2/2/2022

After my time at EWTN for the Daily Mass, I returned to my hotel and waited for my old college friend, Ashley. What feels like forever ago, Ashley and I both went to UCSB and we both had the same major: Economics-Mathematics. It’s a pretty rare major for people to choose in the University of California system, because you’re essentially signing up for a double major in mathematics and economics, two subjects most sane people shy away from. That means that we were in a lot of the same classes together. Another friend named Guanglei (who sadly has been trapped in China for several years now due to the extreme China coronavirus lockdowns), Ashley, and I would end up sitting together in UCSB lecture hall after lecture hall, hour after hour, for years on end, tackling the sort of math and economics concepts that the pure Econ and Business Econ majors had no desire to tackle. We became a trio of friends by the end of our time at UCSB, and have stayed in touch over the years even if only by Facebook.

After UCSB, Ashley went on to become an actuary. A California girl, she took a big leap of faith on a job opening in the actuary world and moved here to Birmingham, a place she knew nothing about. Since moving here, she has risen the actuary ranks, gotten married, started a family, and all-around seems to be enjoying a happy, successful life. She originally moved here thinking that she would work here for 10 years and then return to California, but with California now being the way it is and Birmingham honestly being a pretty cool place, she is no longer sure that she wants to return. I wouldn’t blame her if she stays right here.

Anyways, Ashley was kind enough to show me around Birmingham and have brunch with me. We caught up on life and she gave me the 411 on both the Birmingham area and the actuary profession. I’ve been debating getting into either the financial advisor or actuary world myself, but I admittedly knew nothing about how the profession worked. So for me, it was both a fun and informative meeting! I felt like I was asking way too many questions though and making her talk too much about her life and profession. Towards the end of it, whether in a moment of contemplative introspection on her own career experience or her realizing that I’m far more extroverted and inquisitive than the typical actuary, she took a sip of her drink and said, “You know, I don’t know that you’d actually like being an actuary.” I actually appreciated the honesty, as it helped me that much more in focusing my current career goals. And I think I’m there. I think it’s time to move up to Marquette, Michigan; to start work on my Master’s in math and get back to teaching and possibly helping local law firms in the area; and just otherwise start enjoying small town life once again. Something about all of Marquette, from the place to the opportunities it’s offering me, it’s calling out to me. I feel it in my bones. It was the reason and answer to this gap year of travel – to find a place I would have never found otherwise that spoke to me. Marquette is that place.

After brunch, Ashley gave me some recommendations for dinner and told me to try to get in a hike at Oak Mountain before the rain hit (by the way, there’s a big winter storm front all over the US right now, did you know!?). When she dropped me off back at my hotel she gave me a card and a small parting gift. It was a thank you for actually taking the time, not just to visit her, but to visit Birmingham. Believe it or not, no one ever visits Birmingham! It’s so sad because the place is actually really beautiful, modern, and everyone I’ve talked to here just seems so kind. But it has its past and its stigma, so someone actually taking their time to visit Birmingham was important. Kind of a big deal. Ashley, thank you so much for the great morning and conversation! It was a blast catching up with you, I wish you continued success with family and career, and who knows maybe I’ll head back to Birmingham again someday in the not-so-far-off future (maybe sometime when it’s not cold and rainy). Maybe we’ll even bust Guanglei out of China lockdown and get him to come out here!

Following the morning with Ashley, I hopped into my Jeep and beelined my way to Oak Mountain. I was just hoping to see some of the natural scenery of the area before the storms hit. And I just barely made it. The hike was 3.6 miles roundtrip through some pretty heavy forests. It was actually the first time I’ve ever been hiking alone where I felt kind of paranoid! The woods were very thick and dark, like a scene out of the Blair Witch Project, and they creaked in the wind and closed in on you. The few people I saw on the trail were friendly enough, but I still couldn’t shake from my mind the thought of the place being haunted. If I were going to make a horror movie, I’d film it on Oak Mountain in the winter. The view from the top though was epic and showcased all of Alabama. Not Alabama, no, we’ll call it Sweet Home Alabama!

Unfortunately, about a minute after I reached the top of the mountain it started pouring rain, so I jogged my way down the trail and back to my Jeep. By the time I reached the Jeep my clothes were absolutely soaked. Now back in my hotel room, I’m recharging and about to step out to dinner. But, I am so happy that I came here to Alabama to travel off the beaten path and catch up with an old friend! If you are planning your own road trip or even a flight, make sure to give yourself the opportunity to go to the places that don’t always get tourists. You’ll often surprise yourself with how much you end up enjoying those locales that are hidden away off the beaten path, maybe even hidden away from your subconscious.

My next stop though is not hidden away. Just about everyone knows it: New Orleans.

Cheers,

-Rob