New Years in NYC

Was not all it was hyped up to be. The thought of standing for hours smushed up against strangers in the cold did not sound all that enticing after all. Nonetheless, I was lucky to be able to go. This trip wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for my two wonderful sisters. I'm so glad I was able to be there. Seeing all my friends and family again was the highlight of my New Years. All the things I thought would be fun during the trip turned out not to be so. The greatest club in the universe was a disaster. Watching the ball drop didn't happen for me, but instead I enjoyed my time with three old ladies in the hotel room, tucked under warm blankets, sipping Juicy Juice. The lights, music, crowds, drinking, dancing, all the reasons why I came to NYC, became the most disappointing aspects of the trip. I even swore I wasn't going to China Town, and ended up there for more than half a day. And enjoyed every last bit of it. Wandering around the streets, eating at every corner, staying up late with my friends, this was a great start to a new year!

2009 was good to me, and as I read Phi's blog, I remember how that year started off with a BANG! in the Bahamas! oh, let's go back.... This was also the year I finished school. Needing some extra clinical hours, I had to continue to intern even after graduation. How disappointing. I pushed myself to rack up as many hours as I can so that I could finish. In those last few weeks, at super ghetto Prince George's Hospital, I realized I wanted a break from the hospital. After studying and fretting over the 4 hour long board exam, I passed :) Two days later, I drove John to BWI to officially move to Oklahoma. From then, the summer passed by way too quickly. I didn't get to spend nearly as much time with my friends and family as I had hoped. The days leading up to my move was a blur. Stupidly, I decided to work until about 3 days before I moved. Now that I think about it, I should have quit a month or so before to have more time to play. That Sunday my parents drove me to the airport for my big move to OK. I was sad and excited. I thought my mom would cry, I thought I would cry, but we didn't. It just seemed like any other time they dropped me off, like I would come back in 2 weeks (in actuality I did!). I got to Oklahoma that afternoon and was welcomed by John and a nicely furnished clean apartment. This was to be my new home. I can't really remember what I did my first day there, but I do remember getting ready for my new job the next day. (another stupid decision). Why I didn't take a few days to settle in I do not know.

Besides my move to the midwest, another huge thing happend. John proposed and I said "yes"! It was expected, but was still a surpirse when he did. Passing on the news did not happen as I had planned it in my head. I wanted all my friends and family to be there with both me and John to annoucne the engagement. But I ended up telling some face to face a few days later, others found out by phone, and yet, others, unfortunately found out through facebook. This was a happy moment for me and John, and I'm not sure if it was the way I told people, or when I did it, or if they just needed time to process it, but the people who I had hoped to be excited for us, were not. Yes I did get half hearted "congratulations, I'm happy for you", but it wasn't genuine. I know there has been tension between John and my friends, and I'm sure that's where the disapointment laid. But I still had hoped they could let that pass, see that John had changed, and be truely happy for us. The news of our engagement definately did not happen like they do in the movies. No happy shrieks, no jumping up and down, no pulls at my hand to see the ring. Most people seemed stunned, almost numb about the news that just fell upon them, like they couldn't believe what just happend. I understand why and it's okay. I can't expect the reaction that I wanted from everyone. I kind of feared it would play out like this. For those who were really excited and happy for us, and expressed this, it meant the world to me. I wish John and I had more time with everyone after the engagment. Maybe then this would seem "real". We wanted to plan an engagement dinner with a few of our close friends and family, a time to allow us all to celebrate, but that did not happen, although I forget why. I have since stayed quiet about my feelings, not sure if brining it up would do any good. And no one else has expressed anything to me either, so I just let it pass and hope for the best. Wedding plans have been moving along nicely and I just hope that from now until the big day people realize that yes, there were ups and downs, but through it all, this is what we want, and I just hope they'll give us their blessings.

2010... Bring it on!