The Days are Long but the Years are Short.

I am reading this awesome book right now called the Happiness Project (I highly recommend it) and this quote really resonated with me: "The days are long but the years are short." With so much change going on in our lives right now, sometimes it's hard to hold tight to those sweet, present moments. I'm headed out to NYC for a week and couldn't be more excited to spend some serious quality time with friends and family. It will likely be one of the last times I see them before we head out to Guam for 2 years of adventure. I've been thinking so much lately about this time with family and friends and how much I really want to enjoy it. And then this quote popped up and I knew exactly what I had to do. When I'm in NYC I'll have the chance to:

• Celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday (if you know her, pretend you don't know her age - she would kill me for publicizing it)
• Meet my high school best friend's new baby boy (all the feels for this little guy folks, what the hell is happening to me...HELP)
• Spend precious time with my Dad (this is a big one for me - we are both workaholics #success)
• Have lunch with my high school AP US History teacher and basically role model for all of my high school/college years in her garden (hello dreams coming true)
• See my NYC mama either 9 months pregnant or with a brand new child (M do you remember the times when we weren't sure if you'd even meet Mr. Right? Holy crap so many bad dates haha)

In sum  - these are amazing moments that I am so lucky to be apart of. I recognize the travel will be long and the logistics likely stressful. But these are the moments I will treasure and take with me when I leave. To really capture them - I plan to activate all of my senses. Smell the scent of my dad's home, my grandma's perfume, and for course the famous warm pee on the streets of NYC. Feel the tight hug of my Aunts, the hot and humid east coast summer air. See the bright lights, the used and worn subway cars, the masses of people as they head their ways. Taste the salty NYC bagels and the delicious pizza. Touch sweet baby boy's soft cheeks, and my friend's big baby belly. I'll capture mental pictures and take thought notes as I file all of these sweet memories in my heart and keep them close to me as we travel. This time is so important to me - I can't express how much these people I get to visit helped to shape my world and give me the love and support I needed and am so grateful for to this day. Squeeze your loved ones tight, all. :)

xoxo

- AM

Celebrate For Nice

I was lucky enough to be in this beautiful place: Nice, France winter/spring of 2009. On a long weekend trip from studying abroad in Firenze, Italia, my fellow students and I (read: American travelers who occasionally took some classes in Italy) explored this beautiful city the weekend before the Carnival festival. I'll never forget the gigantic carnival figurines that were being set-up. We watched them come to life high in the skies as we rode the giant ferris wheel in the city center. I'll never forget the magic of this great city, the beauty of its shorelines, adorable tiny blonde French children, and delicious croque-monsieur sandwiches (this was pre gluten/dairy free). My heart continues to break for everyone in our Western world, especially the French last night. Paris, France is #2 on my list of cities I love like humans (under my former boyfriend of course, NYC). When something happens to the French, I really feel it happens to us as Americans too because we fight for and believe in the same liberties and way of life. As a military spouse I won't go off on a tangent here regarding my thoughts on the American political system and the state of our international security. But rather, I'll speak from the seat of a yoga teacher here (my heart). I am sickened by the events that try to steal and threaten our celebrations as humans living in the great and free Western world. Instead of letting fear take over, I beg of you all to fight back...in celebration. This place, Nice - is such a meeting spot for celebrations. Bastille, Carnival - it's party town in the South of France people. So let's celebrate EACH and EVERY day and celebrate on for those who no longer can. One of my favorite things about being apart of the Western world is how much we celebrate everything. Independence day, Hallmark holidays, St. Patrick's day - you name it, we celebrate it. So let's celebrate on - please SMILE and be KIND to those around you. Celebrate life, celebrate love, and whatever you do, please keep on celebrating.
xoxo
- AM