needed to let everyone know...

Sorry I feel like this is kind of awkward writing this on the blog but my email has been weird the past few days, and I can't send out messages.

My Grandpa passed away last night.  My Mom was in transit when it happened so she's back in New York for the time being.  We're still getting the details together about when the service will be, either Thursday or Friday.  I am not sure if I can go, with the wedding and the new job I have a lot of things I need to tend to and not really enough time.

I wish we were at the house and could sit in the living room and just talk about it for a while.  

Anyways sorry to taint our blog with this news.  I have been keeping up on everyones postings... They are wonderful.  And I hope to hear more from everyone's lives soon.

Love ya'll,

Maria

Road trip!

Hello All!

I just wanted to give a quick (because we are stealing someone's internet right now) update about mine and John's trip so far....

We drove A LOT and stayed in Oklahoma City one night which was boring then Flagstaff the next night which was very cool as I told you :)

Vegas was awesome. Our hotel, The Mirage, reminded me of a crazy nice cruise ship but our room was enormous and really nice too! We saw the Beatles Cirque du Soleil show, Love, which was incredible. We did a lot of just walking around to see the different hotels. They are so amazing. We gambled in Paris, ate gelato in Venice, and shopped in Rome. Vegas is seriously Disney World for adults. I was 5$ total at the penny slot machines and John lost $150 playing poker etc and people say you just lose money at the slots! HA!

Now we are in Huntington Beach at John's apartment. It's pretty much on the same level as his apartment in Columbus, nothing too exciting but it will do for awhile. His roommate seems nice (well really nice since he is getting his friend to get us into Disneyland for FREE on Friday!). He has an odd schedule and seems like he will be gone a lot. Today we bought all of the stuff for John's room and drove around a little bit. John is a mile from the beach. His roommate Drew apparently rides his bike there, so that will be nice. I haven't seen too much of Huntington Beach but it seems like a really great place to live (but hopefully just for a little while...).

Anyway, we have been having a blast so far. I'll write more soon when John actually has real internet! I hope all is well with all of you! Miss you!!

Amy

True Love

Good Evening my loves,

Oh dear I don't know where to begin. I miss you guys so much. I think about each and every one of you every day...and then I laugh, or smile, or cry, or just wish so badly I could relive any one of the millions of wonderful memories I have with you all. I thought about you all a lot when I was away in Delaware, and though mostly they were sad, nostalgic thoughts, some of them were hopeful. For instance, I came to the realization that our friendship is forever...I mean really really forever. The bonds we have formed these past four years are unbreakable. We have been with each other through so, so much. And despite our differences and petty disagreements, we come together and are there for each other when it really matters--that is what true love is all about. I want each of you to know that you are forever a part of me, intertwined most deeply into the essence of my being.

I came across a quote the other day that reminded me of what my friendship is like with all of you...

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words"

I feel this about you guys so much, and maybe it seems silly or self-indulgent, but isn't this what family does for you? Reminds you of who you are when you are most lost? Family is the one thing you can count on to keep you grounded...you know, you go home, hug your mom and you instantly remember who you are...and suddenly everything is okay. All of you have provided this comfort for me...and you truly have become my family in this way. I can see any one of you and I feel at peace, awakened to the important parts of me I had forgotten or neglected...and I see into the life of things. This is what I mean when I say you guys have become a part of my soul, and so when my soul feels lost or has wandered away from me, I see you guys and I am at home. There are few things so sure or permanent in this world. I assure you I have searched long and hard for people or things protected from transience or circumstance, and from my experience, such relationships are difficult to come by--a true rarity. So, I feel so deeply wonderful and satisfied to think I have found forever friends...the five most reliable, caring, loving friends I have ever known. Thank beauty, thank love, thank all that is divine or holy for each of your beautiful souls. If the world ever fails to acknowledge the loveliness of you, just know I appreciate your beauty and your friendship so very deeply. If I have not made this appreciation clear, I am very sorry. I know there have been points during this past year when I was hurt, lost, and perhaps not myself...and I am deeply sorry if any of you felt neglected during these times. Please just know that I never lost sight of you, nor will I in the future. Personally, this has been a year of heartache, and I appreciate all of the love and support you gave me.

