Feeling 33

It's now 33 days until my birthday, and honestly, I've been a little apprehensive about that number. Although I know that age is only a number, this number in particular seems more fit for mothers of three or two children; or women who have made significant progress in their careers, or have accumulated multiple degrees. And then there's me - a childless newlywed who's still growing in her profession. Since accepting myself and "owning my story" are two of the things I've been working on, I've decided to take these days leading up to my birthday to find ways to not only recognize who I am, but to celebrate life. I'm calling this little endeavor "Feeling 33" (like the line in the Taylor Swift song - or "Tay Tay" as my husband calls her -  "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22").
Let project Feeling 33 commence!

Mamah and me

Maybe it was from my obsession with Jane Austen films. Maybe it was something my nickname-creating littlest sister came up with, and it just stuck. Whatever caused it, at one point I began calling my mother "Ma-MAH" on occasion. Mom and I always had a very close, special relationship. Even when I was a "moody teenager", my mom was one of my favorite people to spend time with, and as I grew older, the facet of friends was added to the Mother/Daughter facet of our relationship.

While there is still a great deal about life that I am still learning, one thing I do know is that it never turns out the way you expect. That's why it isn't completely difficult to believe that my mother and I both had our weddings in the same year.

At my mom's wedding reception - August 2014

With Mamah on my wedding day - September 2014 (photo by livehappystudio.com)

After all, it's the unexpected, unorthodox experiences that tends to make life sweet. And then there are the moments when you're stressed to the max (and you have so many stress hives, your body seems to have turned into one huge hive), feeling anxious and worried, and you wish that things would just be "normal" and "typical" and that you could just step in the footprints of all of those that have tread the same path before you...

..but my path seems to always be off the beaten path...


















Maybe it would be "easier" to have a more "typical" life, but I couldn't help thinking as I talked to my mom on the phone today, how, for lack of a better word, COOL it was that we we're now both in similar periods of our lives. There may be thirty-something years between us, but we're both going through the same kind of transition - as newlywed brides.

If you have ever told the 13-year-old me that LOVED Jane Austen romances, how my life would be two decades later and all of the things I would experience, I probably would find it hard to believe. But I love my story - because it's mine, after all!

And I love my mamah.

I win the Most Awkward Award

(Not to be confused with the contest my sister won to meet the cast of "Awkward"....)

So, the other day I was headed into work and I decided to take a shortcut to check in for my shift. I thought I knew the way to go, but somehow I ended up in the wrong break room and came face to face with...a group of hunky men. Let's just say they are in very good shape. And do some pretty cool stunts.

"Hey!" one of them greeted me, "Come on in!" I knew he was just humoring the Poor Dweeby Lost Girl who obviously was in the wrong place. I could feel my awkwardness diffusing through the air.

"Sorry, " I said. "I'm lost..." and  I proceeded to tell them what I thought this place was - the place I was looking for.

"Nope," said the friendly stunt guy. "This isn't it."

I wanted to beeline out of there as fast as I could but I couldn't resist. So, before turning around and leaving I said, "Nope, it sure isn't - it's better looking!"