OK, if I state that my life turned upside down in the last 6 months I will be doing an understatement...
Professionally, I'm still working for Tridion (SDL Tridion nowadays) in New York, and I have no plans to change that. I'm really happy with the team I work with, and the growth potential is amazing. As a Senior Consultant I have the responsibility to guide and mentor as many of the new guys as possible, typically by taking them with me to customers and letting them know what to do.
Personally, everything changed. I'm now divorced (I was never really married, but had a 13 year relationship that ended recently), and live a continent away from my 11 year daughter. It's not easy for anyone, but that's the way life works. I'm looking for an apartment in New York (Manhattan), I have one now but my rent is quite high. If I stay here I can't afford the amounts agreed with my ex as child support, and with the Dollar going lower every day, it just looks set to get worse for me every minute. So, I need to find a cheaper place to leave, but I'd love to remain in Manhattan... Time will tell.
Breaking up a 13 year relationship is not something you do lightly. It takes time, it takes a lot of consideration. And with an 11 year old daughter involved, things don't get simpler. But it had to be done, I don't think we were getting anywhere, and truly believe this is the best solution for the 3 of us. It also means that suddenly I was "in the market", something completely new for me... I met my daughter's mother when I was 19 and started living with her at 20. Suddenly I have no partner and - as a man - want to meet people. I can guarantee that New York is the best place to be in when you get divorced.
After the break down period, where the last thing I wanted was to get involved with anyone, did not want at all to start any relationship, the unexpected happens. This beautiful chestnut-eyed girl sets her eyes on me. I try to avoid it, I play the macho man, I pretend I don't notice, I try to push her away. "I'm broken-hearted, leave me alone", as an ass-hole as I can be is pretty much what I said. But she didn't give up, she could see my soul and desire whenever she looked into my eyes. And lucky I was that this was the case, because now I'm in a state where I can't think of going forward with living without her being present in my life.
But that's a story for another day.
Happy Christmas, and a year full of easter bunnies!
Nuno
