It's Been A YEAR!!!! a LOVE AFFAIR or a LOVE HANGOVER?

This is a very special post in so many ways and for so many reasons! First of all I would like to rewind....the year is 2008. I knew I was on the verge of something... I just was not at all sure what. Do you know the feeling when you're unhappy, and you know that you are on the verge of a change...but you don't know what that change will be? But you just know that things CANNOT go on the way they are. I knew on January 1 of 2008 that some major changes were getting ready to happen in my life. I can remember saying specifically that "Strange things" were happening to me then. I knew ultimately that I HAD to get out of the place physically and emotionally that I was in. But HOW to take that next step. It was like I was UPSIDE DOWN at that time. Then I remember having this moment, this awakening. I had visited BFF for new years. He was living here already. I had been to Atlanta so many other times to visit. To party. To Date. But THIS time. It was different. I actually SAW ATLANTA. I saw the BEAUTY. The magic of seeing openly gay couples at the mall, the streets, the people. I discovered the absolute beauty of this place. Where as before, Atlanta was... running through Lenox trying to catch Guess open to get a shirt for the function. OR drinking so much at the old Lion's Den til I threw up in my own lap. Rushing into the Westin Peachtree and Towers laden with bags to check in. I never took the time to see this city. Suddenly a window opened. I fell in LOVE WITH ATLANTA.. and I realized that in order to be happy I HAD to move here. So I did. Now BFF and I used to sit and count the casualties of people we knew who would migrate to the A.. and get "EATEN ALIVE" as we would call it, moving back home in 6 months or before, totally broke..evicted etc. and yes..we would laugh. So I knew the statistics and odds. But with stars in my eyes and a smile on my face. I happened to Atlanta... and let it happen to me. It has been a YEAR here... and I made it. Some predicted that I would not survive. I was unsure at times but all of a sudden it was as if I was saying " I gotta do what I gotta do!" I had to step up at some point and take my share of chances. And I don't regret ANYTHING. Each step led me here today. I love this city. I absolutely love the pace and feel of Atlanta. This is MY HOME. A year ago on the evening of Feb. 15... I strolled into town.. not planning to stay..BUT stay I did... and Im over joyed that the visit has lasted this long. I intend to continue the LOVE AFFAIR