Ten years ago around this time….

The ten year anniversary of 9/11 got me thinking. I thought about not so much the terror of innocent people dying ( I am a crier and as it was all the stories and commercials had me bawling) but rather where I was when the Twin Towers were attacked. I can recall how I was in my apartment during my freshman year of college. Classes had been going on for about a month. I was getting ready for class when my neighbor down the hall called me over. I rushed over to her apartment and just stared jaw dropped at her tiny tv. I couldn’t believe what was happening.

The images of people dying immediately sent my mind racing to images of my loved ones in the armed forces. I knew we would be going to war and that my loved ones and friends who had just recently enlisted would soon be in harm’s way.

A lot has happened since that milestone in my life. Ten years ago I was a freshman; today I am in my ‘freshman year’ of my doctoral program. Ten years ago I was just getting used to not living with my parents, who at that time were just a two hour drive away. Today my parents live 2114.14 miles away, better yet, I should say I live 2114.14 miles away from my parents.

In those ten years I have experienced a lot of different situations I had never placed much thought on. I knew I was just starting my life as an adult, but I did not worry too much about the future; I assumed things would work out in a positive manner. In those ten years I was introduced to the concept of love, jealousy, lust, disappointment, betrayal and new friendships. I was forced to rethink what I thought I wanted in my life. I graduated from two different academic degrees, but I was far from graduating in maturity.

My friends and family started to marry, some to have children, and grow in a way I have yet to experience. I am just now starting that chapter in my life and am very apprehensive on how I will do.

In the ten years since September 2001 I have lived in thirteen different houses/apartments in three different regions. In case you are wondering my domiciles can be broken down as follows:

• 3 apartments in Puerto Rico as an undergrad
• 3 apartments, 1 townhouse and 3 houses in Arizona
• 1 apartment, 1 townhouse and 1 house here in Arkansas

In those ten years I had my share of romantic relationships, some that ended up as friendships, others that I don’t plan on speaking to anytime soon. In those ten years I had to say goodbye to my maternal great-grandmother, my paternal grandfather, my godfather, a maternal great-uncle and my beloved Morpheus.

The past ten years have been full of ups and downs, endings and beginnings. I am curious to see what the next ten years bring. I guess I will just have to wait and see.

Living Christmas Present

The BEST present I received on Christmas day was picking my mother up at the airport. I have to say I felt spoiled this year because I had the chance to see my mom, not once, but twice this year. I normally only get to see my mother in person once a year, which regardless to say, still sucks big time. Just last night as we (Mom, Will, Ivy, Rosa & Will’s cousin and aunt) were having dinner out (at the restaurant that my future brother in law works at)  it came up that I haven’t celebrated my birthday with my parents since I turned 22 almost 6 years ago. Rosa’s jaw dropped and asked me how I could stand it. I responded that its the catch of having a birthday in March and living far away from my parents. I also explained that with both my parents being university professors and my either being in graduate school and/or working I haven’t had chances to my either go down to Puerto Rico for my birthday or my parents being able to come visit me for my birthday.The only chances I would get to see my parents would be at the end of a semester (May) or for Christmas.  Now that I have been living in Arkansas for almost 2 years, I have had to compromise with Will and alternate Christmas’ between here and Puerto Rico.  Hopefully this year since I will be a at student once again in the Fall I should be able to go down to Puerto Rico for at least 2 weeks for Christmas, depending on weather I am a graduate assistant or if I have to be working outside the university to pay for my degree.

Going back to my reason for posting, my fabulous mother. Although both my mother and I have a tendency to take tons of photographs, we were enjoying each other so much that we hardly took pictures during her short visit. Below are some pictures I did manage to take of her and of Will and I during the holidays.

 

Will with his folks

Mom and Ivy

Think we had enough food on the table?

us

 

My litte pony & ewok

Will with his moms

my mommy and I

I honestly could of done with more vacation time and more Mommy time, but alas, that’s how things are. The most important thing for me is that I was able to spend Christmas with my mom, Will and Ivy. I was able to end the year with my loved ones and start the new year with them as well.

 

Abacus Rex

This past Friday we welcomed the newest addition to our family, Abacus. Our new bundle of joy is two months old and a total complement with Morpheus, to the point that I am a bit weirded out how well they mesh. In the three days he has been home he has learned to walk on a leash, go up stairs, go down stairs, and how to play with Morpheus. The potty training is going super well, Abacus only had one accident on Saturday night, but we weren’t home so its no biggie, and it was on the tile floor downstairs. I am looking forward to many more milestones and enjoying my boys. Below are some pictures of Abacus Rex.

My boys

After a long day

Bonding