FEELING NOSTALGIC

The past few days I have had that feeling of nostalgia everywhere I go. One morning it was the sun creeping over the hills by our house and that smell of wet dirt outside. That smell, man. It was the smell of early morning drives to school in Arizona where that sun was finally cool enough to enjoy. Pumping gas the other day, and looked across the lot and saw a Residence Inn. I had a flashback to last November in San Francisco when Derek and I called our little room 405 home. Where we would wake up to a free breakfast and falling leaves. Lug laundry down to the laundromat, and walk across the street to the cleaners. At work, one of my co-workers mentioned that a part had to be specially ordered from the Ford plant in Detroit. I automatically jumped to thinking about our weekend trips to Greenfield Village & the Henry Ford Museum. How we could drive 10 blocks South and be in the heart of the city, or 10 blocks North and be in farm land with farms and orchards for picking. Saturday, it was an afternoon on Coronado Island bike riding with Derek. I looked over to see that San Diego skyline and remembered just a few months ago, realizing that residency would bring us back to a city we both love so much. I am not sure why these feelings of nostalgia have been flowing lately, but I can't complain. I have had a blessed life that has lead me to so many places, people, and things I love. Fall always gets me feeling really deep and grateful. Just another reason to love this time of year. 

When Derek Ran the Olympic Torch

With the Summer Olympics in full force and the nation locked in to watching TV as much as possible, I figured there wouldn't be a better time to share the story of Derek running the torch in the Winter of 2002. In high school, Derek was nominated to run the torch by fellow classmates. Weeks later, a letter came in the mail informing him he had been chosen to help run the torch through Twin Falls, Idaho. He ran two legs in his   official Olympic track suit {maybe his sparking love of track suits in the first place?} and was able to carry the torch some of the way. The torch then went on to be carried to help light the big torch in Salt Lake City a few weeks later. At the finish, he was welcomed by his family who cheered for him the whole way in, what looks like, warm & cozy coats for that cold Idaho morning. 

Off to the Ranch

This morning, Derek completed his last final of his medical school career. It was a very happy day. We celebrated after work with a Chipotle dinner sitting criss-cross-applesauce on the floor at the coffee table. After a nightly chat with my sister asking about an update of my sick little brother (my parents are still in Thailand and she is playing "Mommy"), we enjoyed snuggling on the couch and laughing to Wipeout. We are heading off to the Smith Family Ranch in a few days and it's hard not to remember all the memories made in visits past.
My first fishing experience was out on the ranch in June 2009. After my 2nd "perfect cast", I snagged this beauty. Riding horses November 2009. Let's just say it's not my favorite thing in the world....Four-wheeling, sledding, and snow ball fights December 2010. That beauty in the background is the family cabin. So beautifully 70's in every way and I love it.