I can’t believe that I just turned 22. I literally felt like it was two weeks ago that I turned 21. It’s so crazy how a year can change things. I’ve definitely felt very blessed in this last year. And, just like any other year it was filled with ups and downs.
As this summer is coming to a close, I really can think of how this summer and the jobs I’ve recently gotten into are setting me up for a future that I can’t wait for. Working at the High Plains Food Bank has been so rewarding. I’ve gotten to see how the work I do can help change lives and help feed people. It’s great to hear the stories of people and all the different struggles they go through. Makes me so grateful for my life and the position I’ve been put in.
About halfway through the summer I was hired as Marketing Director for Jump-N-Jive. It’s an inflatable playground here in Amarillo. Now before you laugh, it’s actually a lot of fun. I have definitely gotten my fair share of work. I did not realize how much work is put into having your own budget, making and following up on phone calls and corporate meetings. I can definitely say I understand why people in this industry are the way that they are after having this real-world experience.
At 22, I couldn’t imagine being in a better position. I’m closing in on my final year in college and my final soccer season. 10 months ago, I was taken out of the game again, for the second time and it’s crazy to think that I get to step back on the field again after surgery. When I thought about quitting, I would step on the field and remember why I played: because I loved it. That’s something I’m realizing while watching the Olympics, how much passion I have for my sport and for being competitive. 2 weeks until my last pre season as a college athlete after playing the game for 18 years. That’s insane.
I have been so blessed not only this summer but with this life Christ has lined up for me. I have realized that when I drop my own plan to follow His, it works out a lot better. I’ve been super involved in FCA ( fellowship of christian athletes) and I love it. It has definitely shown me that everyone has their own struggles and it’s how we deal with them, that make us different.
I’m fortunate enough to be able to visit New Jersey/New York this next week and I am so excited. It doesn’t seem like it was two short years ago that I had left Rider for West Texas. I cannot wait to visit my friends who I’ve been able to keep in touch with. Those are the friendships that I know are truly special and I’m ready to see my future home (NYC baby!) I cannot wait to see what’s in store for this next year, but I’m ready. Here’s to another year of life!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The Kids Table
I’m sitting here about 10,000 ft in the air, probably more, but I’m terrible at math. I’m reflecting back on my vacation, that now, seems like it went by in the blink of an eye. Growing up is something we always get talked to about, and the experience of growing up happens over a certain amount of time. I’ve experienced growing up in the last year with my friends, with my job, with school and recently learned how it affects family.
Rewind seven days ago and I’m on the flight to North Carolina with my sister, mom, dad and myself. Usually, on family vacations, my brother would be with us but he recently moved to NYC so he’s meeting us there. This was the first evident change, of many , that I realized have spawned the growing up period of my life.
Our Gambuti (my step-dads side) family weddings have always been a large affair. Having 4 uncles (including my dad) and 3 aunts, the family tree gets spread out into a large amount of people. Not that we ever minded, the more , the merrier. After the wedding, the reception seating was upon us. My brother , sister and I were placed at what we dubbed “the kids table.” Making a joke about this , we walked over to my parents table where they were with my grandparents and a few aunts and uncles. My dad said something that I didn’t really think about until now. He said “Ya know, the kids table is really the cousins table and let me tell you, I’m happy I can still sit at a table with my parents as their kid.” Wow. It kind of hit me. I’m too busy making a joke about my kids table and never really even thought to think that my grandparents are indeed, getting up there.
As the night goes on, I think about the differences in 10 years ago , to today. My grandpa can’t walk as well as he used to, the dancing with them is to a minimum, even at the beach, my grandpa couldn’t get in the water from being unstable on his feet. That’s not to say, they both don’t have the mind of a 20 year old, because they do. They nag each other like they are newlyweds but then again, they know each other so well which comes with age.
Growing up, our family used to take one big vacation to seaside heights (the once known family vacation spot now know as the spawn of the Jersey Shore party scene.) On these vacations we’d all be in the ocean, walk the boardwalk and drive up together. Now that we’ve all “grown up” in a sense, families separate out on their own vacations. Cousins (just a few years older than me) have created their own families. I never took the time to realize these differences until they were apparent in my face.
