Beginnings & Endings

As I landed in Newark last night and saw the new moon, I was reminded of my Nana's saying "turn your pennies over" when she would see a new moon. I'm not sure exactly what she meant by that, but I've always taken it to mean it's a new beginning. Time to prepare for looking forward.

Feeling philosophical, I'm realizing that life is really full of beginnings and endings. Vacations, holidays, trips, birth and death, relationships. The beginnings are often much more anticipated and enjoyed than the endings, but without endings, we couldn't have new beginnings.

My holiday trip to Texas was so enjoyable, but it was so difficult to say goodbye to everyone. I got especially choked up driving out of Dallas. I was able to meet my girlfriends for our annual lunch and then took the opportunity to empty the storage unit I had there. I had a sense of finality doing that. If I move back to Texas, I don't think it would be to Dallas (more likely Austin). It was a relief to cross the storage unit off my list of to-do's, but I was sad to admit to my girlfriends that I've truly moved on.

Every time I say goodbye to my great aunt Sudie, I wonder if it's the last time I will see her. I don't mean to be morbid, but she is 93 (94 in January) and her body is becoming frail.

When I left Austin, Anna clung to me, sobbing "Don't go! Don't go!" It breaks my heart.

Unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures on my trip. I was truly enjoying my time with everyone and forgot to pull the camera out to document it all. I have a few I'll post later.

And now we look forward to a new year. What will 2009 bring?

Christmas Past

Merry Christmas!

This picture was taken in 1977 or 1978 when we lived in Cincinnati. This year, I'm spending Christmas day with Jennifer and will be with Stephanie the day after.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

How old are you?

Trying to see as many loved ones as I can while I'm in Texas. I saw my Grandma and my great aunt Sudie, my aunt & uncle and their kids, and got the opportunity to have lunch with my closest girlfriends. I've gotten more hugs in the past couple days than I have in a month! It's great.

A funny story about my aunt Sudie, who despite struggling with increasingly fragile health this year will turn 94 in January. We had a rare opportunity for a private conversation while my more vociferous Grandma was on the phone in the other room.

Sudie said, wistfully, "I always wished you had had a baby. I think that you would have had a beautiful baby."

I said, "Well, I haven't completely given up hope yet, Sudie!" with a chuckle.

"How old are you?" She inquired.

"36." To which she inhaled her breath with her lips pursed in a disparaging way.

"Don't wait too long. Don't wait until you're 40."

[Like I'm consciously choosing to wait to have kids. I've wanted to have kids as long as I can remember but life hasn't exactly worked out the way I planned.]

It's funny I'm being told I'm too old by almost-94-year-old aunt!

Awesome

He told me last night that I'm awesome.

:-)

He had tickets to a band I'd never heard of and was hoping a coworker would go with him to the show. The coworker backed out at the last minute, and I offered to meet him. It was snowing and cold yesterday, and I was already at home, so he told me to just stay home where it was warm. But he said the fact that I would offer to meet him and go see a band I didn't know was indicative of how "awesome" I am. "I know you would [come out and meet me] because you're awesome like that. You're really awesome, Emily."

I have a hard time accepting compliments, but that made me smile (and say Thank You, of course).

Mixed Up

It's Monday, which means I only have four days to work until I leave for the holidays and visiting family and friends. I'm excited to be taking a break and to get to see those who I love so much, but I can't believe it's here so soon! With Thanksgiving being so late this year, I feel like I have not had enough time to prepare for Christmas. I still have a couple gifts left to purchase/create, and although I bought Christmas cards this weekend, I haven't opened the box yet to begin addressing them.

On Friday, I finally got to meet some of FWB's friends. We went out in Jersey to a bar where his friend was playing in the band. FWB was invited to perform with them for one song, and he was great! I was so proud. He told me afterwards that his friends liked me and said I was "adorable." [I know it's a positive word, but it kinda makes me want to gag.]

On Saturday night, he went with me to a party thrown by a client of mine. He did great, talking to these people he doesn't know, and I was impressed again. I tried to tell him so on the way back to the city, but he pulled back again, explaining again how he's not ready for anything serious. All I wanted to say was that I like how it is right now. It's not like I'm wanting him to move in! I got kinda choked up. I feel like every time I try to tell him I like him (not LOVE), he pulls back and it makes me feel unwanted, left in the cold. So I'm trying not to like him too much, because I think he has a greater chance of hurting me than I do of hurting him.

