In blog world I've become that unapologetically selfish friend who only stops by when she wants you to know something about her life.
Well maybe that statement also holds true in real life so let me work on it - but hear me out about three awesome things since I last contributed to the internets.
1. Brother made it back safely to the USA
I made a quick trip to Seattle two weekends ago to see my brother in Seattle while he looked for housing. It was pretty amazing to spend only $44 on transportation versus the hundreds/thousands I used to spend when he lived in Europe for 4 years - even though I only had the pleasure of making the trip twice. He's now permanently relocated, owns a fancy new car and is trying to re-learn how to be an American again.
2. Dad has successfully retired (and my mom is a much younger woman)
My dad exited the work force Saturday night and did it in style. He left the building he's worked at for the last 12 years wearing his favorite hawaiian vacation shirt and a satisfied smirk on his young face. Two hours later while we were out shooting pool at a bar it became his birthday, making mom a much younger woman for about 6 weeks.
Then mom worked way too hard on an epic all-encompassing celebration for the homecoming / retirement / birthday and we got to spend time together on Sunday. Somehow I don't have any photos to prove that any of that actually happened, just trust me that mom knows how to throw a party.
3. This Guy
It's pretty special when you're in a long distance relationship and your guy gets to come to town for work. It's even more special when he makes the choice to extend that trip for a few extra days in town on the weekend and genuinely wants to spend our last days together for a while with my family. My family has opened their arms up (more than once) to this special man of mine and it makes me happiest.
We laughed, we played, we worked hard, we ate tasty Portland food, we hiked, we contemplated existence and we filled our happy-tanks together. Now I am trying to quickly get through the rollercoaster of missing that always happens the first week that we're apart.
Pretty exciting stuff! Plus I wore my boots for the first time yesterday. Hello, Fall!
