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What were you doing five years ago today? As the holiday season began? Where were you? Who were you with? What did you want? What did you have?
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I have a terrible memory for these kinds of things. In fact, I almost never remember gifts. I can occasionally remember receiving an item from someone, but almost never remember when or even for what occasion. I'm much better at remembering gifts I have given to others, but even still, the years blend together. The point of course, is that I have no idea what I wanted for Christmas. And I certainly don't remember what I received. My wants and needs are definitely quite different this year than 2005. Like I said, I have no idea what I received then or even what I asked for... maybe my iPod came that year. Along with a bunch of new music/movies/video games. but this year my "want" list is definitely more grown-up and includes some nice pots for the newly re-modeled kitchen, miscellaneous other articles for the home, jewelry and clothes, and magazine subscriptions. :)
December 2005... I was living in my little duplex (no roommate!), not far from the campus proper of the University of Illinois. Gearing up for my last 6 months or so of my graduate career. I had spent just over 2 years in the program at this point and things were ever so slowly coming to a close.
I remember that it was a very strange time for me. I didn't really feel connected to my high school friends back home anymore. Mostly we had just fallen out of touch. But I had made a small, but very close-knit group of new friends in my labs. One of them was just getting ready to leave the lab and take a new position somewhere else. She started the mass exodus, as over the course of the next year all of us would leave. Of the 5 of us, 4 of us have remained in close contact and I have even attended 2 of their weddings and they all came to mine.
Meanwhile, my boyfriend of 7 years (now husband) had a full time job back home. We saw each other often enough, but there I was... still in school. And with that (finally) ending I had a great unknown hanging in front of me: what in the world am I going to be with my Master's Degree? Where will I go? By then we at least knew that wherever we went, we would be together.
I also remember that this was the December that I attended the wedding of a guy that was a very good friend in high school. And one that I had a major crush on for awhile. It made me contemplate "what would have happened if..." for just a split second before realizing that things were just as they were meant to be. :)
2005 was definitely a transitional year. I was completing the first ever advanced degree in my family and feeling very "adult"! But there was so much more to come... In 2006 I would graduate and move back home. To my parent's house. Start and struggle with my first real job hunt. 2007 saw me moving in with my man, getting engaged, have a major health scare and purchasing our first home. I can't wait to see what happens in the NEXT 5 years.
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Start a new tradition with your family or friends this season to help you remember the beauty of NOW!
share a blog together * start a cookie swap * host a movie night * meet late for pancakes * invite your siblings to pick out a gift for your parents * get together with friends to make holiday decorations
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I'm cheating a little bit because technically we hosted our first holiday "Bon Pasco!" family gathering in 2007. But that was the first and last. This year, we're trying to revive the tradition. It's a small feat to get all of my and my husband's family together in the same place. 3 years ago we were actually missing some people so we'll see if we can manage to get everyone together this year! It will no doubt be stressful, but I'm looking forward to it. There will be holiday cheer, maybe some games, drinks all around and plenty of yumminess.
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