Google can be a cruel, little mistress. Type in my name and suddenly the world’s most invaluable search engine will occasionally default to “Whatever Happened To”.

No joke.

Chances are you got to this particular blog post because that was your query.

In case you were wondering what I’ve been up to since KCL chose not to renew my contract, the answer is funemployment. I’ve had three bliss-filled months of relentless traveling, sleeping in, visiting my folks, lounging by the pool and all the other sundry items that occur when you have absolutely zero agenda.

My last day at the station was on the 4^th of July … ironically enough … Independence Day. I took that as a sign to be a free spirit and ponder what my next move would be. Turns out … it was a spontaneous trip to Orlando about one hour after walking off the set for the last time. One of my friends shrieked, “You just lost your dream job! What are you going to do now?!” Of course, I wanted to be able to respond with gusto — “I’m going to DISNEY WORLD!” Thus, I spent a week down in Central Florida hobnobbing with friends, visiting various theme parks and getting in touch with my inner 8-year old.

After that came a mind clearing, restorative trip to Tahoe where I zoned out under clear skies and gigantic pine trees. My galpal Mithra and I went to Wanderlust … an odd festival of yogis and hippies. Being out of a job can be stressful … but not if you’re surrounded by folks who spend hours on end meditating, right?

Right!

It’s funny … when your life is in turmoil … or, in my case, slightly topsy-turvy … you really find out who your friends are.  And I’m blessed to have the best motley crew a boy could ask for.

I remember one particular week I was low-ebbing and went to go see an energy practitioner (shout out, Angela!), a medium (props, Steffany!), an acupuncturist (word up, Paul!) and a massage therapist (you da’ man, Linzell).  Knowing that I was broke, not one of them charged me, yet each one helped me get back in to a good headspace.  And for that I will be eternally grateful.

The list of do-gooders goes on and on. My dear friends Mithra and Renee plied me with homemade cooking so I wouldn’t starve. My besties Eric, Dre, Donnie and Kiki all cajoled me to come visit them and shake off the cobwebs. And countless people called me to invite me for coffee/dinner/lunch/movies/miniature golf/window shopping/yoga/gong bathing (yes — it’s a thing) and the list goes on and on.  You all know who you are — and you are loved!

Plus, not a day went by that random strangers would politely stop me to mention they missed seeing me. And the e-mails I got, all 400+ of ‘em, almost all had the same subject line, “Hey, what happened to you?”

A new job looms on the horizon … one that’s custom-made for me. I’ll start in a few weeks. Such an unexpected blessing. And while I’ll miss my endless free time (uh, who wouldn’t?)… it will soon be fun to answer the age-old question of … “Whatever Happened To Michael Mackie?”