Abbielone

You pronounce it like abalone (the sea snail) but instead of 'aba' you use 'abbie': abbielone.

In the summer of 2000 I left the security of the Wasatch Mountains and ventured to the constant waves of the Pacific Ocean in the Monterey Bay. It was the second time in my life that I went out on a grand adventure by myself (the first time was moving to school in Idaho). I was nervous, and timid but determined to live this adventure to the fullest because my dream was coming true; I was becoming a marine biologist.

I spent those few months immersed in all things marine... tide pooling, kayaking, scuba diving, dissecting, collecting and eating. I've never been so happy and content with life as I did those few months. I slept on a cot with my sleeping bag in the living room with 2 other girls (plus 2 others in the bedroom) of the apartment we rented together. We ate dinner on a card table. We had some blow up plastic chairs. Life was simple and FULL!

Remember the movie Sabrina?  Well, Monterey is my Paris.  I've always felt I found my self while living there. 

I'm not sure who said it first or when it was bestowed upon me, but for most of that summer I was known as "Abbielone" and to this day friends from that adventure and friends since still call me Abbielone. I think it's fitting. 
I'm now starting a new adventure in life. One I never imagined: divorced at age 30, without a job, living in my parents basement; but I am. While I still wade through bouts of sadness, loss, insecurity, doubt, loneliness, and confusion; I keep remembering my time in Monterey. Life is an adventure to be lived to its fullest. And that's what I intend to do.

I intend to live life as Abbielone