A friend that I literally grew up with is leaving for basic training for the Air Force tomorrow, and it saddens me to know that I won't be there to see him off.
I was there in the hospital when he was born (we're six months apart) and ever since, we have spent countless occasions together with our families. Apple picking, amusement parks, vacations, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, etc. You name it, we've most likely done it. There was a point in our lives when we literally saw each other every single weekend. This year has certainly ended that since I was working this summer and left for college. It was surreal the first time a friend of mine left for the Army, but this is even more surreal that a person who is actually like a blood brother to me is leaving.
I wish him the very best in this new journey of his and I hope he stays safe, happy, and healthy.
(one of our last pictures together on January 16th)
Below is a Facebook note that I published on February 4, 2009. It contains 25 things that my friends may not have known about me until then. I recently decided to delete it because I realize it may have been a little too personal for me; however, this is the perfect place to post it so I can look back at it years later. It's also funny to see how much things have/haven't changed since February 4th.
"25 Random Things
1. Even though we get into arguments a lot, I love my parents so much and I'm so thankful for all that they have done for me. Most of the time, I get what I want, and they usually do it with no complaints. However, I can't recall the last time my parents told me that they love me. Maybe I just can't remember, because I obviously know that they do through their actions every day, but it would just be nice to hear it once in a while.
2. Although we're competitive, I'm proud of how smart my brother is. I love him and I'm going to miss him a LOT next year.
3. Knowing that everyone is going his/her own way next year, I don't let things phase me anymore. I don't let people's actions define who I am. I am trying really hard to not care what other people say or think. I am just really looking forward to getting out there, meeting new people, and just exploring.
4. Despite all my accomplishments in school, I never feel like I'm doing enough for my parents and myself, and sometimes, I wish that could be enough.
5. I can't imagine what it would be like to sit back, relax, and let someone else take the reins. I always feel the need to be involved, which is why I am involved in everything, which drives me crazy sometimes...
6. I've always been able to have a close connection with my teachers and administrators, and I couldn't imagine going through a school day any other way.
7. That said, I love going to a school where everyone knows my name, and vice versa. I love having the power to make certain decisions, and I love having the opportunities to represent the students in three different ways. I love my fellow class officers and how well we cooperate with one another and I'm so proud of all that we've accomplished! It's hard for me to grasp the concept that I will going to a school with at least 2,000 people... never mind, 22,000 people.
8. I'm afraid that I will never reach the level of my parents' success. My parents' success is definitely not the kind that the typical American would consider as "success", but in a way, they have accomplished something that I don't think most people would be able to do nowadays... inevitably because of the economic crisis.
9. I love having friends from other towns who I rarely get to see. The distance just makes everything more fun whenever we talk or see each other. I also love that I can nice conversations with them and know that they know exactly what I'm talking about, despite the fact that we're from different towns.
10. My four guy best friends are some of the very best people I've ever met. I can always rely on them to make me smile and laugh, and 99% of the time, I think I would rather hang out with them than do anything girl-related. Thank you RPV TLK MCL and BBM for always being there for me :)
(Having said this, I really miss the days when my other guy best friends were CWD, RWC², and SML and when we used to hang out all the time; love you guys forever)
11. In my opinion, I think AP U.S. History is the second difficult class I've ever taken. I always contemplated switching down to level one (even now), but I would rather struggle in that class than to have people disappointed in me.
12. I never had that one best friend when I was growing up. I wish I did.
13. I hate how I can remember the most pointless and stupidest things EVER, and not more important things, like information for an anatomy or history test... it drives me up the wall.
14. I'm ashamed that I don't embrace my heritage and be open about it more. However, I don't feel like my friends would understand it, or even want to understand it, so I just never talk about it.
15. I've been playing the piano for ten years. I still don't feel like I have accomplished anything yet, and I don't think I ever will. I can only play one song from memory, and I wish I could change that so badly.
16. My best friend and I don't have the same friendship like almost all the other best friends out there. A few days will go by when we don't get the chance to talk to each other, and we usually don't hang out. Regardless, I am SO grateful for the friendship that we do have, despite all the ups and downs that we have gone through. The rare times that we've had are some of my most favorite memories of all, and I simply cannot imagine having anyone else as my very best friend.
