Even though I gained a loving family through adoption, the loss of my biological mother after birth would affect me in unexpected ways as a child all the way through adulthood. Over the years I’ve learned the importance of acknowledging and honoring that loss so it doesn’t overshadow everything else. Being adopted is all I’ve …
Category: adventure
Christmas in New York
Going to NYC during Christmas has been on my bucket list as long I can remember. After moving to the East Coast nearly two years ago, it was bumped to the top of list, but I didn’t make it last year. While I wanted to venture to the city on my own I hadn’t been …
Visiting Maine: A Dream Come True
Mom's dream of seeing the most northern state on the East Coast began as a teenager when she saw scenes of Maine's Coast in a television show. My sister had planned a trip for my parents a few years ago for their anniversary, but they weren't able to go. Another near miss happened when I …
Relaxing in the Poconos
When a dear friend invited me to spend the weekend at their cabin in the Pocono Mountains, I didn't hesitate to accept. While I spent a few days in the Adirondacks last summer, this would be a far different experience. I wasn't staying in a hotel across the street from a Dunkin Donuts. I was …
Celebrating in NYC
When my friend Maria let it slip that she was talking to her daughters about going to New York with me for my birthday, I was touched and beside myself with excitement. Since moving to Jersey I had been wanting to go to the city. After not making it there to celebrate Christmas, I resolved …
Running Philadelphia: Back on My Feet 5-Miler
The Stroehmann Back on My Feet 5-Miler fell on the same day as the Bearathon in Waco, which is the half marathon I have ran for the past two years. I was a little disappointed to not be running it again this year. The race, known as the "Toughest Half in Texas," raises money for …
Continue reading Running Philadelphia: Back on My Feet 5-Miler
Exploring Philadelphia: Love at First Sight
My first glimpse of Philadelphia was from an airplane as I flew into the airport this past April. Flying in to spend the weekend in Jersey. I was in awe of the massive sports complexes clustered together, the skyline, the naval shipyard... It was all pretty much a blur since I was seeing it so …
Continue reading Exploring Philadelphia: Love at First Sight
Visiting Texas
When I left for Texas the day before Christmas Eve, I couldn't bring myself to say that I was going home for the holidays or that I was visiting Texas... Using those phrases seemed as weird to me as not saying "y'all," which all y'all know that I use that term countless times a day. …
Thanking Jersey
It's that time of year where so many posts, tweets, articles, pictures are all about "Thankful for..." What am I thankful for? To answer such a seemingly commercialized sentiment, yet incredibly relevant given that I'm spending this Thanksgiving in Jersey makes me feel like I'm about to dive into a chick-flickesque monologue. One that would …
Exploring Gettysburg
Visiting Gettysburg is not something I ever expected to do. I remember reading about it in school, but quite frankly, it never seemed real to me. Like a lot of other historical places that I've seen and visited since I moved to the east coast, it never felt tangible. Just words, stories and pictures... I …