Friday, November 22, 2013

Planning to Visit the Past…

 

To those who just met me, it would be good to know that I lived in the UK from 1994-1995.  As with most experiences living in a foreign country, it was life changing.

I’ve had to live vicariously through British TV shows and movies since I moved back to the states in 1995. 

As my new friend and kindred spirit Abigail and I sat in the new Irish Pub here in Hackettstown about this time last year, we planned a trip to England.    We spent a long afternoon sitting by the fire eating and drinking Irish Food finding out just how much we had in common.  We share a love of all things British and Irish.  Particularly Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte’, Sherlock Holmes and various other pieces of literature, film and music.

With Abby just having been to Ireland with her sister this past February and me having been there in 1994 with my dear friend Laura, I longed to share the experience of showing her the beautiful place I consider to be my second home.  So without even a blink, we agreed to take this trip together. 

You can’t go back in time.  (Unless you have a Tardis!) You can’t live in the past. (Unless you BLINK!)  You can’t go home and expect it to have not changed. (Only in a bad flash back movie…or if your name is Peggy Sue…) 

You CAN revisit a place you’ve been before and reflect on how it helped mold you into what you are today. Or just experience a blast from the past and bring a friend!  Take care reader, you may be surprised at the range of emotions that swell inside of you when you least expect it…

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Life in a Nutshell

 

So, here’s the deal, life has a way of changing at the drop of a hat. 

Mine kind of goes like this:

 

Married at 19.                       Mom, Simmy and Grannie Annie 1985077

 

Moved to Florida at 21.

 

New Career at 22. 

 

Home owner by 25.

 

1993 FL DL Photo       Divorced at 27.

 

Paris Booth Photo      Living in a Foreign Country at 28.

Bredal-Bell_Simmy

 

 

Booth Photo 3

Married for the second time at 30.102 - Us looking downward        

 

 

 

 

 

Business owner by 32.

New Career Facet at 33.

 

Move back to New Jersey and semi-retire at 39.

 

Caretaker for parents by 40.

 

New Career at 41.

 

2010-12-22_17-01-55_105Burned out and midlife crisis by 45.

 

Motherless by 46...

 

I’m 47.     I’ll be 48 in a week.      I’ve started a new life.     

But it begins by visiting the past…