When Plans Fall Through (For the Better)

Well, I am no longer going to London next week. Plans fell through in a number of ways. In just a few days, I went from not having a place to stay anymore to my return flight begin canceled by the airline "due to unforeseen circumstances" (with a full refund as an option given by the airline). But in between those two happenings I was having second thoughts on going, anyway. It was really on Monday, just a few nights ago, that I was lying awake in bed wondering why I was going off to London for a week by myself to gallivant around when I could go home my last week of summer and spend it with my family. Also, the past few weeks I've been trying to figure out how I was going to get home and visit my grandpa, who's probably not going to be around for much longer. I had already booked my trip to London before my mom told me the most recent doctor's prediction. I couldn't see how I could swing both London AND find time, especially once I start school, to go home. I was planning on making it happen somehow, anyway, but this has all really turned out for the better.

I will now be on a plane THIS Sunday bound for H-O-M-E, and I couldn't be happier. London's not going anywhere. And the fact that the airline is going to refund at least the return portion of my ticket (maybe all of it, I'm not sure. The woman on the customer service line was so quick with the transaction), just tells me that this is more than mere coincidence. At least, I like to think so. And isn't my grandpa so handsome!?He's definitely more important to me than a trip to London. I recently began a tradition of calling him every Sunday afternoon as I walk over to the Hudson River/Riverside Park. He always greets me with a warm "Hello, Elizabeth!" and we talk for about 15 minutes or so. He asks how I'm enjoying New York and we talk of our similarity in enjoying travel. He's been so many places I can only dream of visiting, like Greece and Italy! And he's always sure to thank me so much for calling him. It's more than my pleasure to do so, I don't think he realizes. I just wish I would've started this phone call tradition a long time ago, though I have made it a point to visit him every time I've gone home since I moved to New York. And I didn't think I was going to make it home again until Christmas. When we took this photo below in June, I didn't want to think it could be my last visit with him, but I had to be realistic.Needless to say, I'm very much looking forward to this visit and am more than grateful the last week of the best summer of my life will be spent with my family.

Reminders of Home

Ah, Vegas. I grew up watching people sit in dim, smoky casinos, as well as convenient gas stations, wasting their lives and money away. I never understood it, the concept of getting something for nothing.
In Vegas, it's slots and tables. In New York, it's the lottery. Looks like NYC is attempting to combine forces. At least this Vegas theme makes a lot more sense than the one with bunnies and kittens on the advertisements with the words "winning is sweeter than sweet, which is sweet." I had to laugh at that one, and also smile... 'cause the baby animals were quite cute. Didn't make me want to play the lottery, though.

Eh (and other words)

I wasn't that impressed tonight. But I'm still committed to seeing the show to its end, no doubt.

Dear Abby came over to watch it with me tonight! Thanks, Abbs! It's always a comfort to be around that one. She's my Vegas connection, aka my "home away from home". I'm trying to get it through her head (and have been for months, now!), and I say that lovingly (she knows that) that it makes a world of difference when I have "home" around me more often. Abby and me in SLC (ironically, not in Vegas)

Several people have told me it took one year (a few have said 6 months) to get to the point where they transitioned/got accustomed to/enjoyed living in the NYC. And, of course, I have experienced moving and taking time to adjust to new places plenty of times. I guess what's different this time is I'm kinda over it, I've done it so many times. I used to thrive on it, for some reason. I'm coming up on 6 months here, soon. That's really weird. It's going incredibly fast, and I imagine when my time is up here (aka: graduation!) I'll be all nice and settled in....just in time to move again. Such is my life. Some day I'll have a home and stay there. I think I am realizing that is what I have wanted all along.

Blast from the Past

Disneyland has it right..."It's a small world after all."

Thanks to facebook, I recently reconnected with one of my brother's friends from high school. He actually was a friend to the whole family, rather than just my brother. That's why I remember him most, well, that and he drove a convertible. That fact was clear in my mind...the convertible part. I must've thought he was the coolest! Ha.

Anyway, I saw he was friends with one of my sisters on facebook and clicked on his name. Lo and behold, I saw that he is not only living in New York City, but he is also a social worker! Has been for years! I emailed him right away to let him know I am here in the city, earning my MSW. Needless to say, he couldn't believe it! We spoke on the phone just before Christmas and last Saturday met up to say hello.

I'm not sure when exactly we last saw each other, but this might have been what I looked like last time me and Peter saw each other...
And this is what he might have looked like then...
And look at us now! Boy, how time flies!It was really incredible to see a familiar face, being that I hadn't seen that face in a very long time...since I was a kid, really. But it brought my Vegas home to the forefront of my mind. I don't know what it is, but I really feel homesick these days. I don't know if I will fall in love with New York City or not, but I am trying to be grateful for and cherish this amazing opportunity and experience.

Disneyland wasn't the only one who got something right...home IS where the heart is, whoever said that.