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| Birthday in Amsterdam |
On April 22nd, I entered the world of what my Mom refers to as "closer to 30 then 20.." My god. What a horrible way to be reminded that I'm not getting any younger. Not that the constant badgering of a "real" career, a permanent and functional relationship and the ever tiring question of when will she FINALLY have a grand baby other than an 80 pound Weimaraner, who might I add has successfully stolen her heart, isn't enough. I say this all in jest- my Mom only ever terrorizes me in a completely comedic way (I think.) However, I think back to all I've done in the last year and am thankful I survived.. see turning 25 scared the hell out of me. A quarter life crisis of sorts..Anyone that knows me, probably knows that I have no clear path. I was never one of those people that woke up and said- "Today I will start my descent into an ideal adulthood.. a real career, a savings account, retirement fund, single person condo OWNED not rented, and an already paid for car.." 25 made me realize that everything I thought I had, I didn't..Mainly, happiness. Subsequently, the demise of a three year plus relationship with someone who is thankfully still a part of my life was affecting the big picture as I entered the dreaded 25.. It wasn't the end of the relationship that was necessarily the big adjustment- it was the fact that he had been my best friend, my roommate, my future- and I had to start all over again. We transitioned from college to adulthood together, in a safety net because we had each other, making decisions together, taking on new adventures and when it was over, for the first time in a long time.. I was responsible for solely myself. Not long after I turned 25 I realized it was time for me to start living my life for me, whether it was the white picket fence dream that others had- or if it was some crazy European illusion. Hence, my current situation. Whereas 25 was a big dark nightmare.. 26 is the exact opposite and has made me realize all that I have to be thankful for. Not many people have the opportunity to spend a year in another country, the support of family members and friends while I'm out here or multiple traveling destinations as I have been so thankful to have.. See the bottom line is this- life is too short to do anything other than exactly what you want to do..
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| 3rd annual birthday with the Beste's |
So, I still have no idea what I want to do with my life.. I'm still single, and no children on the horizon but I am happy. Blissfully so. And rather than looking for the future and feeling defeated when it doesn't hold exactly what I want- I'm going to let the future find me. 26.. here I come.
So after many, many months I finally met the infamous Jennifer Griffin. She went to school at Carolina, we share mutual friends, and she currently lives 30 minutes away. I just met her for the first time after 8 months- Rude. To say that we have things in common is an understatement. It is quite scary the similarities in our background, our tastes, and our "zest" for life. She's been living in Amsterdam as an Au pair as well and has made a lot of great friends, including the wonderful and inappropriate Alex from Texas. Se-curity! I've been able to go out with them a few times in the city and have had a great time every time I've been with them. This past Friday was no exception. Met with Jennifer and friends, and started our evening at CoCo's which is an Australian bar in Rembrandtplein. Packed as usual, people dancing on tables, guys taking off their shirts.. while I was walking up to the bar, I was dance assaulted by a drunk Dutch man, who wanted to do circles around me.. and managed to dance my belt off my shirt. I suppose at this point it fell right on the floor. I realized it only when 15 minutes later, I noticed a man dancing on a table, wearing suspenders, and my belt as a prop. In every way he could think of.. you know, around his neck, between his legs.. I politely went over and screaming over the music, showed him the print of my shirt and the print of the belt around his neck were obviously the same.. it was MY belt. We played a little game of tug of war, and him being quite funny (not) continued dancing with it in inappropriate ways. Then.. he did what every mature man over the age of 21 would do.. he stuck it down his pants. And into his underwear. I kid you not. My mouth dropped, and I walked away. There was no way I was getting my belt back, nor after that display, I could never justify wearing it again. Touche, Mister suspenders. You win this time.
