I recently finished an article for the Providence Day Magazine that celebrates 40 important firsts in the school’s 40-year history. This made me think of the moments in my life that have shaped who I am.
I took the challenge and have come up with 37 moments (I haven’t celebrated 40 yet) that have helped shape me as a woman, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a wife, a mother, a friend and a professional. Some are obvious and others can’t be explained. Yet, they are all real and they are all me.
Here we go….
1. Nerf balls at Spring Lake.
2. Teen Encounter weekends in high school.
3. Knowing I would have a future after being accepted into college.
4. Graduating from Cathedral High School after four great years of memories and friendships – some of which have truly lasted for 20 years.
5. Freshmen Orientation and Senior Week at Northeastern University.
6. Turning 21 in Boston.
7. Driving to Florida with my best cousin, Nikki, for spring break junior year in college.
8. Giving the eulogy at my Pépère’s funeral.
9. Speaking at my college graduation from Northeastern University in the Fleet Center – Go Huskies!
10. Purchasing my first car – Nissan Sentra.
11. Finishing my research paper / thesis in graduate school at UMass Amherst.
12. Being successful at Weight Watchers the first time. I know I can do it again.
13. Signing up for Match.com.
14. First date with Todd at Fitz Willy’s in Northampton, MA. At the end of the date, I hoped he would call me again and he hoped I would say, “yes,” when he called again.
15. Becoming an Aunt for the first time – love you Emily!
16. Holding Brooke in one arm and Morgan in the other for the first time outside of the NICU at Bay State Hospital.
17. Breathing Vermont air.
18. Getting engaged on Todd’s grandparents’ 62nd wedding anniversary. The engagement story deserves its own blog post.
19. Looking in the mirror and knowing that I had just found my wedding dress.
20. Walking down the aisle of the Newman Center on May 8, 2004.
21. Our first Howe family Christmas tree.
22. Moving to Huntersville, North Carolina.
23. My first NASCAR race.
24. Seeing my name as the editor of the PDS magazine for the first time
25. Hearing the words, “it’s a boy,” and then seeing that baby boy for the first time.
26. Hearing Tyler say “Mama” when he was nine months old.
27. Waiting at the airport for Todd’s plane to arrive from China, holding a Father’s Day envelope with a positive pregnancy test in it.
28. Being told that I needed to undergo further tests because I was of an advanced maternal age and making the decision on the spot that I would love that baby no mater what.
29. Finding out it was going to be a girl.
30. Hearing Molly cry after she was delivered via emergency c-section.
31. Seeing Tyler meet Molly for the first time in the lobby of the hospital.
32. Being diagnosed with early stages of heart disease at 36 years old.
33. Seeing James Taylor and Carole King.
34. Participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease to honor my Mémère and support my mother.
35. Molly sleeping through the night for the first time after her ear surgery - yes, finally!
36. Watching Tyler score his first soccer goal.
37. Actually having the courage to start this blog.
True confession of the night: this was easier to do then I thought it would be.
Love it! You are an amazing woman and I am glad that I have learned so much from you. By the way the way the twins are glad that they made the list! Love you!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow - We are so thankful for #13, #14 and #18!! Which led to #25 and #29!!! You truly are an amazing person and we are so thankful you and Todd found each other.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of #24 :-)
ReplyDelete