Jenniferahealy.smugmug.com

I run. A lot. And sometimes, kind of far.

One of those sometimes, was 33 miles, to be exact.

After that very far race, my mom asked me just how I did it.

“How do you run 33 miles?”

“You put one foot in front of the other; repeat,” I replied.

She shrugged it off as just another of my smart remarks, but I was serious. That was it. That is how you run. Whether it’s one mile or 100 miles, that does not change. What it is not, I think most would agree, is easy.

How often do we see people who are living out our desired life and ask “How are they doing it?” How many days do we start and end still dreaming about our goals because we just don’t know where to begin? Too many, because we’re asking questions to which we already know the answers.

We can see ourselves in the “after” and know ourselves in the “before”, but when it comes to the “during”, we struggle to get a clear picture. Or maybe we just don’t want to see that picture clearly, because it is of some down-right hard work. Hard work that we would suddenly be accountable for. There’s a reason the diet industry has a boom every time a new “secret” is revealed. Losing weight is not easy. We see it as some complex code to be cracked and analyzed. But it’s not. It’s a very simple equation: burn more than you consume. Saving money: Spend less than you earn.These aren’t complex or mysterious, they’re just hard to do.

When we’re looking to climb a mountain, we may spend extra time at the base. We’re still trying to figure out our approach. We’re just not sure where to start. But we will, once that magic moment of inspiration hits us, and up we go. And then everything will just come together, right?

At the base, we’re protected. We can’t fall. We can’t fail.

But we also can’t reach the top. If we merely sit down below, staring at the peak, that’s all we’ll ever do. Safe? Comfortable? Predictable? Sure. But how many dream of playing it safe? When have we been encouraged to “stay in our comfort zone”? Who yearns for complete predictability? Do these wishes exist? Possibly. But show me someone who made history by following precedence. Show me a safe, predictable, comfortable life that is shaping the world.

We don’t see these people at the top until they get there. We struggle to imagine there was ever a time they sat beside us at the base. But they did. The difference between us and them? Just a matter of steps. There is only one way to the top of the mountain, and it is up.

Simple.

But, by no means, easy.

Attempting that climb leaves you open to everything the environment can throw at you. There will be times when the journey seems smooth, and maybe even easy. There will be times when it’s anything but. There will be times when you feel like every moment is spent fighting to stay on that rock.

There will be times when you fall.

But even then, you will get closer. You will know the next time you cling to your spot on that mountain, that you can weather the storm. You will know when you do get back up, just what to expect up there, and you will be ready to face it or to find a way around it. You will appreciate the parts of the climb that go smoothly, and you may actually enjoy them.

So what are your goals? To run a Marathon? To get a job? To buy a home? To earn a degree? To be an artist? A writer? An actor? A film-maker? Bring world peace?

Lace up your shoes. Put one foot in front of the other. Go as far as you can and then take one more step. Tomorrow, that limit will be one step further.

Send out your resume. Tomorrow, you will have that much greater a chance of a job becoming yours.

Put $1 into a savings account. Tomorrow, the amount you need to save will be that much less.

Apply to school. Whether it turns out to be the school for you or not, you will be that much closer to making a decision.

Paint. Write. Act. Film. Be an example. “There are two kinds of people: those that wait for permission from a higher authority and those that grant themselves permission,” says author Tina Seelig. No one will wave a magic wand at the base and declare you a mountain climber; you become one by climbing. You become a runner by running, a writer by writing, a peacemaker by making peace. Result arrives through action.

So stop waiting for “permission.” Stop hoping to have inspiration hit you. Opportunity doesn’t knock, it sits silently behind a door that waits to be opened. And sometimes, that door is a wall that needs to be knocked down.

Is this easy? Of course not. Not at all. But it’s much simpler than we like to admit. You have a choice, one week, one month, one year from now: you can look back at the base from above it; look back at where you are now from where you’ve arrived, or you can still be were you’ve always been. Because regardless of what you do, that week, that month, that year are going to come and go. They’ll do it without even consulting you. If you choose action, how close you’ll be to the finish, I couldn’t say, but what I can say, is that you will not still be stuck at the start.

So stop over-complicating. Stop putting up your own roadblocks. The map from point A to point B may not be as much a mystery as you think. It might just be hard to travel. But it’s not impossible if you put one foot in front of the other.

