[Dianne]

Well, I'm glad that things seem like they're going to work out for you and your boyfriend. My situation took a decidedly different turn, and I couldn't be happier. After almost 3 years together, I was beginning to feel like things between my guy and me had run their course. Also, we have been living in Santa Cruz, CA for just over a year, and I have absolutely hated it since I got here. Which is ironic since the main reason we came out here was so I could go to grad school. But then I dropped out of grad school at the beginning of August (loooong story, but I am very happy with my decision, it's best for me right now). But my boyfriend absolutely loves it here. This is his dream town. He wants to build his life and career out here. Which is fine for him. But I just can't take it any more, and recently things got to the point where it was like, "Alright, something's gotta give. I am sick of being so miserable." I knew I wanted to break up, but with our apartment and all, and having NO money to even get back home, I didn't know what to do. So I did what any girl would do in a desperate situation - I called my mom, to tell her that she had been right all along and that I needed advice. Then she asked, "Well what do you want to do?" I said, "I just want to come home." And she said, "Fine. I'm tired of this. We're gonna get you home." So with a loan from my grandfather, my older sister is flying out here in less than 2 weeks, helping me pack my car, and we're driving back to South Carolina!! YAY!! It's all happening so fast! But I really have the best family in the world. (Another irony - I am moving home with mom to regroup, but meanwhile my older sister already lives there and my younger sister recently moved back in. So all 4 of us in one house like old times, and my mom used to call it "the sorority house" since there were so many girls! - can you tell I come from a Greek family?) So anyhow, I am so happy about going home I could cry. I did have to break the news to my now ex-boyfriend, but he took it ok, he had seen it coming. And the fact that I hated Santa Cruz has never been a secret. So YAY!!! I am going home, single, unattached, with a clean slate to figure out what the hell I'm gonna do with my life! I can't wait! And I have the best family ever!