First "home"

In August, it was time to leave the small one bedroom apartment in San Diego and move 15 minutes away into a house with my friends. I was so excited. I finally got a house with my own room (I slept in the dining area/makeshift bedroom in my old place while Birdie got the bedroom), a backyard, a laundry machine!!! All these things I never thought I would get. And for less than I was paying. 

But, I'd be leaving the first real place I ever had on my own. The first place I had with just Birdie and me. And the first place I had when I met the love of my life. We met there on our first date. We spent our first night together there. We fell in love in that small little house. So when I told him, he was happy but sad to be leaving and I forgot how much this little place meant to me. So I took a few pictures before we left. I meant to take more. I meant to have a little photoshoot but after moving everything, I was sweaty and tired and ready to move on. But I am happy I have these few photos to look at and remember it by. 

Vilnius, Lithuania

If you haven't already noticed, I don't necessarily do post according to the day that they happen. If that was the case, there would be about 40-50 photos a day. I also haven't posted in the last week and a half. Why? Because around a week ago, I arrived back from Europe.

I have run a few errands in my time back, like cutting my hair, buying new shoes, helping a friend move, getting a new license and finally getting a PO box for the nomad within in me. But really, I have wanted to spend the days back by sleeping and recuperating from everything I experienced overseas. 

Many people have asked "how was your trip?" And I reply with "it was very beautiful but very emotionally exhausting." Not exhausting as in "I'm tired from all the walking and the cold weather", cause that I can handle. That doesn't even bother me. I've tried to keep the details to only a few close individuals but really, I think the only people that can understand what I mean are the ones that went on the trip with me. 

Its one thing when you are learning about the prejudice against a group of people but when you are in the exact places where they were murdered, where their culture is still holding on by a string, when you realize there are still bodies beneath the ground you are walking on, well that is a lot to handle and as much as I am grateful to the professors that planned everything, we didn't necessarily get a lot of time to deal with the things we saw until near the end of the trip. 

I've wanted nothing but to cuddle with puppies and cats. I haven't wanted to watch any films that deal with gore, violence or death. I've been enjoying eat healthy again and having the people I need to talk to around me. But alas, I am back and I still have plenty of photos from the trip. Over the last two weeks, I probably took around 2000 photos. And that doesn't include the photos I have taken when I got back (your usual cat photos). 

I hope everyone is having a great summer and I can't wait to share the rest of mine with all of you. 

Happy Blogging!

I'm In Portland

I'm in the place where I grew up. 

I'm in the place where I lost my first tooth. 

I'm in the place where I learned to tie my shoes.

I'm in the place where I got my first pet. 

I'm in the place where I had my first kiss. 

I'm in the place where I first dyed my hair pink. 

I'm in the place where I went from "a girl" to "a woman".  

I'm in the place that taught me about acceptance and individuality. 

I AM HOME.