17. In all of the summers that I've had in my short life, the summer of 2006 was the best of all. I don't think there's a day that goes by that I don't think about the people I've met and the experiences that I've gotten out of it.
18. I don't think that most people would consider their boss to be their hero, but the person that I technically work for IS my hero. He is more of a friend to me than anything, and I love how genuine and caring he is to not only me, but everyone around hm. All I want to do is make him proud, and I hope that I can grow up to be the same person that has had such an impact on me.
19. A hug is the simplest gift that anyone could ever give to me, and sometimes, that would mean more to me than anything that could be purchased. I honestly mean that.
20. Out of all the friends that I have made, there's only one friendship that I wish I hadn't let slip away and one friendship that I wish I could rebuild to the maximum potential that it used to be... only a year ago.
21. The idea of just having the opportunity to attend a UConn Huskies basketball game, and wearing that navy blue and white, makes me so happy and excited inside. But who knows...
22. I live up to the "good girl" image. Last week, I recited a poem about a girl who just wanted to branch out and be a "bad woman" like all the other girls in her neighborhood, and my teacher said how ironic it was that I chose that poem since I'm not a "bad girl"... One day, I would want for everyone to stop thinking of me that way. I'm not saying that I want to be bad... but even so, I just wish people will be less surprised when I do something that's against the rulebook... i.e. when I skip a day of school instead of having a legitimate reason to stay home... really...
23. I love/miss every second of gym class when I got to be a gym warrior (especially in Ultimate Frisbee). Sixth period sophomore year & fourth period senior year will ALWAYS be my favorite classes ever :)
24. There is never a dull moment when I am hanging out with my girl friends. I love the fact that we're all so alike and so different at the same time, and I just love them all. (especially my G, because we think everything is funny, no matter how cheesy it is, and I love that about us :))
25. I am completely dreading the end of this summer... it bothers me beyond belief to know that the end of the summer is going to be here very soon..."
Thanksgiving break was simply wonderful... and too short! I did a lot of reuniting with friends & family... and a lot of shopping. This was the first year that my mom and I did not wake up early to go shopping on Black Friday. In fact, we didn't even buy a lot this year, but it was still great to continue our tradition. I got to pick out my Christmas present... and my mom even bought me a new pair of Uggs for my belated birthday (I ended up returning the Vera bag that I received. I decided the colors were overwhelming and am currently waiting for the new prints to come out in a couple of months!).
Classic short Uggs in gray
Christmas present!! -- Return to Tiffany bead bracelet
(The charm matches my earrings that I received for graduation
and my necklace that I received last Christmas)
Friday night, I attended a party with all my co-workers. It was very fun to catch up, especially since I haven't seen most of them since the end of the summer!! I also got to hang out with my best friends from home a few times. It was like nothing has changed, even if we were separated for a few months. I could tell the parents loved seeing us together again, and of course we loved seeing the parents too!
Now backtracking a little... on Thanksgiving morning, I attended the football game in Abington against Whitman-Hanson. It was the 99th annual game between the two teams! Of course (sorry RER :)) we won, 20-0. At halftime, the baseball team received their state championship rings and they look awesome! It was really great to see everyone together. Later that afternoon, we had our Thanksgiving dinner. This year, my parents hosted the holiday dinner and we ended up having 25 people in our dining room, each with his or her own chinaware and utensils (my mom likes to go all out for these occasions). Good thing we renovated a few years ago! Thanksgiving dinner was so delicious, comprised of not one but two turkeys, ham, homemade mashed and roasted potatoes, and the usual... completed by a homemade cheesecake with berries on top. YUMMY.
And although I had such a wonderful break, there are no words to describe how excited I am that it is finally December! The Christmas decorations are up, the iTunes is blaring the Christmas playlist (on repeat), and the Secret Santa plans are underway! Tonight is the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza.
The countdown officially begins, since there are only 7 days left until Thanksgiving break starts, and only 9 days until the holiday! I thought this week was going to go by so slowly (and maybe it's too early to tell) but it's going by pretty quickly in my opinion. I have no more exams to study for and one 4-page paper to write until break, so I am very relieved!
