2010

I was staring at a blank computer screen, racking my brain, trying to figure out what to blog about when Elyse so greatly suggested I blog about the year in review. What a great idea! (Thanks Piece!)

2010 coming to an end is certainly bittersweet to me. For four years I have been defined by “’10”. Jessica Lockwood, Class of 2010. 2010…the year I become a “real person.”  I have never dreaded and anticipated something so much, all at the same time.

Obviously, the first few months of the New Year were spent in Blacksburg. We were second semester seniors, and were determined to live up ever second we had left. Rain, snow, sleet…nothing stopped us. And no Mom and Dad, I do not mean stopped us from studying (though Creative Dance was really tough…).

We were regulars at Big Als, Sharkeys and TOTS… I ordered far too many lemon drops, for far too many people….but most importantly we were having the time of our lives.

I danced the night away at Harrell Street, played forty hands with wine, went sledding on lunch trays, had our last Harrell tailgate, celebrated my last Strawberries and Champagne at the frat house, and so much more.

 

For Spring Break I headed to Miami for a get away with Concetta. This was our first solo trip (besides visiting each others colleges) and the first time we were both single at the same time, in a long time. Obviously, it was going to be a blast! Who would have thought five days would end up changing our lives….or at least hers!

The first night we ventured out in Miami Concetta suggested we get a drink and then go searching for dinner around 7:30. For me, 7:30 was well passed my usual grandma dinner time, but you only live once, right?  During our drink, a group of guys, dressed in Polo and Brooks Brothers, walked passed us. (This was the only set of guys we had seen who did not have a bottle of gel in their hair and more jewelry than the two of us combined…) I saw the look in Concetta’s eyes and immediately knew our plans had changed.  “NO! Concetta! I am starving!” I quickly told her. She went to the bathroom (to plan her attack) and came back out with the best argument I have heard her make in 18 years:

 “Jessica, someone once told me the bathroom is a reflection of the kitchen…. just go to the bathroom and come back in tell me if you want to leave before we order….I am just looking out for us.” I did as she instructed, and grabbed the check before I even reached the table. “We are leaving.” Smooth move Cet, smooth move.

And so, off we went to find our Polo Men.  After seven blocks of perfectly good restaurants and no men in sight I told Concetta I was going to pass out from hunger, she was either going to have to carry me or pick a place. “One more block Ca Ca, I know they are here.”

Ok. Fine. One more block.

Sure enough, one more block and we found them. I have never seen Concetta choose a table so quickly in her life, obviously, right across from the guys. Of course, this was the only table without a heat lamp and now not only was I freezing but I was starving. “We have to move Concetta, I am going to die!” “Please Ca, Please, Please”  “Fine, but you better talk to them.”

After a drink, she quickly made conversation with the guys and we ended up hanging out with them the rest of stay in Miami.  A couple of nights was all it took for Will and Cet to realize their connection, and now they have been dating for about 8 months! At least my suffering went to good use, right Weeem?

After Miami, graduation quickly approached. We decided to make the most of the weeks we had left ending with a round of Sig Ep Bar Golf to send all the seniors out on a good note. Check that one off the bucket list.

Graduation was a whirlwind. Friends, family, ceremonies, parties…only a few days to finally celebrate four years of our lives in Blacksburg.

I think Bill Roth summed it up when he wrote this in an article about our graduation day:

“Yep, no game will be played this Friday, but it will be a special day in the history of Lane Stadium nonetheless.

It will be a day to celebrate tremendous personal achievement for these young men and women and mark the last time they’ll walk into Lane Stadium as Tech students. They’ll walk out as alums who, no doubt, will look back at the past few years as the most special time of their lives.”

And it certainly was that.




After graduation our parents gifted Katie and I each with trip. She was off to Budapest and Austria with Mom, and I was off to Spain with Dad.  Dad and I headed off, walking about 10 miles per day, to make sure we have got in everything we wanted to see. The country was incredible, and it was an awesome way for Dad and I to get to spend some time together. 

The day I returned I started my internship in Richmond. Talk about a quick transition into the real world….

I ended up loving the business, and can now happily say I am employed with the company!

A new job meant a new location, so Richmond it was! After a couple of months living with my Aunt, I moved into my new apartment on Monument. As I have said before, I hit the jackpot. The location, the apartment, and more importantly my roommates and their friends…perfect!

I have had so many adventures since moving here. I have been to Irvington with a group of girlfriends, had a White Party (just call us P-Diddy!), gone skydiving with my sister, spent many nights dancing the night away at Sullivans, been to restaurant week, attended charity auctions, and so much more.



September brought a fairy tale wedding for Katharine and Kyle in Boston. Concetta and I were lucky enough to be bridesmaids and able share the brief trip, and very special occasion, with our parents.

As October approached, I was a little hesitant about spending my birthday in a new city without everyone 5 min away… but it turned out being a wonderful day! It all started when I received a phone call from Cet that morning at work….

“Happy Birthday Ca! I cannot wait until you get what I sent you!” “Please tell me you did not send it to work” “YES! Everyone will love it…it will be so funny! It is a dancer, but don’t worry it’s the kind that keeps their clothes on…call me right after he leaves!”
Holy. Crap. I am going to get fired. Surely she was kidding….right?

About an hour later, the receptionist called my phone “Uh, Jessica….You have something waiting for you at the front desk…”

OMG. CONCETTA! I have never walked so slowly in my whole life.

Imagine my relief when I arrived and saw a bouquet of flowers. Just wait until your birthday Cet….
I received a few more bouquets throughout the day, and headed home to get ready for a dinner with Nelson and Elyse. They took me to the nicest restaurant in Richmond (Accacia) for a wonderful meal, before heading over to Can Can to meet up with some people for dessert. Perfect day.

Of course, this year was not without sadness and hardships. Shortly after my birthday, as I have mentioned in a previous blog, we lost someone very special to many of us. I am continuously amazed by how blessed I am to have such wonderful friends and family, even in the most difficult times.

In November, I headed down to Raleigh for Pauli’s Girls second annual PanCan 5k, to run in Paul’s memory. It was incredible how many people supported our team, and even made the trip down to Raleigh to participate in the race.  

As for the rest of the year, you know how most of that went. While this is only a brief insight into 2010, I know it will forever be the year that defined me. I have learned and grown so much this year, and I cannot wait to see what 2011 brings. So thank you to everyone who stuck it out through the good, bad and ugly, I truly have the most incredible friends in the world.

Here's to another year of memories!