On living vicariously through other people

I know I am in the middle of telling a story, and I am sorry to say that today you won't know how it ends. However, this interruption is worth it.

Today is one of my cousin's birthday. Happy birthday Natalie! May God bless you today and always!

I don't usually post happy birthdays on the blog, otherwise the blog would end up devoted to that, and forgotten family members would certainly get upset. However, I do want to talk a little bit about her, about me, about us today.

The first thing you need to understand is that Natalie is the baby in the family. And yet she is already in college. I not only remember her as a baby, I remember much of live before her. Which makes me sad and old-feeling.

I wasn't much part of Natalie's life, because when she was seven I went to college in the States, and I only came back when she was sixteen. Then, at eighteen, it was her turn to leave the nest. So although we are family and we love each other, in many aspects, we are still strangers.

My life in Georgia was amazing, and I have fond memories. Therefore, I cannot help but live vicariously through her. I want her to enjoy her free classes. I wish she will have good roommates. I sympathize with her for having to put up with college food. I push her to get involved in student organizations. 

But I've learned that living vicariously through someone is unhealthy. It makes us get frustrated at the things we wish they'd do. It makes us forget about what we are going through. It makes us constantly live looking at our neighbor's grass. And it definitely makes us see them through our distorted glasses, never allowing us to truly know each other. 

So today my birthday present to Natalie is a promise. I promise to stop asking her how is college going. I promise to never again insist that she join a group. I promise to stop giving un-requested advice. 

Within a little over a month, the two of us, along with her sister, mother, my mom and husband will make a life-long family dream come true. We are going to Disney World together. I have waited for that since I was a little girl, and since Natalie was a baby. And I promise to take those short nine days and enjoy as much from her as I can, so I can learn what kind of woman she is. What she enjoys. What makes her laugh. What annoys her. And specially, what kind of shopping she is into ;)

11 years after September 11

 

Disclaimer: I found this picture in three people's facebook accounts and two different blogs. None shared the source, and therefore I am unable to do so. If you know who's to be credited, let me know!

 

I woke up with the phone ringing. One of those ringings that seem not to be able to stop. When I managed to cross the living room to pick it up, I heard my family's maid at the other end of the line. Considering that I had been living in the States for two years and never once gotten a phone call from her, I was scared. Considering that my dad and brother had flown back to Brazil the night before, I was double-scared.

 

As she began talking, I could tell she felt so silly. The guard across the street had told her the US was being bombed and she didn't quite believe him, but was desperate to know I was ok. I looked out of my peaceful Savannah apartment half expecting to see smoke. We are all ok I said. I'm sure he is wrong.

 

As I turned the TV I immediately saw the replay of the first tower being hit. Plane accident, I though. Someone is bound to lose their job. As my mom joined me, the second tower was hit. Oh, yeah, it's on replay, I told her. She screamed that it had just happened, that it was a different plane. It didn't seem to make any sense.

 

Later that day I remember having to tour the city with the incoming freshman class as an Orientation Leader. I remember our boss' grave face as he explained we had to show support, and the activity would no longer be mandatory. It was all so fresh we didn't even know whether we should just cancel it. That's when I understood how people go into shock and don't even know whether to carry on or just plop down in disbelief.

 

To all those impacted by that day, there is only one thing I can say:

 

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

Dream Vacation destinations

I don't know how I am managing to focus at work knowing I will have some time off really soon. However, since the blogsphere is unlike the real world, obviously I am in vay-cay mode already over here!

I've shared with you what I plan on watching and reading next week. Now let's think big and dream on. As in the 'You win the lottery and can go anywhere in the world' dream.

My top five dream vacation destinations

1. Walt Disney World Resort, Florida.

The Ohana Character Breakfast at Disney's Polinesean Resort

It is our (my husband and I's) most-favorist place on the world. Ok, I know that wasn't proper English, but that is how much we love Disney World. We love the familiar rides and parks, the story behind the magic, the fantastic customer service, and the new stuff we always find out. I think I could sell Mickey Mouse ice-creams by the Jungle Cruise all day and be perfectly happy. If I could throw some money at it, I'd go ahead and book the Disney Cruise as well!

2.  Portugal + United Kingdom + Italy

Algarve beaches in Portugal, Me in Windsor Castle in England and my baby at the Epcot Center Italy Pavillion.

I am all about family, and these three countries sum up my heritage and my husband's (on his dad's side). I'd love to go with Andre and walk through towns of our forefathers, get to taste a bit of our culture and share what we know with one another. I think trips like this should be mandatory to every couple!

3. Savannah, Georgia

The gorgeous marshes that I used to drive by daily.

Recognise it from the Little Gosh button?

Tears come to my eyes when I think of Savannah. I lived there for six years and still find it one of the prettiest places in the world. Yeah, it smells. Yeah, there are sketchy people and sketchy streets. Yeah, there is the humidity. But I just feel that I left a piece of my heart there, and all sorts of emotions come back up when we visit.

4. Egypt + Turkey +  Syria + Jordan + Israel

Ok, I know there are five countries in this one, but I have always been fascinated with the idea of visiting exotic places, and if I ever do go, I am making the most of it. Egypt is probably a place that everyone wants to go, even if it is just because of the pyramids. I'd love to see Hagia Sophia in Istambul, and it helps that I have a sweet friend who lives there and I'd love to visit. My mother-in-law's family comes from Syria and I'd love to get to see it. When I read Queen Noor's autobiography, I decided I should one day visit Jordan because her descriptions of Aqaba make it sound amazing, and there is the added bonus of Petra. And Israel is a place I'd probably see through blurry eyes from so much emotion of walking the Bible.

5. Canada

 I lived in the States for eight years and never thought about going up to Canada. All I knew about it was that there are lots of moose, beaver, there is Celine Dion, and people speak French and say lots of Eh. Sad, I know. My love for it started in our Honeymoon, when we went to the Oh Canada! show in Epcot Center and I cried at how beautiful the images were. Then I began working at a Canadian School and got to know a bit more of the culture. Now I got paired up with a Canadian blogger for a gift-exchange. It's all just so synchronicity.

What about you, if you could go anywhere, where would you choose?

Wordless Wednesday

New look for March

This month’s new look is to celebrate a well-known Holiday. Not because I am Irish (part British and Scottish actually, but no green blood here!). Also, I am not crazy for leprechauns or beer in general. However, my alma mater’s town and former home Savannah, Georgia is all about St. Patrick’s. So here is to you, good old Savannah. No greener fountain ever looked so good in my book:

The marshes

The Spanish Moss trees

Savannah's Civic Center Green Fountain