2011 has been an AMAZING year!! A year of personal and professional growth, a year of tests of will and faith, a year of memories with great friends and family, and a milestone year of contentment with being ME. I am unapologetic ANDREA. Emotional, compassionate, introspective, unintentionally inconsiderate, messy(not to be confused with unclean or dirty or disorganized) laughing, perfume loving, wine and martini loving, junk jewelry loving, mani/pedi loving, scented candle loving, pajama loving, ME. And there is nothing like going home for the holidays to remind me of that.
So for Thanksgiving this year, I spent some time with the MS fam. And by Tuesday I felt like I needed to wear a sign on my forehead that said.....NO, I am not dating anyone special; NO, I don't think its because I cut all my hair; YES, I do like men and find them attractive; and YES, I have gained some weight. LOL! I love my people and if it had not been for their influence, guidance and love I would not be in the place I am today. But at the same time, I live in a VASTLY different society from what they did. You don't HAVE to get married at 20 and have 3 kids by 30 to be considered adjusted or doing something with your life. You don't HAVE to live around blood relatives in order to have people who look out & care for you. You don't have to wait until you're married to purchase a house, or go on trips, or advance in your career. You can do all of that right NOW. And so, to some of my family members I am known as a wanderer, a career person, quiet and lonely. And to others, who have access to facebook, I am known as a busy body, party girl, traveller and silly heart. I don't think either description fits me, but hey I can't be confined to a box : ) And neither can they. As much as my people think they have "traditional" values, they are revolutionaries!!! my grandmother went to college when she was in her late 30's and learned to play piano in her 50's, MH didn't get married until she was 35....you just didn't roll like that back in the day.....2 of my aunts left home on the first train smoking by THEMSELVES...unheard of for their time. So the world is changing and our expectations have to adapt. Or not. We choose.
