Growing Pains

Before this summer I hadn't lived with my parents for 1 year and 3 months.

It was running smoothly at first but now every time I have an interaction with them I feel like they are angry at me. All the fun and social outings I've had have been annoying them but... It doesn't make much sense to me.

I don't have a career job and my summer school class literally doesn't matter towards graduation so staying out late doesn't have real world repercussions.  Especially if I get to work on time and do what I need to do. 

I think I was 10 minutes late yesterday which is the first time I've been late in almost two months. 

I told my Dad I want to try and hang out with my friends as much as possible before I leave because I won't see them for at least 4 1/2 months. Same goes with Nathaniel although in the end there is know if all of our interactions will be for nothing in the long term.

I try to be optimistic but I also don't want to build myself up for a let down.

I annoy my parents.

They hate that I travel because they think that it prevents me from taking care of my 'real life' responsibilities. But, I don't think they are proud of me for anything else other than my travel.  

Catch-22?

You rag on me for my wanderlust but I see how you glow when you reel off all the places I've been to your bar and work friends.

My Dad got angry for me saying that I was unexcited about Mexico and is probably under the impression the feeling has only recently evolved. He banned me from saying it anymore. He asked me why I was still going then. He asked me why I was unexcited.

Every answer I gave was quickly cut off by a an anecdote of his own. Going away to college at LA State is apparently similar to moving to Mexico.

I tried to explain how Mexico isn't an easily romanticized country. I couldn't convey it properly. 

About a half hour later I left the house to study at Billy's with my Dad muttering to my Mom about how I was fucked up in the head... etc.

He also doesn't believe in the stretches of depression I've had. They correspond to my GPA fluctuation. I did have a few weeks of it in the fall and spring (mostly fall) but my grades stayed pretty good. It's easy to work harder at my journalism classes than those general eds. 

I love journalism. I can't wait to come back to the Bay Area and kick ass in Photo III and Publication Lab.

Off to work...