Gold Bless These 20 Somethings
For the person that needs the reminder every now and then that there is a rainbow at the end of a rainy day :)
I won’t pretend like I haven’t been missing for the past month. Multiple people have inquired about the whereabouts of this newsletter, but I just couldn’t say aloud that it was missing because I wasn’t feeling like myself. I didn’t feel like writing. I didn’t feel like reading or thinking. I didn’t feel like doing anything.
Nonetheless, it was sensed by everyone who asked. My demeanor and micro expressions gave it all away.
Two weekends ago was one of the best weekends I’ve had in a while. It went a little something like this:
Thursday March 9th; 3pm
I didn’t have to go into the office because of some last-minute meeting cancellations, and I was stoked about it. Not having to go into the office meant that I would get one extra day while visiting home. I had packed my suitcase, duffle bag and all of Sugar’s (my dog) things the night before so I would be ready to go in the morning. The morning comes and goes — I join my only meeting for the day and spend the rest of my time checking things off my to-do list. Next thing you know, it’s around noon. I think I made myself a quick salad and ate while watching Jordan (my boyfriend) gather his things for the trip back home.
It’s 3pm, so Jordan and I start loading the car with our things while Sugar waited for us upstairs. On the last trip to the car, Sugar decided she was done waiting, and swiftly followed Jordan down the stairs. I went up once more to grab my Reese’s peanut butter cups and ensure everything was locked, and to LA we went.
Thursday March 9th; 9:50pm
We made it back home to LA safe, sound and a bit irritable (or at least I was). I was cranky, tired and was ready to get Sugar out of the car and into the grass where she could relieve herself. After the seven hour drive, all I wanted to do was hug my family, eat and crash.
We unpacked all of mine and Sugar’s things inside of my parent’s house by the front door and Jordan stayed for a little to chat with my parents, then eventually went home to see his.
My dad and I are the chef’s of our respective households. I’ve learned everything I know about food from him. So, out of love, my dad served me a nice full plate of dinner he made before I arrived. As I poked around my plate, my mom asked me if I was okay. I immediately started bawling. I missed my parents and brothers so much, it was indescribable. Just seeing their faces, hugging them and stepping into the house that held so many core memories made me melt. I was so happy to be home.
Friday March 10th; 9am
I spent the majority of my day in bed. I woke up around 9ish, made my parents and myself breakfast — for my dad, a veggie omelet with lots of spinach; for my mom and I, an avocado and spinach breakfast sandwich. I ate my breakfast in my room (guest room, according to my little brother), watched one of my all-time favorite shows, Say Yes to the Dress, and did some tactical work. Next thing you know, it was 3pm and my little brother was back home from school. It was at that point that I decided to finally take a shower.
Friday March 10th; 7pm
Around 7pm the same day, my brother and I went to the movie theatre to see Kung Fu Panda 4. Every movie night needs snacks, so to the concession stand we went. As we stood in line and chatted, I was astounded to hear just how much my brother ate. He ordered loaded nachos, a 3-pack of chocolate filled churros, and a slushy. I talked him out of getting the slushy and into sharing a water bottle with me. All I got was a small popcorn and a side of nacho cheese. And even that, he ate.
My little brother is so similar to me in personality. We both love fashion, so we dressed in elevated comfortable clothes topped with cool sneakers. We both love to talk during movies, and we love to eat. There was a non-stop loud talking little kid behind us, so I was ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone that felt like complaining about our chatter.
The movie was hilarious, even for a 25 year old. On our way out of the theatre, my brother turned to me and said “that was fun”. I felt accomplished and ready for bed.
Saturday March 11th
After months of no physical activity aside from walking Sugar, I decided to join my mom for her 9am Pilates class. I died. Physically, my legs were wobbly, and my arms felt weak. Mentally, my dopamine was through the roof. I missed this type of workout. I hadn’t found a workout routine in my new place that stuck.
In true mother daughter bonding fashion, we headed to a cute brunch spot, sipped our Matcha latte’s and ate our avocado toast while we caught up. I talk to my mom every day, sometimes even multiple times a day, but there never seems to be topics to run out of.
Later that day, my little brother and I left the house for our planned day out. We enjoyed a beautiful day shooting hoops and mini golfing, talking about our respective strategies as we approached each hole. Once we were done with mini golf, we enjoyed multiple large slices of ooey gooey cheese pizza and watched a basketball game that was playing on the TV inside of the arcade. On the way back to the car, my brother looked at me and said he had so much fun spending the day with me. The words rang through my head and put an immediate smile on my face.
I wanted to cry, I was so happy. It was the best day.
Sunday March 12th
It was around 8am when my mom and I left for another Pilates class, even though the class didn’t start until 9am. Gotta love that LA traffic! Class was great! It was challenging, but I was proud of myself for hanging in there. I got to see my favorite instructor, and her excitement about seeing me made me even happier.
I had plans with my best friend, so my mom and I rushed home after class so I would be ready to hangout with my friend in time. Of course, I was running late. I rushed as much as I could before greeting her in the kitchen, chatting with my mom. I was so excited to see her. We headed out to our brunch reservation shortly after and arrived only 5 minutes late but were still seated right away. Before we even sat down, we had already gotten into deep conversation, catching up. This was the girl time I needed. I hadn’t made friends like this in my new city. And calling is always there of course, but there’s nothing like IRL girl chat time!
After our debrief, we spent the day walking around, in and out of different home decor stores and dreamt of all the different ways we’d decorate our homes. It was just what I needed.
Monday March 13th
I woke up around 5am but didn’t get out bed until around 5:30am. I had packed most of my things from the night before, but a few items were still lingering. I’m notorious for forgetting things, so I did my rounds before waking any of my family members up to say see ya later.
6:30am eventually rolls around, and it was time to go. I kissed my sleeping brother goodbye and gave him a big hug. Next was my parents. The three of us lied in bed for a few minutes before my dad and I got up to get the car ready for the long drive. Something about those last few minutes hugging my dad felt like therapy. It was a rush of emotion that I couldn’t explain. My dad always knows the right things to say and when to say them. And, he also knows just how much I need them.
One day, when I look back at this time in my life, I won’t even remember the rainy moments. I’ll only remember the ones where the beautiful colors of the rainbow are shining so bright for everyone to see them. I’ve made so many incredible experiences living in my new city and with my loving boyfriend. I just need a reminder every now and then that it’s a bad moment, not a bad life. And maybe you do too.
At the end of the day, life is a journey, and as cliche as it sounds, you only get to live it once, so live it well spent.