My Itchy Feet

by Olivia Cunning

Springtime always gives me itchy feet.

Not because I have Athlete's Foot (ew!), but because every spring I have the sudden urge to make huge life-altering changes in my life. This usually involves wanting to move to a warm area near a beach.

I'm sure it has something to do with living in landlocked Nebraska and spending all winter scraping frost off my windshield, shoveling snow, walking like a penguin, and gazing at barren cornfields, which are pretty depressing things to stare at for five months every year. Cornfields aren't very picturesque when they have brilliant green stalks of corn growing in them. Imagine them empty and gray with dead corn stubble stretching in neat rows as far as the eye can see. Just writing about it depresses me.

Two springs ago, my cold and itchy feet decided to visit Las Vegas (I was researching Rock Hard at the time). Much of the book takes place in Las Vegas. The band has a concert there, and the heroine and hero enjoy the Vegas sights and each other. *wink, wink* My itchy feet also forced me to apply for several jobs in Southern California (the beach "thing") that year. When did the interview committee decide they wanted me to come for an interview? In the middle of my Las Vegas research trip, naturally. So I rented a Volkswagen Beetle and drove to the Los Angeles area from Vegas. I didn't get to see much of Vegas and I got very sick with the airplane plague (as I always do when I fly; I hate flying), so I didn't interview well. Unfortunately, I did not get the job or the beach. Phooie!

Another winter of empty cornfields and walking like a penguin.

Last spring, my son graduated from high school. I was determined to overcome my itchy feet. Life was changing enough without moving to a different state. Not that I didn't think about it. I even considered applying for a job in the Bahamas, but I figured the college Freshman might need his mother close-by that first year. Nope. Not really. He was perfectly content on his own. He called once to ask about laundry soap, otherwise, he was self-sufficient. I should have moved to the Bahamas.

Another winter of empty cornfields, but this past winter was mild. I only had to shovel snow four or five times. Thumbs up!

Despite the mild winter, this spring is no different. Itchy, itchy feet. And this year, I might finally get to move to the beach. I applied for a job in Galveston, Texas. (No need to warn me about hurricanes. Yes, I know they exist.) Two jobs, actually, and was invited to interview for both of them. I had last week off work, so I decided to drive the 1850 miles (round trip) and avoid the airplane plague. Last week at this time, I was in an interview (hopefully dazzling them), followed by eating the most delicious shrimp I've ever tasted in my life, followed by an entire evening sitting on the beach with my feet in the surf while writing about sexy rock stars with pen and paper. It was BLISS! Absolute bliss. I did not want to return to the cornfields. I think the interview went well, but Texans are so nice, it's hard to tell if they think you suck. I'm not sure if I got the job. I want it. They were all very positive throughout the interview process, but they couldn't give me an answer right away. They're supposed to let me know if I'm hired sometime today. Wish me luck. Maybe I'll finally have a cure for my itchy feet. And have a bonfire to get rid of those unnecessary things in my life, such as snow shovels, winter boots, ice scrappers, and parkas.