James Is Married!

Normally, I'm so incredibly anal about making sure life and things are in order. I'd originally set out to have this blog be pieced together in order from when we moved here, but I since changed my mind because that's just not organic. I can't write from a place of order, I have to write from my heart.

This weekend was so fun being able to celebrate James and Becca at their wedding. James holds such a dear place in both of our hearts and he actually represents so many of the best memories we have in New York. Being able to witness his wedding together was such a joy. I honestly can't believe I survived the hangover from yesterday but man, was it ever worth it! Lest we forget:

I'm so glad you've been a part of that friendship with James. I can just imagine if we were still in separate cities and I had to call you to tell you all about him. It would never be the same as knowing him yourself so I'm really so thrilled we could go to his wedding together. I had to make a note of this so we always remember it. I'm also, sadly, short on time tonight because I need to read and get in bed at a decent hour. Just to remind you, I had my second practical today and I'm mentally done. Checked out. Finito. So, I need rest big time, yo. So do you since you have your trip to DC with Renegade in two days. I wonder how much will have happened at Fox Point with your trips by the time you read this...

Birthday Fun

I'm just gonna come out and say it and sound like an old lady. There is no way in hell I would ever again have a birthday like my first "real" one in New York, even though it was my 27th. Was it awesome? Of course! Could I venture out to start the night at 11:30pm now? Hell to the no. I know we both felt so cool though and it was the start of many more birthdays in which you'd help me feel so special. Jesse AND Tahar?! Awww yeah:

When I think back on this birthday of mine, it's just so eclectic and funny to me. I mean, see for yourself:

One word: Jeeeeohhh. Hahahaha! I also love that 'who cehs?!' is in there, too. My oh my, what a night. Yet another gin ending too, ugh. Let's not think about that.

Birthdays are a time of joy and celebration. I know that yours haven't always been the greatest but I want you to know that I don't need a birthday as a reason to celebrate you. You are a magnificent woman with a deep sense of thoughtfulness and selflessness. You've helped me more times in my life than I can count and you've been an instrumental part of my journey when it comes to being successful. We've had conversations in the recent past about how I always strived to be like you and how I never felt I measured up. Ironically, you're one of the few who has helped me see my potential and not be afraid of it. I will always celebrate you, Allison. I am so thankful for the friend and sister that you are. I wish so many people could have a relationship like ours and I am proud of it! I had so much fun putting together your surprise "30th" last year and having all the people we love come out to celebrate YOU. Not even kidding, this might be one of my favorite photos from that night because of both of the joy on all three of our faces:

That was such a fun night. You deserved to be the center of attention and I was overjoyed that nearly all the people invited were able to come. They all came out to make you feel loved and appreciated so I hope you felt and absorbed that. Here's just a few of my favorite shots from the night to help you remember just how fun it was:

I. Love. This.:

 The best photo in history:

I know this post seems out of order but, because I just had my birthday and we moved here so close to it before, it made me reflect on and think about how special I really have felt because of you. I don't tell you often enough how important you are to me or what significant role you play in my life. With birthdays on my mind today, for whatever reason, I wanted to be sure and let you know how much better the world is with you in it. Now, that is some troof.

Apartment 23

Just so you know, I still don't miss that York Avenue apartment. I miss the times we had and memories we made there, but my small ass bedroom can suck it. I absolutely love thinking back to apartment hunting, though. We had no clue what the city was like or what areas we'd love best. We were so fresh in the eyes of New Yorkers and there's something really awesome about that. It's easy to forget that feeling! Now, we're definitely city folk and it's really wild that there was a time when we didn't know this place at all. Ahhh, naive girls excited for a day of apartment hunting:

What's hilarious is that we really didn't know how good we had it with a broker driving us around all day in his fancy ride. Damn yo, naivety at it's best. Wait no, thinking this was amazing was naivety at its best:

This just makes me angry:

We were so excited about that bathroom and, you know what? I think it's the bathroom that really did save us from killing one another in that small space. It's been a while since I've stopped and really thought about how that was our very first step in the journey. Back then, nerves were so high and both of us just couldn't imagine what life would really be like together, but we took the plunge and were on our way to the Big Apple. But first, we had to make it back to DC so I could get back to GA:

I'm grateful it was you that stayed awake on that bus ride of death. For me, I still think that might've been the best sleep of my life. 

