the heat, I did like Phoenix. Perhaps with time, I would have eased into my job, and would have learned to really enjoy it, after all, I had only worked for them for 7 months. But at the time, it was agony. I just had to go.

When I gave my notice, I sat with the Personal Manager and told him what made me unhappy. The expression on his face was not at all happy. Looking back, I understand what had upset him so much. I had perfect grounds for a discrimination suit. But it is not my nature to be litigious in that way. I was only happy to be able to go back to California, and I was happy that he knew of the troubles I had with the coworker who made me feel so unwelcome, and incompetent. If they hired another female in my place, hopefully she would not endure the troubles that I did.

With each move, the U-Haul we rented got bigger. Our first move from Davis to Upland was a 10 ft truck. We have now graduated to a 24 ft truck. This truck was a monster! By this time, I also had a car. John didn’t drive, so now I was faced with the dilemma of how to get my car to CA. The truck was big enough, I didn’t want to have to tow a car. The thought scared the heck out of me.

Then, to my rescue, came a college buddy. I paid for her flight to Phoenix from Sacramento, and she drove the monster truck that towed my el-cheapo car. She loved the idea of doing the drive, and I was only too happy to have paid for her trip to Phoenix, and meals and hotel along the way to San Jose.

It was a long trip. We split it into 2 days, with an overnight stop just north of LA. The second day of the trip, we crossed the coastal mountains to Highway 101.  As we were going over the mountains into the San Luis Obispo area, we noted something moving across the mountain road. Amy slowed down as we tried to get a closer look. There seemed to be thousands of them…were they leaves? Sticks? Our imagination? John had the answer.

“DON”T BLOODY STOP!! THOSE ARE TARANTULLAS!!” He shouted.

Apparently, it was tarantula mating season. By the hundreds, maybe even thousands, these large spiders were crossing the road looking for mates. It was like a bad Steven King version of why did the chicken cross the road, only with tarantulas. With my window down, I swear, I could hear the squishing sound as we ran over more than a few of these creatures.

Finally, we were out of tarantula  love-fest country, and along 101 which was within site of the Pacific Ocean. It was a beautiful drive. With a lunch stop in beautiful San Luis Obispo, we continued on north to San Jose.

Now, this might seem really weird to you. I do believe that visualization of what you want, helps to make your wish come true. While in Phoenix, I used to imagine myself back in California. I wanted to live in Davis again, and work in Sacramento. As I closed my eyes to meditate on that desire, I could never get pictures in my mind of either Davis or Sacramento. It was always of another city. But still, I felt this city was in California. So I just stopped trying to see Davis or Sacramento, and allowed the image that kept coming in my mind to stay.

I had never once been to San Jose, nor had I seen pictures of it. I had no idea of what it looked like. But as we were on 280, driving past the downtown area, I saw the city that was in my minds eye while meditating night after night and wishing I could be back in California . There are no words that can come close to telling you how I felt at that time. I was amazed, a little scared perhaps (even though this is not the first time this sort of thing has happened to me).

We arrived at our new apartment (taken sight unseen from Phoenix), and checked in.  We were on the second floor. I liked this apartment complex. The grocery store was next door, and my new office was a short 3 mile bike ride away. I could hardly wait to start work in 4 days time.