When Fall Arrives....

For some reason, when ever fall arrives, I find myself getting a little homesick and missing KY. I can't help it or explain it. This time of year always finds me thinking back and wanting to go "home".

I'm not really sure what it is. Perhaps is that I miss the changing of the leaves. I remember every year when fall would come, my dad would rake and blow the leaves in the back yard and my sister, Kellie and I would run in the back yard and jump around in them. Maybe it's because I can't go to an apple orchard. A tradition of many in my hometown of Paducah, KY, was going to Schmidt's Farm, picking apples from the tree, taking a hay ride, and playing in hay stacks. And chances are it could be that some of my fondest memories of childhood are the annual Fall Festival at my school, Morgan Elementary. It always seemed as if it would fall on a night with the crisp autumn air was at its best. Or it could be because fall marks the beginning of college basketball season and I miss how excited we would get as the Cats began the road to the Final Four.

I guess there is a lot of truth to the saying that you don't know what you got until it's gone. I'm sure that I didn't always want to go to the apple orchard, that I thought the fall festival was uncool, and I would complain that that my dad was hogging the TV when the Cats played. I guess then, I didn't know that there would come a day when I would long for those moments.

Recently, someone questioned me as to why I love Kentucky basketball so much if I don't live there (as if to say that you must have a permanent residence somewhere to be a fan of their team). My response was simple. I politely looked at them and said, "If you left Louisiana, would you suddenly forget the things that made Louisiana special in your heart?" I think the understood after that.

Although I'm far away now and I truly believe that there is a reason as to why faith has taken me on the journey that it has. However, there will always be a piece of my heart that finds itself in the Bluegrass State.

The Evolution of a Blog=The Evolution of Me

As far back as I can remember, I've always enjoyed writing. I find it a stress free way to share my thoughts and feelings with myself and with the world when I choose to do so. I write all the time (more than most people realize it). If I ever kick the bucket early, chances are I'll be like Anne Frank in the sense that people will find my journals all over the place (for some reason I don't keep just one. I have tons of notebooks, pads, and journals that I have written in over the years).

When I first set out with this blog about a year ago, it's only purpose was to document my 29th year. However, it has evolved into much more than that. It has become my link to the rest of the world to share my thoughts, feelings, memories, hopes, and dreams. In writing and keeping up with this blog, I've feel like I have reinvented myself. I have found out more of who I am, who I was, and who it is I want to be. However, I am no where near done evolving. I believe that there is always room for change and room for improvement.

A year ago, I was literally terrified of turning 30. It scared the Hell out of me. For some reason, I had this notion that your 20s were the time in your life when it was OK to be silly and live for the day and that when I hit 30 I was going to be old and have to give up "childish" things. However, blogging has helped me to reflect on the past, present, and future. And in doing so, I have realized that turning 30 is just another bump in the road and there is a lot more living left to do. Although I've done a lot and lived to tell about it, I plan on doing much more. I'm no longer going to worry about what I perceive as the social norms of what I should be doing at this stage in my life. Rather, I'm going to live in the moment and cherish each day.

The other day I was thinking if I would have to change the name of my blog after my birthday. And after thinking, I realized that if it were not for "Katie's 20s Farewell Tour" I might not be as ready to turn 30. I will keep the title, keep up with it, and watch it evolve alongside me!

NCAA Tournament

NOLA 2010

GO BIG BLUE!!!

20s: The Dry Run Decade

I've spent the last year of my 20s living off of fear and faith. Fear that I'm getting old and may not do all the things that I want to and the faith that everything falls into place when it's time. Recently, while out in Dallas, I had a conversation about turning 30 with someone who was about to turn 40. And as I expressed to them my fears about entering a new decade, they gave me some pretty practical and good advice. Your 20s is pretty much a dry run for the rest of you life. Although it seemed a bit strange at the time, the more I thought about it, the more sense it made to me.

For me, my 20s was my first shot at being a real live, bill paying, 9-5 working adult. It's the first experience in being 100% self sufficient. I had to do my own laundry, get the oil in my car changed, pay bills on time, and along the way I made some mistakes and learned many lessons. It's almost like my 20s have been a dress rehearsal for the rest of my life. I've learned how important it is to save money, live on a budget, and have something tucked away for those unexpected expenses. I've also learned that if you let the laundry pile up for too long, you wake up with nothing decent to wear to work.

So, although I've been rather fearful of hitting this new decade, I'm slowly coming to grips with it. Although I'm sure that it will teach me many more life lessons, I also have the life experiences to go with it this time. So, if your out there listening 30: BRING IT ON! I'M PREPARED!

LaFonda's

2008