Since it is Thanksgiving season and all, I am thankful for many things:
[Family]
I am thankful for having two wonderful parents, who always put their children's needs in front of themselves. I can be a (spoiled) brat sometimes, but they always make sure I am content and will do whatever it takes. I'm thankful for their ridiculous hard work, dedication, and love... not to mention their willingness to pick me up from school at any time. I am also thankful for my brother (although we act like we hate each other half the time) and I am so proud of how smart he is.
[Abington friends]
Regardless of the distances between us, I know I can always turn to them for a good laugh or time. They all have helped shape me into the person I am today and I would be nothing without them!
[Salve friends]
They have helped me feel comfortable here when I wasn't so sure at first. I love our Monday television nights and the fact that we can laugh at each other for no reason at all.
[PCC friends]
They have given me the best laughs, the best times, and the best memories. I am relieved that a lot of us have managed to stay in touch over the years, and I will always believe that Abington & Middleboro were destined to be one town!
[co-workers]
They are 50 of the craziest, funniest, and friendliest people I have ever met. I had the best summer, thanks to them, and I always look forward to our reunions!
[#1 best friend]
I am thankful for his compassion, kindness, thoughtfulness, and especially for the way he believes in me.
[Panera Bread (not kidding)]
I am thankful for their You-Pick-Two deals (half broccoli cheddar soup, half caesar salad), $0.99 Chocolate Chipper cookie, Cinnamon Crunch bagels, and lemonade. Whether I'm at school or home, I am thankful that there is always at least one Panera that is 15 minutes or less away.
[AHS Track & Field]
I am thankful for the dedication and self-esteem that I gained from being a runner. I am actually thankful that I was forced to be a 400m runner last year, because it pushed me to believe in myself (thank you, Mr. Lanner & Mr. Duggan).
[Jason Mraz & John Mayer (and music in general)]
When the rest of the world fails me, these are the two men that I turn to. I am thankful for the "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things" and "Continuum" albums. I am thankful that they are two absolute geniuses. I am thankful for music for being a wonderful foundation for friendship. I am thankful that I am a musician.
[Salve Regina University]
I am thankful for Salve Regina for providing me with a college education. I am thankful for their overwhelming generosity in financial aid, and I am thankful (and proud) that I am a first-generation college student.
[James Lafferty & One Tree Hill]
You know where to find me on a Monday night at 8PM... parked in front of the television, drooling over the hotness that is James Lafferty/Nathan Scott. I am an avid fan of One Tree Hill (I've seen every episode aired since the pilot episode in September 2004!) and I like to think I can vicariously live through their more-than-necessary drama...
And of course, I am thankful for good health and all that jazz, but here are a few other miscellaneous things...
- Hooded sweatshirts - Jim & Pam's romance on The Office - Pandora Radio - the shuffle option on iTunes - FML.com - Disney movies - New England weather (most of the time) - LIFE!! <3
"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough" - Oprah Winfrey
It's the beginning of another week here and I'm very excited because October is literally around the corner! October is my other favorite month (besides April) because there are so many birthdays (including mine -- the 7th!) and I always have things to look forward to. The most important day in the month is always the 15th = my best friend's birthday. Usually I start thinking of what I'm going to get him weeks in advance, but October seriously crept up on me. I am not prepared at all and I only have two weeks left... oh boy.
October is going to start off pretty well though... because the Boston Celtics are at Salve the entire week for training camp! I love the Celtics so much and I was very happy to hear that they were going to be on campus. The best part was the fact that students would have an opportunity to attend their scrimmage at the end of the week... but of course, there's a catch. We had to submit our names into the lottery system, and 175 people would randomly be picked. I WAS ONE OF THEM! I absolutely cannot wait. It's going to make this week go by so much faster!
This previous weekend was Salve's annual Fall Festival, the time when parents & alumni come visit the campus. My family and I didn't participate in these activities (in fact I went home), but I still had a wonderful weekend anyway :)
On Friday night, RER and I were reunited with the best girls ever. I was so happy to see them, but the best moment of the night was seeing their reactions when they saw us. Most of them did not know that we were coming up to see them, so they were genuinely surprised and grateful, I think. The expressions on their faces made me feel thankful that I was able to leave a lasting impression on them, while they have made their own lasting impressions on me. Those girls are truly some of the world's best people, and I am already looking forward to the next time that I can see all of them at once.
