Fortuitous Aftermath

Closure to Another Chapter

Four years ago I walked the stage at my high school graduation, excited to start the next journey of my life in….. Iowa… 

Drake was a completely random toss for me, and one of the 2 only applications that I submitted in the Midwest since I had my heart set for the East Coast. 

And East Coast I turned down after a freezing, ice-covered, visit to Drake’s campus in January of 2008. Who would’ve thought that I would choose corn fields over big cities, fashion, and my dream location. If you ever have a chance to meet him, Mr. Randal Blum is a very, very, very convincing man. 

But life started in Iowa and the four years have flown by so fast. People always say that you’ll meet some of your best friends for life during college, and that saying is 300% true. These people have touched my life through learning life lessons together and being there for me during the times when I felt as if my mini world was shattering. It’s been a short journey and I often times wished that it would continue. 

Life moves on. 

And as life moves on, the thought of “what’s next?” is frightening. Graduation has finally hit me and for the first time in my life, I don’t know where exactly I’ll even be within the next year. I’m a planner and not having a plan for the coming months drives. me. nuts. 

As I officially finish up the last page of this chapter, I want to thank you for everyone who has been a part of the ride. Whether we’re friends or not, you helped shaped some of my most memorable moments in these last four years. 

“A toast to those who never thought that we would make it. A toast to those who knew we’d make it. Celebrate. Celebrate!”

Food for thought. 

Someone I Used To Know - Why?

So this song has been surfacing around lately and I love it, don’t get me wrong, but I just hate the grounds behind the song. Burnt bridges over bad break-ups or even break-aparts are always hard.

But, I just simply can’t understand how you can completely turn your back on anyone, especially if they were even sightly significant in your life. 

It’s sad when people you know become people you knew. When you can walk right past someone like they were never a big part of your life. How you used to be able to talk for hours and now you can barely even look at them. 

Maybe it’s just me, or maybe its just because I don’t leave bridges burning in any of my relationships. My ex’s and friends, I may neglect due to my busy body life, but I’m still able to call them up after a couple of months and laugh as if we just hung out yesterday. 

Even after a traumatizing, awkward event, I can still end up saying, hey big nose, you’re stuck being good friends with me forever. It’s all in your attitude to either leave things unresolved or understand and move on. We’re all humans after all. 

I mean, after all, they WERE someone in your life at some point and made you laugh. 

Some food for thought. 

It’s All Material

Having my wallet and car keys stolen could’ve been the best thing or worst that could’ve happened to me. When friends ask me how my spring break was and I tell them that I had to change my plans since my wallet and keys (my wallet’s on a keychain that’s connected to my car keys) were stolen so I had to stay here, I think they freak out more than I do/did. 

I mean yeah, it sucks, I’m not going to lie about that, but in the end, what does it really matter? Someone has it and if they really wanted to return it to me, my name’s all over it along with my business card. Losing it was just a hassle. It’s not like it’s the end of the world because it’s all just material. 

I can replace everything that I lost easily, it’s not that big of a deal. Like I said, losing it might have been one of the best things to have happened. 

Since I work so much, I hardly get to spend quality time with my friends. Having to stay in town allowed me this opportunity. Playing video games and watching cartoons til dusk with my guy friends was awesome. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to nerd out and laugh til I couldn’t breath. 

Being able to hang out with people I haven’t seen in a long time and go on mini adventures with some of the nicest, sweetest, and caring people I’m blessed to have in my life just made my entire week. 

So whoever has my wallet can keep it, it’s designer anyways so that’s probably why you don’t want to return it. No biggie. But thanks for the opportunity for me to create lasting memories with the most ahhhhmazing people I could ever have as friends. and it also gives me a reason to get the new louie key pouch… ahahahaha :)

Life Lesson? Things happen. There’s no point in dwelling over material things when you’re alive and empowered to move forward.  

What Am I Fighting For?

As I sit in this coffee shop with two laptops running, legal pads everywhere, and my iPanda at my side, I couldn’t help but stop my work. I was reading through other people’s New Years Resolutions earlier and some things stuck out to me. 

1. How generic NY Resolutions sound

2. What are the driving forces behind these thoughts?

There’s no possible way that I could ever meet every single person in the world or know exactly how they think, but it still infatuates me. What is the driving force as to why they wake up every morning? What are they passionate about? What pisses them off? 

It’s just all so interesting how everyone is so different and their thoughts are so intricate that no one else will fully know how they think or why they think as they do. 

This all plays back to the question that I’ve always have reflected on. What am I fighting for? The answer is as blurry as ever, but the pieces are slowly showing themselves. I’m in no hurry to uncover the entire puzzle. After all, what fun would life be if you held all the answers. 

Some food for thought. What are YOU fighting for? 

Ungraceful Moments

No one is perfect. That’s a known fact. But through all my years of education, I have never given a “dumb” answer as I had the other day during a class discussion. But, I embrace my moments and laugh at them. You live and you learn after all.

During a class discussion on Chiquita Banana and the EU, I totally zoned out since I didn’t read the article. Then the professor asked the class, “something something…. Banana Republic… something something” Of course since fashion is a big part of my life I perked up, thinking that he was talking about the store. So he calls on me to explain and I said that it was a chic clothing store targeted at young professionals in the 25-40 year old range.

We apparently were talking about bananas…. 

Lesson of the day? Hearing and listening are two different things. Comprehend what someone is asking/talking to you about before speaking yourself. 

Lesson learned. 

Military Salute

My grandpa fought in the Korean & Vietnam Wars, was a part of Operation Desert Storm, and eventually rose to the ranking of Bird Colonel in the Marines. So growing up under him, was no easy task. At 3 years old he started to teach me how to interact with people, the military way. I was in big trouble if I didn’t say yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir, no sir to my parents, relatives, strangers, even my teachers. My posture had to always be good, and in public I was never allowed to be a hyper or misbehaved child. 

But, I’m glad he instilled so many things into my brain at such a young age. He was always there in the mornings to walk me to the bus stop and was always waiting there to pick me up when I got home. If he wasn’t at the point where I got off the bus but was walking towards me, I would always run to him grinning like I hadn’t seen him in forever and then trip and face plant into the ground…. Happened every single time. Of course my grandpa would come hurrying to pick me up and carry my then crying self into the house.Every time a new Disney movie would come out, he would immediately get it for me and come over to watch it as I sat on his lap enticed by the cartoon as he soundly napped. My grandpa was my Santa, always getting me every toy on my list and more, my supporter, helping me every night with my homework, and my best friend, always giving me advice and laughing with me from the silly playground stories I would tell him. 

Seeing all the marines out this weekend brought back memories. I haven’t seen a marine uniform up close since my grandpa’s funeral years ago. This is a salute for the man who taught me to be the person I am today, and the men and women who have/are serving our country. 

Thank you.