I feel a bit beat up today. Physically and emotionally. On Friday, I fell down his apartment stairs on the way to meet his friends, and my ankle is still killing me, plus today I woke up with a cold.

Mom's Holiday Gift Weekend

This week totally got away from me. Between travelling, dealing with a bout of food poisoning, and holiday parties, I just didn't find the time to blog!

Here are some pictures from my mom's visit last weekend. Our family draws names for gifts, and my mom was my giftee this year. She wanted to go to the Rockette's, and my dad and I also conspired to get tickets to Gypsy on Broadway. It was a fun-filled weekend.

She arrived Thursday night and successfully navigated the trains from Newark to the World Trade Center station. My apartment is just a couple blocks from there, and I met her at the station. On Friday, I had to work, so after some brief instruction and a MetroCard, she headed up to Rockefeller Center on her own and found her way back again to meet me for lunch. That night we saw Gypsy, and Patti Lupone was absolutely fantastic. We stuck around afterwards and got her to sign our Playbills! (The back of my mom's blonde head is in the picture with Patti Lupone.)

On Saturday, after walking around the holiday booths at Union Square and brunch with a couple of my friends, we saw the matinee show of the Rockettes. They were terrific. My favorite part was when they acted out the complete nativity story with animals and singing and dancing. The scale of the production is unbelievable.

Then we walked up and down 5th Avenue enjoying the decorations and battling the crazy crowds, all the while trying to stay warm! We met up with another friend of mine for some hot chocolate and then headed back downtown to meet FWB for dinner. (He passed the mom inspection!)

On Sunday, my choir performed at church, and once we got home and out of the incredible cold, we decided to stay indoors! We had dinner that night with an old friend of mine from college who was in town for business. The next morning, we each headed to separate airports!

It was a lovely weekend and kicked off the holiday time for each of us, I think.

FWB Update

My mom was in town last weekend, and I'll post about that soon. But since I'm in Chicago and can't post accompanying pictures, I thought I'd give my loyal readers an update on Friend-with-Benefits.

Throughout my week in Austin, over Thanksgiving, FWB called me everyday, at least once. My sister Jenn remarked, "He is SO your boyfriend." But I know he doesn't consider himself that.

I told him that I was going to go out with other guys, if I got any offers. Not directly in response to that, but soon after, he invited me to go with him for a day trip to Atlantic City. He knew I'd never been, and while I'm not as interested in gambling as he is, he also knew I would be intrigued by their spa.

After I returned from Austin, we drove to "AC," as I was told they call it. He entered a poker tournament and I explored. I had a lovely massage at the spa and tried out the jacuzzi and steam room. I met him for a late lunch (he got knocked out of the tournament), and he taught me how to play 3-card poker. It was fun. I kept even, and he won a couple hundred.

The next day, I wrote him a quick email, thanking him for the adventure. He said, (and I quote), "I really like where this is heading, Emily."

What?! WHERE is this heading? I don't know. For now, I just take it day by day.

Funnies with A&C

Spending time with my niece Anna and my nephew Colin always brings me many reasons to smile. Anna amazes me with her intelligence, and Colin is such a comedian.

Below, you can see some of the pictures from last week. Anna and her friend Ruby decided to put underwear on their heads and tights on their arms. They came out of her room giggling.

Colin wanted to be Spiderman in the hallway and started to crawl up it. I gave him a boost and he beamed, although he admitted it was a tiny bit scary.

I took the kids to Waco for a surprise visit to Grandma & Sudie. I heard "Are we there yet?" way too many times, but I also heard Colin entertaining himself with a little rhyme:

"Anna takes off her head, Colin takes off his feet. Anna can't think, Colin can't walk!
Anna takes off her bum, Colin takes off his ears. Anna can't poop, Colin can't hear!
Anna takes off her mouth, Colin takes off his penis. Anna can't eat, Colin can't pee!"

And on and on. I was silently cracking up in the front seat while he kept going through different scenarios.

Fun Pictures from Thanksgiving