Moments of Musing

9/11/01

Filed Under: 9/11 //

We all have our 9/11 stories. This is mine. 
 
Thirteen years ago I went to school in Brooklyn, New York. By all accounts, it started as a normal day. And then it became a nightmare. Thirteen years ago, I went to school and my then-NYPD Detective dad rushed to what is now known as Ground Zero. Because public servants and heroes rush to the chaos, the danger, where they’re needed. They don’t run from it.
 
Thankfully, my dad came home to us. He came home late at night in the days following, leaving his volunteer hard hat in the trunk of our car. He never really spoke about what exactly he saw or how it made him feel. 
 
In December of that year, my family visited Ground Zero. There were still ashes everywhere. And Missing Person posters, hundreds. I will never forget how I felt in that moment knowing that so many loved ones would never get a chance to be with theirs again. Because of hatred and evil, because of terrorism.   
 
That day all of the students were picked up by parents early. I’ll always remember the ashed papers floating in the air as I walked home with my mom, my brother, and my cousin. Since that day I have grown a newfound appreciation for life and patriotism. And the beautiful democracy of a country we live in. I am thankful for those public servants who continue to keep us safe. I keep the victims in my prayers. 
 
And I will always love my city and my country, these United States of America. 

The W word

Filed Under: wedding planning //

No, not “wedding.” I’m taking about the titles “wifey” or “wife.” Pretty soon they’ll officially be some of mine. I say some because I am also a daughter, sister, cousin, niece, friend, a New Yorker, a lawyer… You get the point. I don’t plan on losing my other identities when I marry–I’ll just add onto them. I digress. 

I have to admit it won’t be the first time I’ll have been called a wife[y] by Tim. In fact, way back in March of 2011 that was his nickname for me. It seems crazy to think about how that was only two months after we’d met but I guess he’s serious when he says he knew. When you know, you just do I guess.

And that’s why he’d say we he felt as though we were engaged without the title during a January 2012 walk in Kapolei, Hawaii. I remember everything about the conversation clearly–where we were, what we wore, what we were doing that evening. And then there was this Christmas 2012 card:

I’m excited for our wedding and to become a wife–HIS wife–so soon. I’m excited for more adventures. For the beginning of a new chapter. Mostly, though, I’m excited to just be together forever without long distance. 

Body Image Realization

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

Sometimes (see: quite often) I am hard on myself, body image wise. It’s easy to feel that way after a days’ worth of feasting and not working out. I wish it wasn’t a struggle but it sometimes is.
A couple nights ago, Tim and I were speaking about and comparing the differences in our perceptions of women’s bodies and it was kind of alarming. So on Sunday before we headed out on our 10-mile walk I had Tim take my photo. Because I was wearing the same tank top I’d worn to a run in September 2012. And I wanted to compare what I looked like.
It made me realize that while I might not see the changes from day-to-day, they are there and I ought to give myself more credit.

A New Season is Upon Us

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

This past weekend Tim and I watched Penn State during brunch and Michigan during dinner. We went on a 10-mile walk yesterday and stopped for some football in between. All of this football means that fall is basically here. 

It’s hard to believe that a year ago I was laying on the beaches of Oahu, temporarily living with my then-boyfriend/now-fiancé, and patiently awaiting what the near future held.

Fast forward to now, Tim is living here with me. We’ve gone on two road trips. We have a concert, an out-of-town wedding, apartment hunting, a work trip (me), the start of school (him) on the horizon. And the weather is once again changing seasons.

I love fall. Because I can wear boots and scarves and sweaters. But also because it somehow also signifies exciting changes in life. Last year, I learned I passed the bar, I moved to Chicago and I got engaged in Las Vegas. This year, we’re getting married and our adventures will continue in Brazil but also here–together.

And that’s the best thing of all.

#ourlastvacaflingbeforeourrings

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

Also known as our #engagementmoon. This past weekend Tim and I took a road trip to Nashville. Tim drove through Friday night so we arrived super early and he surprised me with a Dunkin Donuts + sunrise date. Afterwards we drove around downtown and our hotel was amazing enough to allow us to check in at 7:30AM and upgrade us for free to an atrium balcony. 

We spent the rest of Saturday at our hotel for dinner and a boat ride and then we went to the Grand Ole Opry, a must do. We spent the earlier part of Sunday with Tim’s family out in the country and visited his grandparents’ graves. We then went out in Nashville–as in we went to almost every bar and we were constantly blown away by the talent. My personal faves were Tootsies and The Stage. So. Much. Fun!

This weekend was great and just what we needed in the midst of all our wedding planning. It was nice to get away just the two of us and have not a worry in the world. Here’s our trip recap in photos: