ATTN: Friends

Memo

_____________________________________________________
Date: August 25, 2010

Subject: Official Voyage Briefing

To: Friends@ChroniclesofaVagabond.org

From: Yours truly


Introduction:

Here yee here yee! Let it be known near and far, from one ocean to another, all across the land! Friends, brace yourselves because I can now tell you, without reservation, about my travels to come. “Why?” you ask. Well, because today…drum roll please…
                                                                  I just quit my job!!

Overview:

Now, I know what you’re thinking…Images of the 10 o’clock news are flashing through your head and your imagining me, newly unemployed Jayla, in a line joining the rest of the millions Americans at the unemployment office. Then you remind yourself…Wait, she is joining the sea of job hunters in a tanking economy by choice? Girl, you have got to be boarder line loco!
Call it what you will, but I will assure you this is the most liberating decision I’ve ever made. Quitting my job makes this real and it’s just another step in the direction toward this epic journey.
I have been keeping this trip somewhat on the DL since I hadn’t yet told my job that I will be leaving. In the world of Facebook, Twitter and Blogging word spreads fast. So, in a successful effort to keep things under wraps, until today of course, I can now tell all what is in store.


Details:

Flight itinerary booked so far:

*from: San Francisco, CA
*to: Auckland, New Zealand
*to: Sydney, Australia
*to: Brisbane, Australia
*to: Bali, Indonesia
*to: Singapore
*to: Bangkok, Thailand
*to: New Delhi, India
*to: Bombay, India
*to: London, UK
* to…?

Analysis:

I am absolutely overwhelmed with excitement as I’m writing you today. I am so fortunate to be working for a company that is supportive and encouraging of my unconventional career move. In fact, next time I schedule a meeting with my boss to discuss “changes in the next few months” I will be sure to be more specific so he doesn’t suspect I’m Prego!! LOL. Seriously though, being my first job out of college I have a sense of loyalty to AdvanTel Networks, for they have been the catalyst of my of entire professional career. And although I’m the first one to admit selling Unified Communications is a hustle…I will miss you AdvanTel and all my friends there!

Conclusion:

I would like to be clear so you can swipe all of those scary images of the hungry and homeless out of your head. First, I will be working through September earning that $ scrilla $ until I leave. Secondly, I will not be collecting unemployment… unfortunately! (don’t judge me…take it up with Obama). Lastly, it’s everyone’s dream to achieve success in a career and it’s always a scary thing to quite a job. However, good economy or bad…I took a leap of faith to make a bigger dream come true.

J- LA INK

For those of you who know me, you also know that I come with another half, my P.I.C. (that means Partner in Crime for those of you who don’t speak acronym), my BFF…Darcy! Friends, meet Darc:

Darcy at New Orleans Jazz Fest

It’s quite important to introduce Darcy early in the blogging saga since I can pretty much guarantee her being the subject of many of the stories to come. Plus, I will be sure to recap our cross country Road trip for those of you Vagabonders, but first I would like to fill you in on last Monday night.

I admit, my Monday evenings living with the new roommates (aka. Mom and Gene) don’t usually include much excitement. And no, the season finale of the Bachelorette doesn’t count! However, when I received the text from Darcy telling me to come through the new tattoo shop, Inkistry that just opened in Livermore, it sounded like a recipe for distraction. Although it was after closing time, when I got there the music was bumpin’, needles were buzzin’ and it seemed like a perfect time to get some new ink. So in the pure spirit of my travels to come, what is more symbolic than something that always guides you? A reminder of no matter where this life takes me I will find my way right where I need to be!

Me + new Tattoo

J.R.R Tolkien once said, "Not all who wander are lost." I love this quote! It reminds me of myself…haha. I’ve got a lot of wandering to do and although I am a human compass ( I’m not talking about driving directions for those of you who just laughed out loud at this claim. I’m referring to my amazing ability to know my N. S. E. & W.) I am actually looking forward to those moments where I am going to have no idea where I am. Some of the best memories come in times like that! But in all seriousness, Darcy and I got these tattoos because no matter where we may need to wander off to we will always know where our compasses point…where my best friend is!

Blog-a-boo.

Hi, friends! Welcome to my blog! I’m so happy to have you here and can’t wait to get rolling with some exciting stories as I venture through this crazy life of mine, but first I need to express the absolute relief I have in writing to you today. Finally, I come to you with the Chronicles of a Vagabond.

Who knew naming a blog could be so trivial? I found this out when I decided to start one...Mmm let's just say it was a while ago. I was ready to roll, but when it came down to writing...I came down with a small case of writers block. Not a good sign for a first time blogger! I brooded over the title of my blog with a few things in mind. First, as you will come to read in the near future...I am setting sail on a journey around the world! Secondly, I am a sucker for adventure, travel and all things fun (if the first reason didn’t give that away.) And lastly, I have a great passion for music, fashion and creativity that will inspire me. As you can see, this is quite the conundrum for a writer finding her niche. However, I have come to terms with the root of my passions; vagabonding. Allow me to explain...

Vagabonding - n. (1) The act of leaving behind the orderly world to travel independently for an extended period of time. (2) A privately meaningful manner of travel that emphasizes creativity, adventure, awareness, simplicity, discovery, independence, realism, good humor, and the growth of the spirit. (3) A deliberate way of living that makes the freedom to travel possible. 

So, now that we are here I no longer need to be bothered by naming my blog. Instead, I’ll have to stick to the chronicles part and bring you some ridiculously good stories of the adventures to come!