And repeat.

So, naturally, as I wrap up my time as the Social Media intern at the RedEye (for real this time), I couldn’t help but feel compelled to just let everyone know how much my time here has meant to me. I will skip over my sorted history of job-hunting woes and dead-end leads, because I can now honestly say, I am grateful for every door I’ve had shut in may face; every opportunity I thought I’d missed, and (can’t believe I’m saying this) still being at my gig at Spaland; it is because of all that didn’t work out in the past, that I was able to do what I’ve done now. And I wouldn’t trade my experience here for anything in the world.

To feel challenged, to come to a place where people genuinely enjoy their work, to be able to think of an idea and have it listened to; it may all sound trite,  but it’s anything but. It is nice to know going to work does not need to be a dreaded event, and if it is, well, then you’re in the wrong job.

This was my first internship, and I’ve probably been spoiled–spoiled in that I never felt I was thought of as just “the intern”. And I think I can speak for all who have interned here when I say we’re made to feel like a valuable, contributing member of the team. No one wears a scarlet “I” on their shirt.

I’m a big believer in always taking what you do seriously, but never taking yourself seriously. I think the peeps here at RedEye are a shining example of finding that balance.

And while I know I’m just part of a line of interns who will come and go throughout the year, I have never felt it. My time here has been far more than just good work experience, it’s been good life experience. And I’m proud to call many of the staff friends.

People keep asking me “what’s next?”

If I knew, you’d woulda seen it on Twitter. But rest assured I am not going to float off into oblivion. (Sorry.) You can still find me on the BrokeAss blog, sharing deals, advice, and resources for not only getting your ass un-broke, but how to live a relatively enjoyable life until you do.

And I still believe that the only difference between you and someone who has been doing your dream job for 10 years is 10 years. And understand that simple in no way equals easy. One of my favorite quotes came from a friend’s Facebook page: “No regrets, just lessons.” I’ve always tried to live by that motto.

So a huge, ginormous thank you to the entire staff for making this experience what it was. Especially Scott and Steph, for teaching me what I need to run with an idea, and then trusting me to do it, and most of all, answering all my incessant questions, e-mails, and DMs with patience and a smile. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate it all.

So thank you. For everything.

And stay tuned folks. I’m excited to see where I end up myself.

I don’t. Anyone who has happened to catch more than 90 seconds of a newscast or scanned the front page of a paper I think will agree, there is a lot of gun-related violence in Chicago. I mean, A LOT. As a matter of fact, in the summer of 2008 125 people were killed by gun fire in Chicago; Twice the amount of casualties as America churned out in Iraq.

Iraq. Where there’s a war. Twice. To liken Chicago to a warzone would be to underestimate the gravity of the situation. Chicago could only hope to have such a peaceful few months as Iraq did.

No matter what one’s stance on gun control, these are difficult numbers to ignore. Yet we are still divided.

Now the main argument for removing the ban on handguns in Chicago I hear is two-fold:

1. “Crimes are committed by criminals. I need a gun to protect myself from them. Guns in turn will lower crime rate because I can defend myself against someone who would probably just go get a gun illegally anyway.”

Part of that is true; yes, criminals are the ones causing the problems. If all the good guys had guns they could fight off the occasional bad guy who comes their way. All we have to do is make sure only the good guys are the ones with guns.

It’s a nice idea in theory. It really is. And I will say this, there have been times when I’ve almost been convinced that just having strict regulations is the answer.

Almost.

But when you get down to it, I just cannot see a real reason for guns. I can’t. Because ultimately, the only purpose of a gun is to destroy it’s target. No matter what the circumstance, whether used correctly, under supervision, as directed, legally, with the best of intentions, justified or not, that is all they do. And personally I feel one would be hard pressed to find any news story that went: “Two people are just peachy today because they each waved guns at each other.”

If that is our reasoning then the whole world might as well start warming up their nuclear bombs. After all, we’re a law-abiding country. We aren’t going around trying to threaten others. We just want to feel safe. It’s our right, and they blew that right by being bad.

Well then by all means, nuke it up! Because if some “bad-guy” country happens to get their hands on a real-life nuclear weapon, I want to make sure I can fight back.

