All You Need Is Love,...& Soft Tacos

Last Sunday morning, I found myself sitting on a bench with my good friend Liz looking at the East River; while joggers, baby strollers, couples, and children on scooters went passed us. It had been a night to remember just hours before, & we were a little discombobulated. Nevertheless, still feeling great and up & out the door at 10am with our giant ice coffees (you all notice the pattern here as my ice coffee tends to make a cameo in anything and everything I say or write). Our conversation I feel, was “one for the books”.
I am turning 25 in a few short weeks. Liz turned 25 back in February. Yes, we had that “I had this picture of what 25 would look like” talk. When I was 15, I thought 25 was old. In fact, I thought Id be engaged by then! (pause for laughter). Maybe since my mom was engaged at 25, and I felt 3 years out of College would be “enough time to live my life”. But I was 15, what the hell did I know? When I was 18, after completing one year of College, I had this whole other image of 25. In this pretty little picture, I am 3 years out of College therefore in this fabulous career making a ton of money, & living this extravagant nyc lifestyle that includes many many (many) pairs of shoes. Again, lets all have a nice laugh. No I am not engaged (it’s not that I am against marriage, I just am not ready for it yet & also haven’t met the right person). And the funniest lesson definitely goes to all the College kids who believe jobs are dying to bid on all us graduates as if bachelor’s degrees are like rare gold. I’ll never forget post College: my nanny job, my waitress job, and my $9 an hour gig at Abercrombie and Fitch on 5th ave where I was paid to stand at the door and say “hey whats goin on?”
But for Liz, I felt her. I felt what she was saying. Regardless of the life we picture for the future, one can’t help but reflect on their birthdays of the moment. “I just didn’t think this is where Id be at 25” she said. “I like my life, but I thought a few other things would have happened or been different by now. I have goals, but the years just fly by and they don’t always happen”. Well, she was sitting on the bench with the right girl. I am the girl who turned 12 years old & wanted to know why I hadn’t seen Africa yet. For 24 years old, I have an unusual appreciation for life. Lord knows I love my shoes & dresses, but the littlest (and sometimes dumbest) things can make me smile for days!
I love eating. I love going pumpkin picking in October. I love Central Park & the Museum of Natural History. I love sitting with friends and doing nothing but talking and finishing a bottle of wine. I love doing things on my own, & feeling independent. I love doing laundry! (There’s that “dumb” example). Point is, sometimes I wake up and I actually think to myself “life is beautiful”. And I know that is cheesy sounding, especially since I am not living some perfect life over here, I have had my ups and downs. I’ve lost family & friends, been treated poorly, & had times of massive confusion and uncertainty. But it is so true. Life is so beautiful.
I am aware that I can get attacked right now with horrible examples of war, disease, & poverty, but believe me friends I am aware of it. I am getting a masters degree in it. My take is, there is also so much good in the world, that if we are blissful enough to see that, we can use our “good” energy to go where help is needed. “Be the change you want to see in the world”-Gandhi. There. I just quoted Gandhi. Now you all really must be thinking I had a few glasses of wine before writing this, but I swear the only thing I have consumed while typing right now is a kit kat bar.
Back to my conversation with Liz. Liz opened my eyes that day, and I think I opened hers also. We know we are lucky to have each other as friends. We know that living in Manhattan together for the last 7 years has taught us a lot, and is a part of the women we have become (so far). Liz is a good person and makes me laugh whenever I am with her. She stayed out dancing with me until 5am this night before, & we had a blast. I in return promised to her motivation & support, because no matter what she wants to do in life, I will be there to back her up (and make sure it happens by 30 if that is what she wants) :)
You need to say to yourself what you want to do with your life, & then you need to just do it. I write my goals down because I feel they have a better chance of getting done that way. My 12 yr old dream for Africa? Happening in 2012 when I go with my Public Health Program for 4 weeks. I knew I’d get there one day, & I will. Bottom line: as far as I know I have one life. I want adventure, I want happiness, I want love. And for the record, I have no age limit on those things, & I am excited to be turning 25 in July. I think I will make a lovely 25 year old. Liz & I are just two 25 year olds, doing our thing, loving the life we live, & having faith that we are going to be just. Fine. I love you miss liz. You are a fantastic friend.
PS: Did I mention on our night out, we did karaeoke to B52's "Love Shack"? We got rave reviews from our audience :)

• Love Shack by The B-52's

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