I can remember the days that followed and all the thoughts going through my head. I was so excited but really nervous at the idea of us living together. I don't even have to reminisce about the conversation we had just before moving, but I will say one thing - THANK YOU. Everything you said to calm me down that night was exactly what I believe to be god speaking through you because the leap of faith was taken. That's what matters. Look at how cute we are packing up:

By cute, I mean daaaamn. I do still love that Phish shirt I'm wearing, though. By the way, I miss that cluttered garage about as much as I miss York Avenue. 

Jeff arriving in town and us packing up the Uhaul will always be a vivid memory for me. Although I wasn't super young, being 25 years old and packing up the only life I've known to move away was extremely bittersweet. It was so different than the first time I went to New York because this time I didn't think I'd be coming back anytime soon:

Next up, DC! I must admit, me, Jeff and Will actually had quite a fun road trip together heading up to you. I'm thankful for their help back then and, despite his insanity, Jeff's willingness to be there for us. We couldn't have done a lot without him over the course of the years so I choose to hold on to memories such as those. Dude, I just have to remind both of us that you had a damn fine apartment in DC:

 Moving out the window was certainly an experience. Coldest day EVER, too:

THAT, I could never forget. I still shiver when I think about it.

Bye bye Massachusetts Avenue...:

...and hello, Big Apple:

What we really should've taken a photo of was the pizza in a garbage bag. Clearly, you can't find good pizza in New York so it was a good thing we traveled far and wide with our own. 

As we started to settle in, we had to find a way to make believe we were still like normal people with couches and whatnot:

At least we had folding chairs. 

All of the 'firsts' that we got introduced to are so fun to think about, even buying corner store tulips for the first time. Jack made life brighter on York Avenue which was obviously needed in that dungeonous space:

Sometimes, I truly cannot believe we survived there for two years. That apartment was only just the beginning of so much fun, though. 

Welcome To Your Blog!

Hello there, Hog! 

It's with great excitement that I welcome you to your very own blog. What in the world is this?! you might be wondering? Well this, my dear sister, is a tribute to you, to us and a way to cement exactly how blessed I feel by having you in my life. Since we so love going on trips together, this one takes us down memory lane with an open ended ticket to the future. One month from today, I'll be taking a little side trip of my own, but it's not for forever and we'll be back on the road together, soon. I chose to start this one month before I leave because it really is the final countdown. Is a month long enough to fit in all I'd like? No way. It is, however, an avenue in which I'm coping with the impending farewell. 

This is my way of helping you understand just how much you mean to me. It's also my way of looking back on what have been the most wonderful six years of my life. I couldn't be more thrilled that those six years have been by one another's side. That's precisely the reason those years have so amazing. We have experienced some of the true great things that life has to offer and we are so richly blessed because they've been together. Every single good and bad thing, the ups and downs, have brought us to a place with one another where you are undoubtedly my very best friend, confidant, mentor and soul mate. When I think about the last truly pivotal time of shared change in life - when you graduated from high school - I couldn't have imagined that the road was being paved for our relationship and what would soon come to be between us. These are the days I cherish, Allison. These are the days of greatness, of dreams, of adventure and of life. Or, as Natalie Merchant says:

These are the days. These are days you’ll remember. Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this. And as you feel it, you’ll know it’s true, that you are blessed and lucky. It's true that you are touched by something that I'm going through. 

Listen and smile:

Every part of this song makes me think of you and it rings far more true now than it ever did all those yearbook unveiling years ago.  

As the overwhelming sadness of goodbye sets in, let this blog be a way of reminding you that I am still with you, always. No matter where I go. Let this remind you of what a unique, precious gift our relationship is and let it remind you of the fun, joyful memories we've made over time. This is just the beginning of a whole new chapter...