I can say this much though, if that’s the case, then we’re not going to need to worry about guns. Or the economy. And definitely not global warming, ‘cuz the Earth probably isn’t going to be around for too much longer.

2. “It’s my constitutional right.”

Technically, yes, that would be the second Amendment. (You were paying attention in history.)

It states: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

I want to make clear that I do not dismiss the validity and importance of The Constitution. It is what our country was built on. The core foundations of our beliefs as a nation. The Bill of Rights is made up of 10 little phrases that help ensure the preservation of these foundations that our Founding Fathers’ worked so hard to forge. To ignore such precedence would be, well, Un-Constitutional.

Well, not necessarily.

Yes, The Constitution is the “teachers edition” of law books. It is what the Supreme Court looks to when trying to come to the most difficult of decisions. However, the world has changed since 1791. And I must say I find it hard to believe high school students popping each other after class because one was wearing a different color bandanna than the other is what our Fore-fathers had in mind when they put quill to parchment. We are far from the days of the British knocking down our doors with muskets and the Minute Men being the sole protectors of a secluded village.

We have a military. A pretty big and pretty well-armed one at that, compared to the 18th century. We have a Police force. And yes, both need attention, financially and otherwise. Both are stretched a little thin. But I refuse to believe that arming every Tom, Dick, and Harry that can pass a background check is going to ease that strain.  The fact that the old lady or college theater major next to me on the L could very well be packing is not going to make me feel safer riding. What about the rights of those killed? Doesn’t the right to live outweigh the right to carry a handgun through an urban population?

“Well anything can be a weapon if you try hard enough Jen. People are killed by cars, knives, prescription drugs, heart disease; Does that mean we should outlaw everything that has a potential to hurt? Should cheeseburgers be banned because they can lead to heart attacks?”

No. And cut the sarcasm.

If a drug dealer is selling crack, it’s far more difficult for them to get around cops and push their product than say, a doctor illegally selling prescription drugs; one is an illegal substance. There is no way, shape, or form that it would ever be OK to have.

The same cannot be said for an otherwise legal drug-it is far more difficult to see when it’s being put in the wrong hands. Now obviously we’re not going to ban prescription drugs because they can be used for bad things. The benefit of them greatly outweighs the harm. Because of that, we need to allow them and just have strict rules and procedures that ensure they don’t get into the wrong hands.

That’s what many propose for guns, and that would be a perfectly legitimate argument if a gun was saving and improving the lives a majority of the time they’re used.

But if you look at the numbers, the hundreds of people killed per year, I fail to see how that case can be made.

“Getting rid of guns is not going to stop crime.”

No, it’s not. Not by a long shot. I never said it would. But frankly I don’t think the fact that a step is not a cure-all is grounds for completely writing it off. Desegregation didn’t rid the country of racism, but I don’t think anyone would point to that and say “see it didn’t work.”

“Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.”

I understand that there are so many other factors that go into why gun violence is what it is in our city. Gangs need to be considered “Public enemy #1.” Yes, we need to take a good hard look at our prison system. Kids need better parenting, more options, education to keep them from turning to gangs and violence. I think we can all agree these are the underlying issues. You’re right, a gun never walked up to anyone, demanded their money and then shot them in the head. But the fact of the matter is, if a person doesn’t have a gun, they can’t shoot. Period. It’s impossible. Ask a scientist, they’ll tell ya. No I don’t think guns are the cause of violence; What I think is that they make it too easy to kill.

This is not the first time I’ve had this discussion. And I doubt it will be the last. I’ve been called “unrealistic”; my ideas “fantastical”; told I’m expecting a “Utopia”, and very likely worse things when I wasn’t in earshot.

And I can honestly say to those people, that part of me hopes you never agree with me. Because more likely than not the only way that would happen was if you were to be personally affected by gun violence. And politics aside, I truly hope that is never the case; that you go on believing that loading everyone with a weapon is going to keep us all safe because it has never hit you close to home. I mean that with the utmost sincerity.

And I don’t expect the world to ever be all sunshine and lollipops; to be able to walk down a dark alley in the middle of the night without a care; to turn on the news and see nothing but stories of how wonderful the world was today. No, that wouldn’t be “realistic.” Such an idea would be “fantastical” and that’s a pretty good definition of a Utopia if I ever heard one. I am not naive.

