When I was a newly 24, I was sitting on a plane one day, flying back to Pennsylvania from my childhood home of Washington. I thought about what I was doing with my life. I thought about the things that were holding me back. And I thought about who I was becoming.
Not that I was going down a dark, gloomy road or anything. I was still motivated, I was still a good person. But, the glass was only half full and my potential was being locked up.
So, I started thinking about what use to get me going. Playing tennis, yeah that made me feel strong and powerful. Hiking, that made me feel alive and spiritual. Camping made me feel serene and beautiful.
And, writing made me feel conscious and heard.
Thus, Fish Out of Water was born.
It was cliche at first. It may still be cliche, but I don't care. It was really just for me and I knew that everything had to work itself out.
Last year, I celebrated the anniversary of the blog with the best thing I ever wrote. This post won't be like that, but again, I don't care because its still pretty special to me. Two years. In two years, I got a dog, became a nurse, watched K put himself through school, and got engaged. In two years, I went from a depressed little girl who was very homesick, to a rejuvenated woman who is now able to find her home wherever she wants to look.
I may only have played tennis a couple of times. I only went on two hikes. And the only time we camped was in the backyard, and that was a disaster because of dogs.
But, I cooked.
Gardened.
Danced.
Photographed.
Explored.
And I wrote about it.
We're sitting in our newly renovated basement, which we have turned into a little newlywed apartment. And I asked K, "what did we do in the last two years? you know, other than the obvious".
We survived a couple snowpocalypses.
Conquered Little Buffalo three times.
Took some mini roadtrips.
Waved good-bye to 24, and that girl who felt hopeless on that plane.
Went to Seattle like, six or seven times. I lost count.
Relished in Tom Douglas cuisine.
Transformed the backyard.
Snuck into Pittsburgh.
And looked ahead.
I'm really proud of the life that we're forming. Its new and alive all of a sudden. Maybe its the room change or the fact that we share dinnerware together. Tonight, we lay in bed, on top of the covers, watching the National Park series. And, I know that even though I'm not climbing those mountains or standing at the summit of those falls, I know that I am there. I know that I am here, that I am present in my life. I know that I am doing what I can. I know that I want to inspire others and to keep climbing.
I see great things for this blog this year. I see how life will be so different on next year's anniversary. Or maybe not, maybe we will still be relishing in life's simple pleasures, dreaming those big dreams, recording it all.
PS: I had hoped that "Happy Birthday Blog" would be the most popular post on this site. However, "Big Ass Seattle post" and "Mountain Porn" continues to top the list. Oh well. Perverts.