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