And then THIS all happened...

Where to begin, OH where to begin. This has been, without a doubt, THE most incredible month of my life to date. Which is not entirely surprising when you put it into context and realize that all of the changes I've made in life are working with me to create a better and better and better environment to thrive and flourish in. And thrive and flourish I have. And, for some reason, I actually feel like blogging it out - and so I AM!

So... where do I begin? Perhaps I will go backward starting from today... Today, I woke up in my own room which I wasn't sharing with anyone either 2 or 11 years old. You'll understand why that was novel in a minute. I also spent the last twenty minutes adding puppy-related things to my Amazon wishlist because, after months of waiting, the breeder of my favorite dog-of-client let me know that a new litter was born and my baby boy Havanese puppy is going to be mine come late August. To say I'm excited is an understatement. I am THRILLED!

But, where was I before shopping for puppy toys... Oh yes... I got back last night from an incredible trip to California. Got to spend time with my west coast loved ones (some of them, it was only a 48 hr trip for goodness sakes!) after spending a thrilling two days at Disney with family-of-choice-the-UK-edition! Those of you who know me well - or have seen me in high buildings/mountain settings- know that I am a woos. A wimp of the highest degree. But that was then, and this is now. And NOW, I am a person who rides rides. Ok, sure, I screamed like a little girl on some rides - especially the Tower of Terror (which was clearly designed by an insane person) but I rode the rides. I rode them all. Some twice in a row. I felt the exhilaration that other people feel and I totally "got it". I overcame fears and was able to enjoy the moment - something that has become a bit of a mantra for me right now. To be present. IN the moment. Feeling the feelings.

Before I dashed off to Disney, I spent a few blissful days with the family-of-birth-Ohio-edition in NYC. We hit up the natural history museum, the met, central park, 16 handles (a new stop on the tour) and had an incredible time. My nephews continue to astound and astonish me with their dynamic personalities, their interests, their intellect, their energy. They're amazing. My niece doesn't do much yet, but when she does, I know it's going to be spectacular. It was also tremendous getting to spend so much time with my mom, my brother and SIL. They make me happy. Truly.

All the family togetherness was born from an epic event. The wedding of the century. Or at least of the decade! That's right, folks, my little sister got married! Those of you reading this on facebook already know because undoubtedly, your news feeds have been filled to the brim with photos of seersucker clad wedding party guests, but for those of you out of the loop, let me tell you. It is novel to be at a wedding that feels so uniquely like the people getting married. This wedding reflected S & H perfectly. Their relaxed attitude, their sense of humor, their creativity. They made everyone feel welcome and comfortable and there were none of the usual wedding trappings - just the traditions that needed to be upheld. I've never been so proud of my sister - seeing her take this final step into adulthood was dramatic, satisfying, and delightful. Walking her down the aisle with my brother was both bittersweet and uplifting, but delivering to H, a guy who has grown so much in the past 8 years and who so clearly loves and supports her - was tremendous! I got to share the day with some of the most amazing friends, family-of-choice-and-birth, and all around kick ass people. Love was felt, shared and passed along by all. And now, we can all finally talk about something else :)

Before the wedding, I was a ball of nerves and anxieties (mostly due to family politics) but I didn't really have time to pay them any mind because May was, by far, the busiest month of my professional and volunteer life. If I wasn't running between client's homes saving the day, I was at the theatre educating the masses about ballet. I got to go to a fancy shmancy gala with my BFF, and to spend countless nights living it up with "ballet club", all while having the largest earning month in my LIFE! I saw friends, took walks, and naps (YAY napping!), and more walks and read books and spent time with my trainer at the gym, and all sorts of good things!

And then there's that other thing that's been going on. The one that I've hinted at, suggested about, etc. There's a man. In my life. He's been around for two months now. And it's good. It's really good. And that's all I want to say for now - don't want to jinx it.... Except to say that having a real, true, honest, adult relationship has been incredibly eye opening for me. I've been dealing with my issues of trust and abandonment (hello, child of divorce!) and have been trying to find ways to make sure I live in the moment. As I learned one night with OTM and DSG, thanks to the TOS crew... It is NOW. I am HERE. THIS is real. And it's true. I am living in the now. No longer afraid of my past. Open to the future. And what a bright bright future it seems to be...