Hakuna Matata

My first job as a Graphic Designer was working for Vanity.  I was still in college when I began interning with them and so was very used to the group feedback sessions, constructive criticism and aid of my { amazing } instructors.  I will never, ever forget my first graphic design project with Vanity.  I had to create a coupon!  A coupon to be sent to a specific store to help bump up sales.  I hardly remembered the name of my boss at the time, though I still remember EXACTLY what I was wearing.  My favorite { I still own them } light denim jeans with { admitted, self prompted } holes in the knee and thy.  I was wearing my favorite teal shirt { again, still own } that I wore the day of my sister's 21st birthday.  I was using a coral and teal beautimus purse that my sister made for me { and again, still to this day own }.  I remember the exact layout of the coupon, the color story and the discount.  I was beyond anxious to show it to my boss.  What will her feedback be?  What will her critique be?  Where was Yvonne when I needed her to tell me what I could do to improve this?  I finally muster up my strength, show it to Denise and what does she say?  "It looks great!  Print 300 and we'll get them shipped off."  Wha?  That easy, eh?

What isn't important about this story is what I was wearing, or what I had for lunch that day.  Or even how well I did in Graphic Design school.  What is important, is the name of the mall that was on that coupon.

Town Center of Aurora.

The same mall that is directly across the street from Century 16.
The same mall that was witness to one of the most selfish, bone-chilling and downright hideous disasters to happen to Colorado since Columbine.

I have been thinking all morning how extremely forchinate I am, that the closest I came to this catastrophe was mailing a silly coupon to the mall across the street from the site about 7 years ago.  Not everyone is that lucky.

Go out and hug your sister, hug your mother, hug your father, hug your brother.  Hug anyone who is close to you, because you can and because you ARE that lucky.