Thursday, November 29, 2007

Where I Come From

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Seeing my family always recharges me, realigns me, reignites me. We have such an incredible bond, such an unshakable love for each other. Many people dread going home for holidays, I look forward to it, relish every moment. I get to sleep in the same room as my oldest sister and feel like we're kids again, bunking up and telling stories before we fall asleep. Granted, the stories have changed, but not much else. My parents are amazing, and like little teenagers...they love to laugh and play and goof off. A great dynamic of my family is our conversations. We talk about so many things...world issues, politics, love, science, pop culture, fashion, music. You could walk into a room one minute and hear us discussing the horrors in Darfur and come back an hour later and we're chatting about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's next child. We are all so alike but bring such unique specialties to the table that compliment each other like a perfectly paired wine and cheese. We share a bond that I can only hope will transpire to my future potential family.
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
The whole fam at Happy Hour
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Dad carving the turkey
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Boat ride down the Okefenokee Swamp

Various topics

I feel like a variety of interesting things have transpired lately. In an effort to keep this post exciting, I am throwing chronological order out the window! These quips will flow as they flow in my mind at this very moment.

We just had another book club meeting to discuss The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. As always, the discussion was well rounded and colorful with every woman bringing a different set of views to the table. I love leaving book club feeling like I have a whole new understanding of a book I just read and thought I had all figured out. I was, however, the one possessing probably the most controversial opinion as to the ending. I hate to say it but I was disappointed she didn't commit suicide in the book, although perhaps Sylvia Plath's real life is the true answer.

I feel like I can finally reveal the theme behind a few of my latest posts. I stumbled upon someone a few weeks ago and have found myself quickly falling into an amazing relationship. There are behaviors I exhibit that I don't recognize and I realize it is because I have never met someone that fit so well. It hasn't been much time and some people may say I am getting ahead of myself but the difference is I know where he stands and we are honest and open and both share the common interest that we value our time together in a way we never imagined or planned. I couldn't be more pleased.

There are more new things in the works...things of altruism and giving back that I'm very excited to explore more. I am realizing why things are so great right now and it's because the people around me are amazing and inspiring and I am continuing to meet more amazing people that I can already tell will have a big impact on me. There are certain people that, upon seeing each other and then separating, I feel such satisfaction of my time spent with them that I realize how lucky I am to have them in my life.


Monday, November 19, 2007

Thanks-Giving

Things I'm thankful this holiday season:
Family
Friends...my family away from my blood relatives
Health
Opportunity
Chance meetings and new beginnings
Gathering with those we love to enjoy good food, good wine and good conversation

Friday, November 16, 2007

Winter is here

Snow fell today. I didn't physically see it, but other people told me about it. I was woken around 6am by my dear sweet roommate...the one with 4 legs who meows and demands constant attention. I didn't get out of bed, but I know at that very moment it was snowing. I didn't have to look out the window, I could feel it. Sometimes I think our bodies and souls just know things.

I recently stumbled upon a new pair of shoes, shoes that fit so perfectly I wouldn't have imagined they actually existed. These shoes were custom made, one of a kind. If only everyone could see how great they feel on, how perfect they look and how I could walk all day in them, never tiring. I think I'll keep these shoes for a long time...perhaps a very long time.


Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Unfamiliarity

I am walking in unfamiliar territory. But unfamiliar in the best way possible. The last week has been, well, indescribable. I can barely wrap my head around it to be honest. One instance, a random coming-together-of-things, has turned out to be something I wouldn't have imagined. Maybe I've always had a secret door, hidden out of sight and it's just never been found before...before last week that is.

I have learned a lot of things in the past few months, past year even, that I feel like was all preparation for what's going on...I wouldn't be here, wouldn't be baffled by one week, if everything hadn't happened prior. I feel really lucky. I've realized things I never knew I always wanted. I don't question myself. I don't hold back. I don't fear vulnerability. I don't feel confused. I feel stronger. I feel inspired. I feel challenged. I feel different. I feel great...really great.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Changes

A lot of things are changing. The weather is shifting into winter; cool nights walking with a light jacket and scarf have morphed into thicker jackets, gloves and chattering teeth. My best friend from college has moved to Nicaragua to do some work for a bit. My hair seems to get darker with every cut. The way I spend my time is changing. Priorities are changing.

It's a weird thing, an unfamiliar thing, when something just works so smoothly, when something doesn't require much effort. I never pictured myself having the best 14 hours of nothing, of things unplanned. I'm a planner when it comes to new endeavors. Spontaneity has rarely worked in the past unless in very familiar territory. 14 hours...am I changing or did I just figure something out that I was turning a blind eye to before? It is change or recognition? Is it a product of experiences and dotting the i's, crossing the t's to realize what I really wanted and needed?

It's funny how something unexpected can warp your whole sense of being...warp it into something you didn't know you were capable of.


Thursday, November 8, 2007

Timing is everything

You know, I've heard that "timing is everything" for a long time but sometimes it is hard to really accept when the timing isn't right, right now. However, I'm becoming more of a believer. Missed opportunity that annoyed a person, can make a full circle down the road. Chance happenings can have greater meaning. I do not believe in coincidences...there is a purpose in most everything, every "coincidence". What I'm realizing is, with a little reflecting on things, you can realize why things may have passed you by in previous months or even years, only to come back at you down the road. Perhaps you weren't ready...ready for a challenge, a change. Perhaps there was no time for anything new or different. Perhaps you weren't mentally able to take this thing on. Perhaps you needed more experience under your belt to be able to make it work.

I went to a really amazing forum this morning for Women Leaders and some amazing things were said. Things that don't necessarily relate to the above, but in some ways do. Approaching a goal one small piece at a time versus attacking the big picture...figuring out how to get to the corner before trying to get to the bridge down the road...learning along the way and collecting experience with each step.

It's exciting. And hopefully only the beginning.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

The weather outside is frightful...

Well, I guess the end of fall is officially here, and winter is slowly creeping in. Today it didn't feel so much like creeping, more of a bursting in. Although the temperature isn't all that bad (low 40's), it is one of the bone-cold days...the wind and air seem to break through any barrier and find their way directly to your bones...the only real remedy is a hot shower followed by a hot fire and some warm cider. Too bad I don't have a fireplace.

I go back and forth on how I'm feeling about winter this year. Last year winter and I, well, not best friends. I was pretty miserable and disliking every cold day, boycotting the mountain, hating shoveling my car out. I moved here from Florida...give me a little break. And to top it off, I spent the first 22 of my 25 years in warm, sunny climates so despite being in my 3rd year of Vermont winters, there is something in me that will forever seek warmth and sun. This year, although I dread those days where it's so cold you can barely walk, the wind biting at the few centimeters of bare skin, I am looking forward to other things...I've decided I have to if I'm going to survive it. Things like long Saturday brunches with friends and too much coffee. Red wine in the basement at 1/2. Snowboarding and Shed Mountain Ale. Weekend trips to fight off the stagnation of small town winters. Lots of cooking with friends. Snowy days filled with good books and classic movies. Another one of those massive storms like Valentines Day last year would be pretty great too...there's nothing like the empty sound after a major snowstorm.