I can't wait for our reunion at Maria's wedding :) I look forward to hugs, love, and laughter with my 1806 forever family.

I love you all, from the bottom of my heart.

Most sincerely yours,

LC

B-E-A-U-tiful!

I love the hair Maria. It is so gorgeous..and you look like a model (especially in the Mad Mex t-shirt). If the new job doesn't work out, I see you as a Mad Mex spokesmodel : )

Erin

flippy floppies

hey you! 

I have seen that you all have posted... which makes me pumped... but i haven't had time to read them. Maria, you hair looks gorgeous!!! and i'm happy for your new job (though i havent read anything so i know nothing about it... but i quickly saw benefits!!!) Amy, have fun on your trip!!! and i agree... everything in my daily life reminds me of you guys... lp! i hope you have fun in cincy this weekend- ill be meet up with you next time youre back! lc, i hope your enjoying delaware (i think this is the weekend) erin, i hope you are enjoying pitts... but not enough to stay!!!! i miss you all so much. sorry, life is crazy (and it obviously is for you guys too)... i work 60 hours between sunday and thursday and then i will get back into the blogging!!!! i love you all so much!!! lp i am reading your book at work this week!!!

love you, and sorry for being out of touch... 

p.s. i seriously was sobbing at the bar the night that i left the house... it was kinda embarassing... but i miss you all and you all mean so much to me!

peace out 1806! 

more love!

mJ

Hair pictures!

This is a few hours after I got it done so I have some flyaways, and now I realize that both of these are of the same side of my head, but you get the general idea...

Maria

I'm buckling down...

Hey all,

I had a revelation today...or should I say Lindsey slapped me into my revelation. We were sitting around talking about our lives, and I realized that over the past few months I hadn't actually talked with my friends once. I was completely out of the loop, and at one point Lindsey said to me "Erin, if any one of us was to fall off of the face of the earth, you would have had no idea, would you?" OUCH. I don't want that to happen with you all. So....I am going to try my darndest to become the most communicative person that I can possibly be...hence the blog entry : )

Maria, I am so excited for your job...with benefits! YAY! I think you will be perfect for it and will change those kids lives in amazing ways. I visited my mom at work today and realized what an impact she has on so many kids lives. She had pictures that kids had given her of themselves plastered all over her walls and thank you notes everywhere. Of course, I think my mom is great, but I think the thing that really helps the kids relate to her is the fact that she just listens to them. She treats them as valuable individuals...I know you will do that and more.

Send us the pictures of your wedding hair when you get a chance!

I am so sorry to hear about your grandpa. I will be praying for you all, especially your mom. I know that she will make the right decision for her as far as where she should be right now. No matter what happens, we well be here for you whenever you need us.

Amy, I'm so excited to hear about your trip. We have seen Vegas from the MJ perspective, and now we will be able to see it from the Amy perspective! I will miss being able to hear all about it in person. I am so used to having everyone right in front of me to talk about things...so I really want you to post everything on here! Drive safely if I don't talk to you before you leave.

Lauren, I'm glad to hear that you like your job...and exposed your vulnerable side to your coworkers on the 3rd day haha. I have been feeling really weird lately. When I left I was devastated but felt fine when I was home. I think it's my defense mechanism to compartmentalize my life. When I'm home, I'm home. When I'm at school, I'm at school. Your blog smashed that really quickly. I am currently sitting here sobbing like the undercover baby that I am. I couldn't agree more with what you said. You all have been just as much as a family to me as my real family. In fact, over the past 4 years, I have probably talked to you all 20 times as much as I talked to my family. Although I am notorious for being difficult to keep in touch with, I honestly really do not want to lose what we all currently have. I love you all.

LC and MJ...I want to hear from you!!!!

Much love,

Erin