Old Friends

I love to read blogs - possibly yours! Today I read my friend, Amy's blog. We have known each other since 7th grade. My mean-girl-days. Yep, I was one of those girls - for a moment anyways. And, lucky for me, she forgave me.
Amy has seen some of my weakest days, and some of my strongest. As I opened her blog today, it became quite clear, it was a tribute to me. As I read her words, I was taken back to our high school days, and into our crazy adventures, post high school. Amy has lived the craziest life. I can't even begin to understand some of the things she has lived through, yet she is the woman who makes me laugh harder than anyone. I laugh so hard it hurts, tears roll down my face, I snort and in the end it's hard to breathe. Sitting here, I am laughing just thinking about it. To this day, I'm not even sure what it is. I'm not even sure if it's that funny. Her silliness, is so contagious - her expressions and words, completely uninhibited. I like that.

Happy Walls

Finally, I have a home. In 27 days, I will be married. My finance and I found an amazing condo right close to a skytrain station in Greater Vancouver. Perfect. Now I can easily get to my Vancouver friends, in the Winter months - skate in Robson Square and in the summer months, enjoy the parks and splendor that the west coast has to offer. I moved in two weeks ago and Jason will follow suit, right after our honeymoon! Almost a year ago, I sat in my seat on a plane home from NYC - from one of the most beautiful weddings, I had ever attended. A couple with such intense, yet beautiful joy. A couple who beat the odds - a couple so dedicated to their faith, each other and social justice - I road that plane ride home - inspired. Ready to find my own better half. One who make me smile, like my friend made his bride. The bride, an old NYC housemate - was radiant. I cannot wait to be radiant for my groom. I also can't believe it was a couple days after that plane ride - that love fell into my lap.

An Apology

In early 2007 I blogged about the cycles of anger. I was mostly referring to an incident that had happened with one of my closest college friends. Since that time her friendship and mine has started to crumble and over the last couple years I have missed her, fiercely. One of my favorite things about her, is her ability to say things like she feels it. ...the same thing I loved, is in part what broke us apart. Last summer, two and half years later, she came to me, she apologized. I wanted to cry right there. My heart was rejoicing - All I could think was, "I have my friend back!" I wonder why sometimes that's all we need. An acknowledgment saying "I'm sorry I hurt you." I also wonder why we even need that.
Our hearts are so fragile. We are human and sometimes I forget how intricately we are woven, how words and actions, really can hurt, do hurt - no matter how fiercely we try to fight it... I have goosebumps writing this: thinking about forgiveness and the power of an apology.

*

I wrote Finding Place a few weeks ago. I have felt a lot of change in these past few weeks. In this time: I have met someone, ended whatever it was with that someone, I have planned a bachelorette for my best friend, realized that all my friends here are wed or to-be-wed, become content with being 30 and single, found a deeper connection to my photography, and most importantly, I have discovered home - at HOME! How odd. I spent 6 years gone, only to return. I am so excited to get re-involved in my life here. Re-discover my place. Me, in my hometown. They say you can't go home again. I say, whoever 'they' are - they were wrong.