Hello blogger friends!
It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I very much apologize for my absence.
AND!
I very much apologize even more, if said absence lead any of your to believe that some kind of tragedy had befallen either myself or my loved ones.
The truth of the matter is – life happened.
And it happened a lot.
This summer has been one of intense happenings – change, growth, learning, happiness; sadness, athletics, adventure, beauty, love, and, of course, fun.
All the fun has been had.
But I am also at this point where I feel the need to pack a bag, head to YVR, grab Marc’s hand, and buy a pair of the farthest away one-way plane tickets we can afford.
We’ll fly off into the wide-blue yonder with nothing but a change of undies, our running shoes, and a bag of peanut butter M&M’s (purchased from Hudson News. It’s a tradition.)
POOF.
We’ll be gone.
It’s weird.
I often forget about the aging process.
I think much of this has to do with the fact that Marc and I have now been together now for ten years. (August 16 marked this milestone in our relationship.)
I was eighteen when we first got together, and there is a strange little part of me that still thinks that we are still those same people: that I am still that silly and starry-eyed first year undergraduate student, and he is the suave, and self-sufficient third-year classics major.
And sure, there is some truth to that – those people still very much make up a part of our characters, our souls.
But any way you slice, it – we’ve changed.
We are changing.
We are maturing – both inside and out.
And it’s something that is happening every single day of our lives.
And I don’t begrudge this happening.
In fact, I love it.
I like life a heck of a lot more now than I did as that undergraduate student.
It’s just that I don’t ever really reflect on these changes unless I am confronted by this fact – maybe I’ll see someone I haven’t seen in quite a long time; or I’ll start to realize that I am outgrowing older friendships.
Outside of my immediate self, I notice this most when I see the other loves of my life also changing, and adapting.
I see it when people have babies.
When people get sick.
When people get married, and when they get divorced.
When they buy property, when they move away, when they stop eating meat, when they start reading Kant –
And it’s good.
Because without this movement, this incessant striving, this going forward – we just die. We become stagnant and morose; we stop asking questions, we stop engaging in dialogue, we stop progress.
We can’t properly appreciate life.
The only trick of the matter is – how to find a balance between this constant striving and the ability to sit back and enjoy the aging process?
How do I keep moving but not to the extent where I feel the need to run away because life has reached a new level of overwhelming activity?
This is, of course, a topic I’ve written about quite a bit here at Rant and Roll, but seeing as though I have yet to answer this question, it will most likely be something that I keep revisiting as we head into the Autumn months (and no doubt beyond.)
There are so many good things to look forward to: Powell River in the Fall, running the Fall Classic 10k, Nova Scotia in November, playing soccer with Marc, fireside nights with a good book and our beauty cat.
But before we get too ahead of ourselves, I want to make sure that I take the time to appreciate everything this summer had to offer.
And so I present to you –
July and August, by the numbers.
4 Weddings
3 Bridesmaid dresses
1 pair of killer heels
1 half marathon
250 kilometers ran soley for the love of running
1 1000 kilometer drive (in one night)
3 Hikes
5 Inches of hair cut off
10 Amazing books
10 Stand-up Shows
1 New job
Countless tears shed
Countless laughs laughed
All the lessons learned.
All the lessons left to be learned.
…
I’m back WordPress.
Thanks for letting me take some time off.
I’m looking forward to it.
I’m moving.
I’m moving forward.
Rant and Roll 
You are moving.
Moving me to TEARS.
Seriously, though. I love you.
I LOVE YOU TOO. <3 <3
This is exactly what I needed to read. Here’s to the future! xo
To the future! *clinks glasses*
YOU sure are right.. when you don’t move forward you die and just stay in a rut.
Exactamundo!
Thanks for sticking with my Shalilah :)
I missed you!
Also you look impossibly long in your first photo. Tyra Banks would love you. Especially your neck.
Because she likes necks.
I’m not entirely sure why. But I’m fairly certain she’d like yours.
I’ve missed you too! Also, I just got your e-mail and I shall respond ASAP.
Thanks for sticking with me sweets. And for the great compliment. I used to watch ANTM all the damn time. Tyra is the one who taught me to smize!
Brilliant brilliant!
Great to hear. Whew! Great.
!!!
Thanks doll. It really means the world. :)
Hello Eth (may I still call you Eth?). Glad you had a nice summer. Good post. I should blog more often too =P. You write good “sorry I haven’t been blogging” posts!
Lol! I know, eh? I’ve really cornered the market. Sheesh! But thanks!
Glad to see your beauty face around these here parts! xx
you, and “life”, and the changing tree-leaves, and the diminishing daylight: summer is, mostly over, iddn’t it?
(i ran 2 x 5k races this past weekend: set, nay, shattered! my PW on a flat paved course Sat., then did NOT set a PW on a trail trot on Sunday @ 10,000′ elev!)
It is! Blargh. Although I do love the Fall…I will miss these warm summer months!
And hey, two 5k races in ONE weekend sounds pretty badass to me! And 10,000 feet elevation? You are a champ.
Also, it’s grand to see you Mr. R! It’s been too long.
Welcome Back – I have missed having at least a weekly belly laugh:) Summer is disappearing and it has been a busy one! Happy Tuesday
I AM ON THIS! Haha! But seriously though, I miss your beautiful, inspiring posts! I’m excited to be back. :)
You are such a Sweetie:)
I have the best blog friends of life. OF LIFE!
If it’s any consolation, I still don’t feel like a grown-up and I’m 48, LOL! I still don’t know what I want (or am meant) to do with my life. I don’t find this sad or disturbing, I kind of find it liberating — like you’re never too old to take on something new and exciting — know what I mean?
You certainly did have a busy, busy summer! Lots of excitement, lots of new adventures. All things that you should embrace (and I know that you do enjoy all of the special moments in your life)!
Please do let me know if you take up reading Kant — I’m not saying it will end our relationship, but I may have to rethink it. LOL!
I would never, EVER. Kant is the worst.
However, you are the absolute best and believe me when I say I look up to you like crazy (because you are a zen buddhist master of life.) Of the highlights of the summer was our NY meet up!
It was one of the highlights of my summer, as well!
And I’ll add ‘so many followers who are overjoyed to have you back’ to the list!
Daaawww! My heart.