Even the usual family beach vacation was different for us. Normally, we would have all of the siblings and my parents. My brother was missing because he returned to NYC after the wedding and I almost couldn’t come because now I have my own job(s) to tend to. Thing are different now and we are growing up. My sister and I were able to spend some quality time time together the three days we were at the beach, but even then, I realized how much she is growing up when she exclaimed “I get my drivers permit in six months.” Really? She’s only 4. Nope, she’s surely 14 going on 15.
In the past few months, I’ve had to say goodbye to some friends who moved, change jobs and realize that going home only comes two times a year now. All of these are tell-tale signs of my growing up but also the people around me. I often am so wrapped up in my fast-paced life that I don’t take the time to realize that the important people in my life such as my grandparents, parents , siblings, aunts and uncles and cousin are all growing older to. Seeing them once a year is not something I wish I could extend for weeks. Growing up not only means a change in myself but also the others around me. I don’t think we realize that as we get older, so do the people around us.
This vacation was not just relaxing but a reminder to myself to cherish the loved ones around me because their time is limited. All of our time is limited. I am proud to say I’m a proud member of the kids table if it means I’m still around my cousins and my parents are still with their parents.
*I told them to smile, this is what I get
Rewind seven days ago and I’m on the flight to North Carolina with my sister, mom, dad and myself. Usually, on family vacations, my brother would be with us but he recently moved to NYC so he’s meeting us there. This was the first evident change, of many , that I realized have spawned the growing up period of my life.
Our Gambuti (my step-dads side) family weddings have always been a large affair. Having 4 uncles (including my dad) and 3 aunts, the family tree gets spread out into a large amount of people. Not that we ever minded, the more , the merrier. After the wedding, the reception seating was upon us. My brother , sister and I were placed at what we dubbed “the kids table.” Making a joke about this , we walked over to my parents table where they were with my grandparents and a few aunts and uncles. My dad said something that I didn’t really think about until now. He said “Ya know, the kids table is really the cousins table and let me tell you, I’m happy I can still sit at a table with my parents as their kid.” Wow. It kind of hit me. I’m too busy making a joke about my kids table and never really even thought to think that my grandparents are indeed, getting up there.
As the night goes on, I think about the differences in 10 years ago , to today. My grandpa can’t walk as well as he used to, the dancing with them is to a minimum, even at the beach, my grandpa couldn’t get in the water from being unstable on his feet. That’s not to say, they both don’t have the mind of a 20 year old, because they do. They nag each other like they are newlyweds but then again, they know each other so well which comes with age.
Growing up, our family used to take one big vacation to seaside heights (the once known family vacation spot now know as the spawn of the Jersey Shore party scene.) On these vacations we’d all be in the ocean, walk the boardwalk and drive up together. Now that we’ve all “grown up” in a sense, families separate out on their own vacations. Cousins (just a few years older than me) have created their own families. I never took the time to realize these differences until they were apparent in my face.
Even the usual family beach vacation was different for us. Normally, we would have all of the siblings and my parents. My brother was missing because he returned to NYC after the wedding and I almost couldn’t come because now I have my own job(s) to tend to. Thing are different now and we are growing up. My sister and I were able to spend some quality time time together the three days we were at the beach, but even then, I realized how much she is growing up when she exclaimed “I get my drivers permit in six months.” Really? She’s only 4. Nope, she’s surely 14 going on 15.
In the past few months, I’ve had to say goodbye to some friends who moved, change jobs and realize that going home only comes two times a year now. All of these are tell-tale signs of my growing up but also the people around me. I often am so wrapped up in my fast-paced life that I don’t take the time to realize that the important people in my life such as my grandparents, parents , siblings, aunts and uncles and cousin are all growing older to. Seeing them once a year is not something I wish I could extend for weeks. Growing up not only means a change in myself but also the others around me. I don’t think we realize that as we get older, so do the people around us.
This vacation was not just relaxing but a reminder to myself to cherish the loved ones around me because their time is limited. All of our time is limited. I am proud to say I’m a proud member of the kids table if it means I’m still around my cousins and my parents are still with their parents.
*I told them to smile, this is what I get
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