A Meeting 21 Years in The Making

Family is one of the most important things in life. They can be some of the most influential people in your life, the ones there for you through thick and thin, though the tears and laughter, anger and pure bliss.

Some people may disagree. Some lose touch with the ones they love, or maybe never meet the people that share their blood.
I am one of 13 grandchildren, the McBride's are a large family and cousins were no different. It was fun as a kid to think I was in that clan. I remember staying awake in the car all the way through our ten hour drive to Ohio, knowing at the end of the brick road I'd get to see my family...my friends. Jamie, Kelly and I were inseparable through our childhood visits. I must admit it wasn't something I always loved but looking back I should have embraced it more, those years didn't last long.
I didn't have a sister and being with my cousins made me feel like I gained brothers and sisters in a short week.

It wasn't until years later I thought of one cousin I never had much in common with. Never really met.



Until this summer. Emily, the daughter of my late uncle was in Colorado every summer. We never visited Warren at the same time and aside from a few letters sent back and forth we hardly knew each other.

After my Uncle Jon past away I started to hear from her. I honestly can't remember how or when we started talking. It came slowly, through Facebook and skype, then we'd talk every night online. We learned more about each others lives and bonded more than we thought was possible over the internet.
And yet, still...I'd never met her.


During her summer vacation, her and her mom made a pit stop in Chicago. My brother and I finally got to meet our cousin and my dad got to see his niece.
Let's be honest for a second...I didn't think it would be a perfect meeting. In fact given the shared pasts (which I won't go into) I wasn't sure everyone would get along as swimmingly as we did.



And that meant a lot to two girls that spent 21 years not knowing who each other was.
I may never fully understand the past of my family but the beauty of the past is all in what comes out of it. It may never be perfect or healed but you're stuck with your family and loving them is sometimes the best option.

A Year of Change

It's funny how a year changes everything.

I remember being at this show. Watching this band named Bridge play some covers, some originals and have a lot of fun while doing it. I remember seeing that guy...

The one in the grey t-shirt, and ripped jeans (which he didn't live down for wearing the whole night). I remember at the end of his set shaking his hand and saying, "nice to meet you" and him telling me everyone was headed to Johnsons, "see you there?" he asked.

It's kinda funny to look at these photos and know I was moments away from meeting the Dragon. Moments away from falling head over heels.
A lot has happened this past year. I made the 1600 mile trip back to Chicago, moved home, fell in love, met new people, got a new job, and another new job and another new job. I did a lot of new things (more on that soon), stepped out of the box and grew up quite a bit. Now, I've landed in a good place.
Who would have thought, I'd like to say it all started with this moment:

That's the Dragon, a year ago when I met him in a park.

I guess change isn't all that bad.

A Year Ago...

One year ago I didn't know the Dragon.
I didn't live in Chicago, work at WGN/CLTV or
A year ago I was living in Boise, attending yoga class nearly every day and I was single.

August 8, 2010 I was headed back to Chicago, preparing for heartache and sadness. Looking back, it was all of those things and after a year the healing has only begun. There are still dozens of unanswered questions.

Why didn't I make it home in time?
How could I have missed the signs?
Did I do the right thing?

It isn't easy to move past losing someone, without truly getting to say goodbye. But looking back over the past year it's really been a learning experience. Moving home, allowing someone new in my life, letting go...it isn't easy, but it's real.

Today, I'm in a much better place. I have a good job, a wonderful man and being at home with family is something I wouldn't trade for the world. Sure there are things I'd like to change, (that extra five pounds that has joined my hips over the past year could scram) but I think Papa would be proud. I hope he would.

I leave you with this, to start your week:

"This week you're probably going to meet some strangers, greet people you think you know, and spend time with others you'd swear you know like your own self.  Keep this in mind: we never really know what's going on in someone's heart or mind, nor what they have been through. Tread lightly with this; speak your truth, but do so with love, sincerity, and a clear understanding that your presence and word choices could very well define the remainder of someone's lifetime."
-The Walking Circle