Category: Blog

The Ode to the Deceased

While cleaning out my desk I found a poetry project from eighth grade. That’s right. Eighth grade. Now I’d never say I’m a good poet and let me just say- I was definitely still in my teen angst phase. All in all, I wrote five poems of which one didn’t make me cringe.  

The Ode to the Deceased

When our dear loved ones move on
To what some believe to be another world,
They leave behind a part of themselves,
Whether it be material like money and jewelry,
Or memories such as a fine summer’s day.
They have completed their journey,

Finished the game
And now can finally rest
But with something up their sleeve no less.

For they are the ones who know the truth.
They now know that sacred secret.
They have seen the other part of life

The one thing that our instincts tell us to fear
They have embraced,
With or without that same fear

So raise up your candles
And bow your heads
In respect to the deceased,
For they have finished the deadly game
And they know all the means

P.S. It’s nice to know that even after fourteen years, the concept of death still hangs heavy on me.

It can’t be just me: Morning Routines

After chatting with some coworkers it has come  to my attention that I may or may not have a strange morning routine. I personally don’t think so, but man oh man was I overruled. So! I decided to bring this to the masses to determine if it is weird or if it actually makes sense.

  1. Use Bathroom
  2. Fully dress from waist down (socks & footwear included)
  3. Brush teeth
  4. Wash face
  5. Apply toner
  6. Fully dress from waist up
  7. Finish skin care routine
  8. Apply deodorant

P.S. I asked my partner their opinion and apparently they get ready in a similar way…I am now convinced they rubbed off on me because I know for a fact this wasn’t my routine a few years ago.

Photo by Grace Kelly on Unsplash

Autumn Leaves

Prompt: Changing colors, dropping temperatures, pumpkin spice lattes: do these mainstays of Fall fill your heart with warmth — or with dread?

As someone raised with only one real season: Summer, I can confidently say the mainstays fill me with warmth.

Seeing leaves change color in person is truly wild- especially since some start super early while others really hold out. Now when it comes to dipping temperatures it’s hands down my favorite part. This past winter I learned the joys of sleeping with a cracked window on frigid nights and let’s just say there’s no going back.

With this being my second Autumn I’m hoping to really get out and do all the staple activities…I just need to remember what those are exactly.

P.S. I’ve never had a pumpkin spice latte, but I’m thinking this may be the year.

Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

Football Season

It’s officially American Football Season which means Sundays are now a day when I do whatever strikes me while my partner keeps up with their team(s). 

Today we were in our usual meal prep routine when they set up the T.V. for their game. In a hilarious twist of fate- he realized we’re now in a different broadcasting region. For those thinking “what does that mean?”, it means the games shown are tailored to where we live, so instead of getting the Dolphins like he wanted…he was getting the Bengals. 

The dramatics that ensued were *chef’s kiss*. 

I mentioned how local sports bars would probably have it, but refusing to be brought down, he pulled the game up on his laptop and is currently watching while cooking. 

I have to admit: I admire his loyalty and drive to watch the game. 

I, on the other hand, am biding my time until November 20th…

Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

P.S. For those wondering- November 20th is when the World Cup starts and is the only time I come out of sports hibernation.

Tying the Knot: Looking Back

One week has passed since my wedding ceremony and I can honestly say…it hits different. 

Did I cry? Nope. Neither myself nor my husband cried (likely because we legally wed in July). Interestingly, it wasn’t until I left my mom’s rental the following night that I got misty eyed. Something about leaving my family to head home, knowing they were flying out in the morning…everything suddenly felt cemented. There I was at twenty-six having hit all the old school “milestones of adulthood” and it was a cluster of emotions. 

There was certainly joy. 

I was happy so many friends and family were able to be part of it with us. I was happy people had a great time. I was happy to be culturally married- if that’s the right way to describe it. I was happy nothing went awry…. 

At the same time though, I was sad.  

Sad in realizing the roots I’d laid down states away from family and friends were now anchored. Sad in the sense I’d closed out a life stage and was now closer to my most imminent fear- death.  

Thankfully, my partner was chatting with me on the phone for most of the drive which helped keep it together.     

These last several days have been a blur thanks to me going right back to work, but I’m hoping this weekend will get me back on track rest wise. 

Photo by My Mother

P.S. If anyone reading this attended the wedding- I want to thank you for coming and I apologize if you experienced altitude sickness!

32 Flavors

Prompt: Vanilla, chocolate, or something else entirely?

If we’re sticking with Baskin-Robbins then I have no clue. I purchased my first pint of Ben & Jerry’s last week and decided to start with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Core. Do I recommend it? Um, no. It’s not to say it tastes bad or anything. I’d just say go with the regular Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough instead.

If I was picking my go to flavor overall though- Birthday Cake all day.

Bonus: I asked my husband and he said World Class Chocolate by none other than Baskin-Robbins.

P.S. The ultimate twist here is I prefer sorbet to ice cream, but we’ll just ignore that for now.

Photo by Slashio Photography on Unsplash

All Grown Up

Prompt: When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

Hm…it would probably be pretty recent.

While my partner and I were enjoying a private hot spring we got to talking and I expressed how now that we are legally married it feels as if I’ve hit all the stereotypical ‘milestones of adulthood’– aside from having children (neither myself or my partner want any).

It was strange because until that moment I hadn’t consciously considered it.

On one hand it’s nice to think you’ve hit society’s goals whether or not you think they’re relevant. On another hand it served as a reminder of how I’m getting closer to the ultimate milestone- death, albeit in a roundabout process.

In a parallel train of thought it made me reflect on how I’m not really passionate about anything anymore nor do I have extremely close friendships.

Adulthood is a wild one, but the joy of being an adult is I can make changes towards the things I want.

Photo by Cloris Ying on Unsplash