But that will never stop me from wanting it. From striving for it. From trying to get others to see just how much better it can all be if only we refused to accept the present reality as the ultimate fate.

And to quote a very wise man whose birth we celebrate today “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Parents are leaving the ‘Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Cuddle and Coo’ doll off the Christmas list this year. The doll, sold at Target and Walmart, is being alleged to say the message “Islam is the light” according to those who have purchased the doll. Customers are in an uproar about the doll that supposedly “promotes Islam”. Target and Walmart are pulling the doll off the shelf.

This scares me, people.

Not the doll’s words, but the fact that in our country, a supposed enlightened and free country, we equate Islam with terrorism.

Islam, in its truest and oldest form, is a religion. A peaceful religion, based on values no different from Christianity and Judaism. Browsing through blogs and articles, the doll is accused of “spouting a message of hate” and the religion associated with suicide bombings.
This is a prejudice in its purest form.
The average Muslim is not an enemy of the Western world. In fact, the average Muslim will condemn terrorists actions. A select few, Islam Extremists, have tarnished the religion. What these terrorists do in the name of Islam does not represent the masses.

“I think it’s bad” said one girl on Fox News.

This scares me.

More than terrorist attacks and suicide bombers; our attitude, and complete and utter ignorance as a country, scares me.

And as a journalism major, it angers me that the media, the supposedly fair and objective gatekeepers of the news, are reporting the story in a way that supports this prejudice. The big news story is not that a doll may or may not have a religious preference, but that we are still so blind as a country to the racial and religious discrimination that we embrace.

Islam is not the enemy; ignorance is the enemy. And until we open our eyes to that truth, we are no better than those Extremists who hide behind religion in order to validate their hate.

I will say though, that at least from the coverage I’ve seen, the media appears to be making an effort to point out that “Muslim” is not a synonym for “terrorist”. “Do not jump to conclusions” President Obama stressed. I hope America takes this advice to heart.

We’ve seen this movie before in Chicago. Lately, it seems we hold a city-wide funeral every year about the first week of October. (At least, on the North side. ) 2009, it’s the city as a whole that’s in mourning. In fact, you could say it’s the Country as a whole that feels like they just got cut from their high school baseball team. Chicago will not host the 2016 Olympics.

I couldn’t help but notice all the “It’s Gonna Happen” signs recycled from the last crowd to gather in Daley Plaza in hopes of a big win. I think we need to burn those signs.

The morning started off so promising. I awoke early on my day off to a beaming Sky Blue even Crayola  couldn’t match. That little bite of fall in the air. The The’s “This is The Day” seemed to resound through the city.

Not so much.

I made my plans to head down to Daley Plaza to play photog. The announcement would be at noon. I had plenty of time to soak it all in. I pictured the moment: Joyous Chicagoans cheering, crying, maybe Obama Heli-dropping in to “Damn It Feels Good to Be  Gangster”….

I was prepared for nothing else but a Yes.

Or, at least, not prepared for a Hell No.

Weren’t we supposed to be the front runners? I mean, both the Big O’s went to Copenhagen. Really? That’s it?

Wow. Harsh.

As the city tries to steady itself after the initial shock, we are left asking the obvious questions; “What did we do wrong?” “Who’s to blame?” “How could they not want US?”

Nothing, no one, and frankly, I have no idea.

Well, not exactly I guess. As most of you, I am looking through a Chicagoan’s eyes. Like a father whose daughter doesn’t get asked to the Prom. (“Anyone who doesn’t see you’re the prettiest, smartest, and perfect in every way is a complete idiot and not worth you’re time…” Or something along those lines.) Our very own Bonnie Hunt summed it up when she told NBC “I can’t imagine anyone not wanting Chicago to be apart of something.”

Us either Bonnie.

3 years, millions of dollars, countless people-All to have the kibosh put on it in a few hours. But what I think  makes this loss so hard to swallow the most, is the personal rejection Chicagoans are feeling.

When your team loses: Yes, it’s hard, it’s disappointing, it’s down-right heartbreaking. But ultimately, it comes down to who played better. Who scored the most. Who ran the fastest. Etc.; It is not subjective. You aren’t trying to sell yourself to a third party.

