What is the one place, that every time you leave, you feel as if you are leaving a part of yourself behind?

In one form or another, I have been asked this question by so many people over the past few days. In discussions of post-graduation life, potential graduate school programs, and career choices, my friends and I keep coming back to this one question.


I think today I finally realized where this place is for me.

I used to think that it was Florida, specifically Ft. Lauderdale where I grew up. Sure, I have so many memories there and it will always be considered my home but I have nothing really keeping me in Florida. My parents, who still live there, are planning on moving onto their sailboat within the next few years and do a lot of traveling, and my younger sister who goes to school in Tampa is probably planning on moving as well once she graduates. The rest of my family is all in the northeast.

I also used to think that Philadelphia was the place for me. I am a diehard Phillies and Eagles fan because I grew up watching them with my grandfather. All of my mom’s side of the family lives there. When I was applying to college for my undergrad the only two out-of-state schools I applied (and got accepted) to were in Philly – and I was broken hearted when I found out I couldn’t go. I love to visit my family there and miss them when I leave, but I rarely miss the actual place, the city, or anything really around it.

I have a million and one memories from Massachusetts (specifically eastern Mass. but who’s keeping track). I love it. Weird, I know. I have so many memories. I don’t think I could ever in good conscience root for any athletic teams from there (unless they are playing against NY… I still hold my grudge against all things NY from when the Yankees beat the Phillies in the World Series a few years back). But I love thinking about all of the times that I have spent there…

… Spending summers at my grandfather’s house in Chatham,

… Harwich Junior Theater (don't judge, I was totally a theater geek back in the day).

… Riding bike through the sand dunes to get to P-Town

… My first trip to Boston (including all things touristy – duck boats, swan boats, taking a picture outside Cheers, etc.)

… The countless cruise summers I spent in Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and New Bedford (yes, New Bedford…if you've ver been there, you know what I mean).

This doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of all of my great memories (some just aren't appropriate to blog about), but every time I leave I feel like I'm leaving a piece of me behind.

Heck I am even a sucker for a good accent and I love Massachusetts/Boston accents.

xoxo,
Mariah

#1 always in my heart

My parents have never really been big sports people, sure they brought me and my sisters to our softball, swimming, or volleyball games/meets, but when it comes to cheering on some big NFL, MLB, or NBA team they are clueless. I get my love of watching sports from my grandfather (a.k.a Poppy). I remember when I was younger (and still today) whenever I would visit him and my grandmother (a.k.a. Nana) up in Philly, no matter what sport we would always be watching the game. I grew up with GO PHILLIES, GO EAGLES, GO FLYERS, GO 76ERS! It’s just natural.


With that being said, I leave you with GO PHILLIES as they are taking on the Cincinnati Reds in Game 2 of the NLDS! Have a great weekend!

Completely unrelated:

...Beauty and the Beast was released from the Disney Vault October 5th. I just bought it today, and they gave me free Beauty and the Beast silly bands.

...I have yet to see the 6th Harry Potter movie (epic failure of a Harry Potter fan) I went out and purchased it today. Now I'm having a tought time deciding if I want to watch Harry Potter or Beauty and the Beast when the Phillies game is over.

Phillies Spring Training

This past Monday I went to a Phillies spring training game against the Yankees. My Philly Loves lost, but whatever it was fun. I went with some guys from work, one of their fiances, and their 5 month on baby (precious!).

“Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.”

My mom has been having to give me the “everything happens for a reason” lecture/chat/what have you, a lot recently.


It’s probably weird that I remember the first time she ever gave me this lecture, but I do. It was back in my senior year of high school when her and my dad had to sit me down and tell me that they were so proud of me for getting accepted into both of my dream schools (Temple University and Drexel University….both in Philly)but they couldn’t send me for financial reasons. They told me that it broke their hearts that this was the second time they had to give this talk to one of their kids because they had just done it three years prior with my older sister when she got accepted into Boston University. They had known how excited I was to go to Philly, it was like going home. My entire family is there. And for my mom, Temple University was extra exciting because it was her alma mater.

Needless to say, both my older sister and I ended up at UCF. It just made sense. We both had full ride scholarships. My mom and dad had sat both of us (my older sister and I) down at some point during our senior year and told us that “everything happens for a reason” and there was a reason that we were meant to stay in Florida and go to school. And they were, in fact, right. I mean I probably have a list miles long of people I would have never met had I gone in a different direction other than UCF; people who I know will be in my life forever. I’ve made amazing friendships through classes, sorority life, work, and even made amazing friends through other friends. And I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world – they mean so much to me.

Recently, I’ve been calling her a lot more than normal because she is the only person who can reassure me that everything is going to be okay. I tell myself every day that it is truly going to be okay. For Pete’s sake I wrote a whole blog entry about it, I ought to be able to fully believe it by now. Every time I call her in tears she says the same thing.

“Mariah, I know it’s not an ideal situation to have happened, but you know there is a purpose for all of this happening. Just think about it, had you not left UCF you would still be miserable as a Hospitality major. You would have never discovered how passionate you are for Art/Art History and being able to take the time to step back and realize that, at Valencia is a wonderful thing. I am so proud of how you have handled this entire situation and how much you have grown in the past two years.”

It’s actually a talk a lot longer than that, but that pretty much sums it up. I usually feel a million times better upon hanging up the phone after having one of these conversations with her, but recently that doesn’t seem to be the case. I feel like this stuff with UCF is a never ending fight and I am just getting tired and worn out from it, like my spirit is just being sucked from me.

I know my mom is right though. All of this is happening for a reason. Someday in the future I will look back on it and realize what that purpose was – but for now…bah...I’m just wicked confused and frustrated about it all.

“Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.”