Waiting to Shave...

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend of mine about how excited we were as little girls to get to shave our legs. It just seemed so exciting at the time. We just couldn't wait. As a kid, there was just something that seemed so grown about it. I think I felt as if shaving was like crossing the threshold from a little girl to a woman. As our conversation progressed, we began laughing about how now its like a chore...almost like dusting or vacuuming the house.

After I had that conversation, I began to think and reflect on it. How, waiting to shave my legs, was kind of like a metaphor for how impatient we get to go through life. How we are wanting to always hurrying through things. I was so preoccupied with wanting to shave and "be grown", I was forgetting to stop and smell the roses. Because trust me, if I could turn back time now, I would laugh a little more and enjoy being young an innocent more than I ever thought possible.

Also, as I continued to reflect, I thought of all the things in my life I couldn't wait for, and now they're gone. I dreamed of high school and college, and now I'll never get that experience ever again. I couldn't wait to be grown and live life on my own. Now, I often miss those family dinners where we would discuss our day. I also realized, that there are many, many other things ahead of me in my life I can't wait for, but this time, I'm going to stop and smell the roses. I'm going to make it my personal quest to live life one day at a time, and not worry about what the future holds. Before I know it, the future will be the past. I realize now, that it's OK to be just where you are.

Wrigleyville Rooftop; Throwin' some bags

Chicago 2008

The End of 10......

I'm a little behind on my blogging. It's crazy how we get so overwhelmed around the holidays. But it's a good kind of busy. Enjoying friends, family, fun, laughter, and delicious treats that for some reason we only indulge on at the holidays. And here we are in 2011.

Although this sounds cliche', I can't help but stop and think about is where does the time go? It seems like it was not that long ago that we were fearing Y2K. Now, we have surpassed the first decade of the 21st Century. So much has happened during this decade, that it's impossible for me to even recall half of it. I began the 21st Century as a wide eyed and somewhat naive 19 year old, and I leave the first decade this Century as a 30 year old on the brink of living a wonderful life. In those fist 10 years, I have learned so many things. Things that I will carry on with me through the decades to come. I have learned the value and benefits of a good nights sleep, how a song can take you back to a wonderful place and time, how to be a good teacher, and how years ago can suddenly seem like yesterday.

Many people, places, and things have come into my life during these 10 years, some have quickly gone, some have stayed for a while, others will last a lifetime. Here's to the next 10!

30 Great Trips around the Sun......

8th Birthday

1988, Paducah, KY

(I've always had bad hair)

As of 8:08 pm yesterday, it's official. My 20s are gone, and a new decade has been born. Hard to believe that I've had 30 trips around the sun. Some trips were better than others, but any trip around the sun, is a good one. I've met many people, learned many lessons, and fallen in and out of love. It's amazing how things that happened years and decades ago, seem like they were only yesterday. Here's to the past 30 trips around the sun, the many more to come, and the fabulous journey along the way!

A Party: 30 Years in the Making

This past Saturday, I had my Dirty Thirty party. Although I have a few days of my 20s left, this past Saturday was the time to celebrate. The theme was "A Funeral to my 20s", because I wanted to give them the honor and respect that I deserve. My 20s were filled with fun, adventure, laughter, and tears. Some of my closest friends even read to me eulogies to my 20s, in which they recalled their favorite memories. It was almost surreal to to sit back and think of the many things that have come and gone in this decade. The things we did and the things we should have never done.

I've also realized, that my life may not be where I "think" it should be, but it's right where it is suppose to be. Had the things that I "thought" were suppose to happen in my 20s took place, there is so much that I would have missed out on. My number of Dave concerts would be significantly lower, I may not have seen Times Square in NYC, or celebrated my 29th birthday in Vegas. I may not have the friends that I have now, and would not have those girls to laugh with and call up to cry with.

Turning 30 is only a stepping stone in my life. It's the dawning of a new decade in my life, new people, new places, and new things. Also, time to start thinking of my Fabulous Forty party!

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