But with an Olympic bid, it’s so much more than just objective facts and figures. (And maybe even more than the IOC would like to admit.) The applicant city is putting itself out there, asking the world to choose them, because, let’s face it, they’re just pretty darn great.

And we are pretty darn great.

There are few things Chicagoans love more than, well, Chicago. Northside, Southside, Eastside, West side; Black, White, Asian, Hispanic; Native, Immigrant; Gay, Straight; Man, Woman;  young, old; democrat, Republican-It doesn’t matter. Chicago is a city full of pride and full of love. Especially when it comes to sports. In Chicago, “How are you?” can be answered with a sports score. We’re a big, modern, glitzy city; with small-town, old-fashioned Midwestern spirit and warmth. And for really the first time, we’ve been told that we’re not quite good enough. And that hurts. No matter what the reasoning, Chicagoans feel like their beloved city was just dumped on by the International community.

Mother Nature seems to echo our mood. The skies appeared to dim right on cue after the crushing news was delivered. The sharp bite in the air suddenly less crisp and more shiver-inducing without the sun’s rays. It rained briefly. Chicago getting out one good cry I like to think. And now I look out my window at a cloudy, cold, and downright dismal day.

Chicago is sad.

But we’ll get over it. We always do. Fire, curses, our local government: We’ve handled disasters before. We’ve got thick skin. And I like to think we’re gracious enough to wish Rio, another deserving city, the best. And I’ll always choose you Chicago. ‘Cuz you’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and, dog gone-it, people like you.

Now, however, is more than a time for self-pity. It is a time for self-evaluation. As a city, and as a country. Minutes after learning we were knocked out  in the first round, a Tweet popped up on my screen: “Chicago 2020!” said Jeff Kenny of Chicago. And how very Chicago of him. Jeff, you must be a Cubs fan.

But when the Chicago Olympic committee and Mayor Daley were asked about giving it the ‘Ol College try next time, I was shocked, and disheartened by the If-it-didn’t-happen-now-it’s-probably-not-going-to response. “With such a change-oriented President…this was the time…” one Chicago 2016 Bid committee members told NBC. Were we really relying that much on Obama? I find myself at times concerned about how much we idolize our new President. Don’t get me wrong, I was and am a supporter. But he is still human. And it scares me (and I would imagine, him) that we sometimes seem to forget that. And if that’s really why we were going for it-a whim since we seemed to be on such a roll-well then maybe we didn’t deserve it after all.

The articles are rolling out now about Anti-American sentiment and vote-blocking, and lack political support for the U.S.. Well, maybe. But to be honest, if the IOC, if the world was looking to send America a message, I think there may have been some validity to it. The United States is 233 years old. Compared to the rest of the world, that makes us about Bar Mitzvah-aged. We’re like the teeny-boppers taking over Hollywood. Yes, we have lots of power, money, and influence, but ultimately, we’re still just an arrogant kid, and we need to be reminded of that from time to time.

Honestly, America, I’m not sure this was “the time” after all. Yes, our popularity has increased since Obama took over. Countries aren’t necessarily afraid of hurting their own image if they are the ones to invite us to a party. But instead of competing for the lampshade award, maybe we should just hang out by punch bowl, quietly sip our cocktail, and let someone else take the spotlight. Maybe we should say to another country “well enough about me, tell me about yourself…”

I love my country. I truly do. I love my city as well. And I think it’s a shame that a stand-up, class act like Chicago had to serve as the IOC’s example. Because Chicago 2016 would have been spectacular. And we would have done it right. But while here, we’re “Chicago”, to the world, we’re “The United States.” And right now, to be completely honest, I’m not so sure I’d vote for the United States either. I’m not sure it would help us grow the way we still need to.

And as much as I wanted these games. As gutted as I was when we didn’t get them, I can sincerely say, maybe it is for the best. Maybe now we can refocus on fixing up the structural issues of our home instead of throwing on coat of paint so it looks pretty for a party. And I don’t just mean that for Chicago, I mean that for America.

I have to admit, as I type these last words, I am surprised myself at how my views have so quickly changed; at the range of emotions in just this entry alone.

