Hello, all! I had a total blog fail yesterday owing to someone pinning me down on the sofa and forcing me to watch the Federer Wimbledon match. What can I say, it was difficult but I toughed it out.
So today, I'm taking part in the Life Begins at 22 'blorgy' (a Gemma Burgess word; I didn't make it up!) to celebrate the launch of Gemma's Brooklyn Girls. Find out more about the book here and read
more Life Begins at 22 entries here. I'm posting a bit early but there will be plenty of other entries to peruse soon!
For me, this post should probably be entitled Life Begins at 24, because that is the age I finally finished my Masters and went out into the big wide world of work. And thus began the disillusionment with corporate life, because although I loved having my own flat, making money, and living in a great city, I detested the nine to five grind of doing something (in this case, editing a medical journal) which was guaranteed to put me to sleep within five minutes.
In fact, my colleagues and I would often indulge in a cheeky little snooze while looking suitably engrossed in an article on DREs (don't ask - you really don't want to know, believe me).
But the brilliant group of people I worked with more than made up for the rather lacklustre material. All young, most just a few years out of university and living away from their hometowns, we became a close circle. Outside of the beige office, we took on Montreal: going to bars, eating eating eating, and hanging out on the terraces during the lovely hot summers.
I still remember the heady excitement of exploring a fantastic new city, the freedom of returning home to my own apartment, and knowing that if I wanted something, I had the money to buy it. Life after 24 was all about freedom and fun, and although there was the inevitable heartbreak and confusion, that's what I remember most.
What do you remember about your twenties?
I was 28 when I had my first baby! Went from being dynamic work/party/organised person to a numb shell - where I've pretty much stayed, actually. I like it here...
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post!!Good for you Talli!
ReplyDeleteMy twenties for me are best forgotten! LOL!!
And so off I go to google DREs....! :-) Take care
x
Not much! Although that's when I met and married my wife. Best decision ever.
ReplyDeleteI was married and a mum! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm at that stage right now, Talli, and loving it! But, like for you, the 9-to-5 (sometimes 9-to-7... eep) is wearing me down. Maybe one day I'll be able to determine my work hours on my own!
ReplyDeleteHi Talli .. great remembrances of your 20s .. I hit London had some interesting jobs and generally enjoyed life ... learnt squash - which took me through til my return from SA in my xxxxxx decade!!!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the week .. and the tennis has been good ... I keep switching it off! Cheers Hilary
Hi, Talli,
ReplyDeleteLOVED my twenties.... At 22 I was on the second rung of my modeling career. A Senior in college. My days started at 6:00 am and ended by 2:am.... So much excitement. Fashion, art, AMAZING people. INSANE photographers, dodging pervs, and six hour classes dominated my day. Never ONE DULL SECOND... LOL
My goodness, twenties seem a long way away...finishing uni, starting a job as a Librarian in Brent....having my own money to spend....mainly on rent as I recall..then marrying Martyn at 24. And now I'm watching my own lovely DD enjoying her twenties......
ReplyDeleteSounds like your twenties were exciting. At 24 I was giving up work to have my first baby and become a stay at home mum.I don't regret a single thing.
ReplyDeleteIn my twenties I worked full time between Manchester and London for an international company. It was the materialistic 1980's and my dh and I were 'DINKYs'(duel income no kids yet). All that changed when I was 30 and had my first child. I never thought about having kids throughout my 20's - then was so taken with the magic of motherhood that I had 3 kids in 5 years - all boys. My 20's were exciting but I've certainly had lots more fun since!
ReplyDeleteJanice xx
Being whistled at and hating it. All the things I didn't know ...
ReplyDeleteLet's see, classes, regular trips to rock faces, more classes... looks rather like what it is right now, actually...
ReplyDeleteSounds like 24 was the start of many wonderful things for you! I also have great memories from my twenties, and now I'm living vicariously through my almost 25 year old son.
ReplyDeleteJulie
Loved reading your life after 24. NOW I know where some of the stuff in your books come from, lol!
ReplyDeleteIn my 20's, huh. At 22 I had been on my own for over 4 years and taking care of me. Learned a lot about writing, marketing, and promotion The summer of 22 I took a summer break from corporate--not my cuppa, though I learned alot--and playing beach bum in Virginia Beach. Playing on the beach and exploring the area by day, traded in presentations and clients along with my heels for sneakers working at a seafood restaurant--fabulous tips, gads. At 23 I got married and was finishing college for a different degree. Some fun years of travel and adventure. Wouldn't want those years back but they were fun.
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
That is definitely an exciting time in life - the first job and the heady thrill of making your own money. Scary but exciting!
ReplyDeleteI just think until you hit your 30s, you don't realize how much you're still like a teenager in your early twenties
ReplyDeleteAh the 20's. There was lots of studying, lots of partying, not much cash. :)
ReplyDeleteYay for the Montreal shout out :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd say about the same age for me, because that's when I finished school (though not forever!) and DH-to-be and I moved to Turkey!
I was newly hitched and travelling with my newbie husband. Fun, fun, fun. PS, still together.
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ReplyDeleteSounds like good times Talli, but I don't remember much about my 20s except my first beat up old Geo. What a piece of junk.
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I spent my twenties travelling, temping as a PA and going to parties. It was great fun and I met some great friends along the way.
ReplyDeleteI'll just say that I'm lucky to have made it out of my twenties! It was a crazy and wild decade for me. I'm sure you remember many of my stories from that time.
ReplyDeleteCertain things came easier then. However, I can say that about my present age too! So, this was an interesting question. My answer is that I nearly became a co-host of a weeknight television magazine--in of all places--Waterloo, Iowa. I only know one pop song with the word "Waterloo" in it! ;)
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