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

Happy 24th Anniversary of MLK Weekend!

This past weekend happen to be Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. I was lucky enough to get to venture up to D.C. and visit my older sister and her fiance. I helped them do a little planning. Tagged along on random outings to paper stores (for invitations), dress stores (for the obvious), and reception halls (duh). Chimed in with my opinion, when asked, not over-stepping any bridal boundaries, and provided a little comic relief when differing opinions got heated.

I had quite the adventure from the moment I stepped off the plane. Mom and Dad were supposed to pick me up from the Baltimore airport, having decided to forgo the rental car and just rely on Jordan's car (a 1989 Volvo, mind you) and the D.C. Metro (by far more reliable than aforementioned Volvo) as means of transportation, Murphy's Law kicked in. Jordan's car decided to break down a block away from her apartment as they were coming to get me. So, me with large suitcase in hand (well, on wheels) decided to figure out the train/subway/bus route between Baltimore and Washington D.C.

Everyone knows my amazing ability to get lost anywhere, no lie, I have even gotten lost driving down to south Florida and all that entails is hopping on I-95. Yeah, judge me. I'm even judging myself right now. I was hoping since I didn't have to do any of the actual driving I might actually be able to get by without getting lost. Wishful thinking that was. Let me count the ways I managed:

1) in the airport. Couldn't find the baggage claim, bus stop, or even the information desk. I blame it on poor planning on the airports end. Not my own. 2) the train station. Couldn't find the right ticket counter to buy my $6 MARC train ticket to Union Station, almost gave in and purchased a $35 Amtrak train ticket to Union Station because I was so frustrated and people in Baltimore were not being helpful. 3) once at Union Station I had to catch the Circular Bus. Was unable to find the parking garage that the bus stop was located in and almost ended up on a Metro that would have taken me in the complete opposite direction. Finally, a homeless man, who had already seen me pass by a million times pointed me in the right direction. 4) once I was sitting on the bus, map in hand, confused look on my face, waiting for us to leave the Union Station bus stop, a friendly fellow bus rider asked me where I was headed and if they could help me in anyway. I pointed to the general location that I wanted to go on the map and they pointed to a bus that had just pulled out and said "you need to be on that bus." Great. 5) I got on the correct bus, but almost got off at the wrong stop. I mean really, why exactly would you have TWO bus stops called 'Navy Yard' on the same bus route, and blocks apart?

Laugh. Go ahead. I give you permission. That's the point. I often times laugh at my own stupidity.

I finally, ended up finding my parents on the street corner across from Jordan's apartment waiting for a tow truck for the Volvo.

Just in case you were wondering...

We saw snow.

We got eaten by dinosaurs.

We sold slaves.
Side Note: We DID NOT sell slaves. Obvi. This building (currently the City Hall for Alexandria, VA) was once a slave market (where slaves had once been sold. You know, before Honest Abe and all).

We drank in the park.

We went to church.

We got mooned.

We drank copious amounts of Bailey's. Yum.

My apologies for the picture being blurry....it was from my cell.

I Want Fabulous

Ever since I was younger I have known that Florida was not the place for me. I love it dearly, and it will always hold a sentimental place in my heart since I have lived here about 16 out of my 21 years of life, but I have always envisioned myself someplace more. After graduating high school financial reasons kept me in Florida for college even though I was so itching to get out. Everyday my graduation from college (hopefully UCF, but potentially UNF) creeps closer and closer, even if it is still 2 years away. With my graduation comes the big leap into the ‘real world’ which I have been awaiting for many years, all the struggles that I have been through will finally be laid to rest and I can move on with things. My first step I know will be to move out of state…I know I belong someplace fabulous, I can just feel it. New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, London, Paris, anywhere – I know Philadelphia doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the group, but my heart is there, my family is there. After everything that I have been through I deserve nothing less than fabulous, but I know it demands that I work hard for it and I am more than willing to do so.