If today were to start all over again, I would still root for my city. Because I love it, and am proud, and would be thrilled to have my home be at the international stage. But I realize now that my motives would be all wrong. I’m not sure we would have seen it as the true honor it should be, but more of even…an entitlement….I learned a new word today, courtesy of NBC Chicago: Solipsistic-The theory or view that the self is the only reality (Thanks to Dictionary.com). Well, no NBC, I don’t think it was exactly. Actually this article brought me some comfort in the hour following the devastation that was our 1st-round cut. But as it all settles in, I’m beginning to see the silver lining in a truly disappointing day. I hope we take this opportunity to reflect on ourselves as a country, and to learn. Because 2016 will come (unless you’re a Mayan, in which case, you probably stopped reading this paragraphs ago,) and we will again have the opportunity to show the world that we’ve grown up a bit. We’ve matured. And, someday, we’ll be ready to accept the honor. And we’ll be gracious, and humble, and the world will smile with us.

And it will be one hell of a Games.

Different people get off and on, stay for varying durations; some stay longer, sit closer than you expected; some leave far too soon. Some are annoying, inconsiderate, or down-right rude. Others make the ride so enjoyable, you don’t want it to end

Sometimes you find yourself creeping along, agonizingly slowly; sometimes you just stop all together, and no matter how much you may want to get moving, all you can do is wait

Sometimes you find it running “express”, zooming towards your destination faster than you would have thought possible, leaving you amazed at how fast everything flew by

Sometimes you wonder what the ride would have been like if you had gotten on in another car; if it would have been better, more comfortable, easier; Other times you realize how lucky you are to have even gotten a seat.

Often you forget there’s more to it all than your own car. Then something happens that effects the whole train and you realize you’re just a tiny part of something much bigger.

Often, the people who rode with you at the start of your journey can’t stay with you until your stop. And as aware as you may be that their stop is coming up, it’s still sad to see them go

Sometimes the L is frustrating. Sometimes you wish you had more control. Sometimes you wonder why it can be such a pain. And often you just can’t understand how the people in charge got there in the first place

And sometimes, it just plain smells

Other times, you can’t help but be thankful it exists, despite, or even, because of all of its flaws

Unlike the L however, in life, you can’t plan how long your trip will last. Sometimes a person has to get off before they reach their destination.

And no matter how sad some may be to see us leave, and as much we’d like to think it not true, the train does not stop just because we’re no longer riding it

But, as I get closer to the moment I have been itching to get to, the true reality of it seems to be setting in. For the first time, since, well, starting college actually, I am beginning to feel some sadness about it all ending. Even though it’s been 4 1/4 years, it somehow still feels abrupt. I didn’t think I would mind the less-traditional graduation date of November. Maybe there’s a winter ceremony, maybe not…whatever, as long as I’m done and can move on to the next phase.

Well, maybe I do care a little more than I thought.

Our last scheduled lacrosse event of 2008 is this Saturday. Three games; technically, my last as a college student. And while I’ve had the opportunity to play some competitive lacrosse games with an amazing new team this fall, it’s still just that: Fall. Though the games we’ve played and will play have no doubt been exciting, full speed lacrosse, there is something to be said for playing through the actual season. Fall is fun, but Spring is what counts. In a way, it’s a little anti-climactic. Not just in terms of lacrosse, but for the whole ‘college-thing’ in general.

What is the end for me, is just the beginning of what the team’s season holds. What is my last final, vital to making this whole plan work, is merely winter break for the rest.

I guess one could argue that I am lucky I get it over with. I don’t have to drag myself to class when it resumes what seems like the day after New Years. And, though it doesn’t really pertain to what I want to do in life in the least, I do have a steady job that I can stick with while I try to start my career.

And, ya, I think I am.

But still….

There’s just something so unceremonious about the whole thing. It’s all very hallow. Artificial even. It fills you up, but an hour later, you’re hungry again.

I suppose had I really wanted to, I could have chilled a bit this summer, stretched out my classes for a nice, relaxing “Super Senior” year. Enjoy a leisurely “victory lap” as a friend once put it. I could graduate with the masses. Finish out my college lacrosse days with the team I saw through infancy, now grown up and a legitimate force to be reckoned with. And even though I’ve maintained that it’s not a big deal, a long, boring ceremony with a tacky a cap and gown, well, would be kinda nice.

Ya, I could have done that.

But, I think, when it gets down to it, I’m just glad to be done. And to leave my Facebook Network at 2008.

But….still….