The Lucky Ones

It was about 11 months ago that we were last together.  Leaving a celebration for two of our own, not really sure where or when all of us would next come together.  Young and uncertain and all a little scared that things may never be the same.

After spending four years almost constantly together, the idea that we may fall apart was a non-option in our eyes.  So we committed to getting together once a year.  No matter what life brought our way we knew had to make the effort, so plans were made for year one.  For those that could make it, a house was booked on Kiawah Island for a long weekend.  

Groups of 3 or 4 had seen each other at football games or other events but this many of us hadn't been together in almost a year.  We aren't a high maintenance group - we need a table big enough for board games, plenty of beer, and a tv in case Auburn has a sporting event. 

I could continue and write about the wonderful meals, delicious beer and mimosas, many hours of board games, funny sunburn shapes, or screaming at the tv during the Women's College World Series.  But all that really needs to be said is we got lucky and continue to be lucky. Lucky that some of us met at orientation getting lemonade, lucky that others met in that old house on Samford Avenue, and really lucky that we all have an affinity for games of any kind.  Lucky that a group of people who come from all over the country formed the dysfunctional yet beautiful Fam Jam. 

I just finished unpacking my bags, my house is now covered in sand, and my heart is full. Full of love and laughter that only comes from time with my Fam Jam.  Full enough to last until next year and carry me on the days when work isn't so great or no one around me knows how to play Nerts.  And until then, I carry them in my heart and smile because they're kicking butt and making me a proud mama bear. 

Only took us two tries!

A Whole Decade.

Twice in a span of about 10 days I was able to spend time with people I've known for close to or more than a decade.  What a weird way to say how long you've known someone.  Typically it's a "oh we met in 9th grade English" or "we've known each other forever".  Putting that descriptor of decade onto a friendship is odd but pretty cool.  And when you've known someone that long, it's easy to see how much you have grown and changed since that first summer or event together.

Camp friends!

The first occasion was a Braves game on a Wednesday because we could.  A friend from home and camp recently finished Ranger school nearby and suggested we get to a game before he moves onto the next post.  A casual idea of a few people going to see a game turned into 19 of us from all over settling into some great outfield seats - thank goodness for military discounts!   Some people were home people, some camp, some Auburn, some new Atlanta friends I've only known for a few months, and others were brand new friends.  It was great to catch up with the people I hadn't seen in a while, meet new people, and see the Braves win a ball game!

850 represent - Lincoln, Leon, and Chiles c/o 2010. 

The second occasion was a quick visit with a friend headed to home from school in New Jersey.  We've known each other since the summer before my junior year of high school and it was such a blessing to have him visit.  I had my last kickball game of the season so got to show off my mad second base skills and then we grabbed dinner with a friend on the team.  The evening was spent catching up and watching T Swift music videos (not even a little sorry he was subjected to this).

Tricked the Florida fan into an Auburn shirt!

These kind of evenings are a huge reason I'm thankful to be in a big city that is relatively central to most people in my life.  The random visits with people travelling and the overwhelming amount of people that come here for work make a huge place seem much smaller.  While it may be a long time before I get to see some of these people again, a decade of friendship means we are always able to pick up right where we left off.  Who knows at what occasion we'll be catching up at next but I'm already looking forward to it.

Year One.

One year. Four seasons of love, joy, growth, loss, and breathing.

One year ago today, I entered the so called "real world."  There was a walk across a stage, pictures with my favorite mascot, and a whole lot of good wine with even better people.  And just like that the transition to post-grad life began.

Following a few hard "see you later's" and a quick stint at my aunt's house, I settled into a new apartment and actually felt like an adult. At this point, I'd been at work for about a month but my life didn't feel all that different because it was still summer and I could have just been interning and gearing up to head back to school come August.

Then sorority pre-recruitment snapchats/Instagrams/Facebook posts started coming in and like a ton of bricks, it hit me. The fact that I wasn't packing Yolanda up to head for school. The fact that I wasn't going to see my people until our planned football weekend came later in the fall. And mostly, the fact that I really was done with the four years that taught me about hard work, family ties, and how to successfully cook ramen. I was done. This wasn't a temporary thing - the adult switch had permanently flipped to on.

Football is always a good idea.

So I cried. Deleted social media. Cried. Had a ton of wine. Cried more. 

And then I took a breath. A big inhale followed by the deep sigh my wonderful yoga instructors encourage.

This breath is the reason I have not only survived year one of post-grad but have had quite the adventure and found a little bit more of myself along the way.  This breath in addition to blessed phone calls with Mom, Dad, and friends, and naturally a glass of wine (or three) sometimes.

It's easy to say that the four (or five or six) years spent in college are "the best years of your life". Never again will you be in that quintessential place in life where you can nap through a class or drink too much on a weeknight and not have to deal with coworkers in the morning.  Never again will you be constantly surrounded by people in the exact same place of life you are. And that's sad, it's a loss.  It's okay to be sad; what it's not okay to be is so sad that you miss the chance.  The chance for growth this awkward year (or two) after graduation provides.

This amazing chance for growth exists because never again will I be 23, living in a large metropolitan area, working my first job, and not having a clue what the next 4 years, let alone 4 hours hold.  For the first time in my life, I don't have any huge goal I'm striving towards, no set timeline.  And for this type A girl, that's terrifying.  But maybe that's the point.  In the moments of fear and uncertainty, we find our strength.

Old friends, new friends, and trivia!

The strength to breathe and move forward to new adventures.  When you take that first breath after a good "holy cow, I graduated" cry, you make room for new love of people, places, or activities.  You make room to find new joy in the routine of a 9 to 5 job or uncertainty of the job search.  You make room to just be and fully live into the part of life you have found yourself - post graduation pretend adulting.

Adult league volleyball, a rediscovery of a lost love with new friends!

It's been a year with moments of full on adulting (hello, filing taxes on my own!) and moments of pretend adulting (hello, occasional weeknight shenanigans!).  I have breathed, loved, found joy, and grown this year in ways I didn't know I could; I have also lost pieces of my life which, as my wise nephew once said, "was not a fun adventure."  But I'll raise a glass to this past year because, in its own way, it was one of the best of my life.

{This blog is my attempt to share with family and friends my adventures and shenanigans along the way to wherever God and the universe have me headed.  Welcome to the ride!}