I woke up early on Saturday morning so my family and I could drive back down to Newport. We attended an awards ceremony on campus, where I got to see everyone who was receiving a scholarship or an award. My favorite part was seeing the alumni receive their awards. So many people have graduated from Salve and went on to make a name for themselves. Their stories were so inspiring that it put me in the mood to set big goals for myself. I am not a big "long-term goal-making" person, but there's no better time to start doing that than now. After the awards ceremony, my family and I went to downtown Newport where we spent most of the day. We haven't been to Newport in three or four years so my parents really enjoyed themselves. That made me really happy. We returned to Massachusetts to go out to dinner for my brother's & dad's birthday at Bugaboo Creek (my brother's choice). Afterwards, my brother hung out with a lot of his PCC friends while I just relaxed at home.
While at home, I ended up video chatting with a few people and somewhere in the midst of the conversation, a certain someone in the background said "Tell her I love her. TELL HER I LOVE HER". That brought me back on memory lane to one of the last times that I had heard that... It's funny how the only times I get to hear that is when he's intoxicated. He also told me that he can't come down for the Celtics scrimmage with me this weekend, even though he went out the other night. I don't think I'll ever understand him during times like these, but I think it's time I stop trying to understand... for both of our sakes.
Despite all the rain on Sunday, my mom and I spent some quality time together and went shopping. I hardly bought anything for myself but I was still glad that I got to go. Then RER drove me back to school that night.
Anyway, elections for on-campus and off-campus senators are next week, and I am SO nervous. I don't think that I am going to be completely devastated if I lose, but I will certainly be disappointed. I really want to be involved and I know this is the perfect thing for me. I just hope everyone else knows that too!
So I'm sitting in the McKillop Library right now, which is probably one of my favorite places on campus. I really think I might live here for the next eight months or so. It is so quiet and so peaceful... well, just like a library should be.
I'm in the middle of my second week as a Salve freshman and it's going alright. I'm enjoying my classes, especially my Intro to the Justice Process class. My major is Administration of Justice, so of course I would like it. I think the law enforcement and all the laws are so interesting. There's also so much to learn too, so I think it will be a good semester. I just need to stop procrastinating and get my work done... I don't really know when that will happen though...
However, quite frankly, I'm homesick as ever. It's weird, because I wasn't home all summer, and now I decide to be homesick. It makes no sense to me, but nonetheless, I'm homesick. I miss my parents and I miss my brother. Today is my brother's sixteenth birthday and it kills me that I'm not home to celebrate it... (Happy birthday, Nam-Du! I love you!)
I miss my best friend too... Before I left, he gave me a letter and told me not to read it until I was all settled in my dorm room. Well, he doesn't know this, but I broke that rule and I read it before I went to sleep that night. The front of the letter has a big, yellow smiley face on it. This is an inside joke with us that dates back to 2004. I used to leave little notes in his locker when we were in junior high, and he would make me cards to give back to me. However, he isn't the most artistic person on the planet, so he would only draw smiley faces, which lead to smiley faces drawn on Paint. Every single year, I've received a card on my birthday with the exact same smiley face on it, and of course it always brings a smile to my face. His cards are always so intricate and thoughtful. On my seventeenth birthday, he included a picture of us in our "childhood". In reality, he had taken a picture of him when he was little and a picture of me when I was little and edited both onto a picture of a playground. On last year's card, he edited a picture of Jason Mraz -- half-naked, might I add -- saying happy birthday to me, because he had gotten me Jason Mraz tickets as a present. Anyway, this letter has to be the most heartfelt letter I have ever received. To put into words how thoughtful it was is quite impossible, but it does give me the sense of hope that I needed, to believe that our friendship will endure all the changes that have already come, and those that will come in the near future.
"There are 6,470,818,671 people in the world. Some are running scared. Some are coming home. Some tell lies to make it through the day, others are just now facing the truth. Some are evil men at war with good, and some are good struggling with evil. 6 billion people in the world, 6 billion souls, and sometimes, all you need is one." - One Tree Hill
