Five Years

It's true, five years ago I arrived in Amarillo. Honestly, when I moved to Amarillo in 2005 I had no intention of staying this long - there was part of me that believed I would move on in two or three years.


But I didn't.

For a girl who grew up in a small town in Eastern Iowa, I never would have predicted that I would have move 1100 miles away to a place where I knew no one.


But I did.


The seed of an idea to pick up everything and leave Dubuque, Iowa was planted Memorial Day weekend 2005, my brother's wedding weekend. I knew it was time to move on to a new adventure, call it an ephiphany if you will.

On Memorial Day I sat down and my desk and began browsing for job opportunities. That first day I identified a few possible opportunities and began drafting resumes and cover letters. That week friends helped me revise my resume (Thanks to Jason and Bobbi M.) A week after the letters were mailed, I had appointments for phone interviews with 3 different orchestras. Multiple phone interviews occurred during those June weeks and eventually invitations to travel to three cities for on-site interviews. I opted only to travel to one - Amarillo.

A two day interview extended into three (as my flight was cancelled due to excessive air traffice in Dallas) and I spent the Juy 4th holiday in Amarillo.

Earlier this month I was reminded that during one of those many interview panels (July 3, 2005) I was asked where I saw myself in 5 years. The young and optimistic Sue answered, why, I'd like to be the Executive Director here or at a similar size orchestra. The irony was revealed earlier this summer when I was named Acting ED.

Mid-July 2005 I was offered the opportunity to move to Amarillo, and so I did.

Prior to my departure my friend Tori told me that I needed to move to Texas, buy a pick-up, get me a dog, and find me a cowboy.

Well, Tori, I didn't do what you said, but I have found happiness here in Amarillo.