Summer 2012

Hellllooo! It's been a while since I've written anything on here and I'm feeling kind of lazy so I'm still not going to write anything :). Instead I'll post some pictures that explain my last few weeks. Oh & for all of you out there going, "She didn't take these pictures!"...No, I didn't. But remember how I said I'm feeling kind of lazy? 

Finished my 3rd semester of college!

Road trip with Jan through Pennsylvania! 

Best thing about traffic jams? Making friends with the guy in the car next to you :)

One of my favorite places. Temple Square.

Museum of Modern Art: MoMA. "Where did you go?" "Momma."

Wedding dress shopping with Kayla! Love her!

Is it weird that a view of a bridge makes me feel safe & happy?

I danced on the stage with Allie :)

I learned to drive! 

Central Park. Leave me here all day & I'm content.

I braved the city alone. Twice. 

Newburgh Waterfront. So pretty & has the best gelato!

First time flying with a friend :) Off to NY!

City Creek Center. Loove this place!

Papa taught me the history of West Point.

I saw the Olympic Ski Jump in Park City, UT :)

I learned to sew a tie!

Biggest Plane I've ever been on!

I went here with my Papa. A lot. It's the best.

I took Jana (though she drove) to her first Dunkin' Donuts!

Labor Day @ Trophy Point = Amazing!

Loved the cobblestone street in Old Town Alexandria, VA

Labor Day sales at the Woodbury Commons!

Times Square at nighttime :)

Where I'm Happy

There are two questions that are unavoidable at the beginning of the semester.
1. What's your name?
2. Where are you from?

The first is easy. My name is Emily. Simple, sweet & common. I never hesitate on that question.

The second question is pretty much my Everest. Yes, I have trouble figuring out where I'm from. I was born in New York and many people who ask this question are looking for that answer. Then there is Germany. I love Germany. I really, really, really, really do! I've spent most of my life there and so many of my best memories come from there. I should be a lot more attached to it than I am. But there's one place that I love more than any other. New York.

Just a few weeks ago, I was visiting New York. I nearly cried when I had to leave. My last night there, I was sitting on a stone wall at West Point overlooking the Hudson. I could see the place where we went for a picnic when I was little, the place where my dad would take me on the way home from daycare to look at the water, the place where my mom and I took goofy pictures one summer, and the place where I learned potato salad did, in fact, have eggs in it. When I was looking out over these places, all of these memories came flooding back to me. Behind me was the field I used to run through to play in the sprinklers...even though it says not to walk on the grass. There's the Military Academy that I was convinced was a castle where the princesses lived and I, too, would live there one day. If it were clearer out, I knew I'd be able to see the bridge that I used to think the sun hid under during the night and the moon hid under during the day. Keep in mind I was three when I had that theory.

I kept thinking about how nobody can ruin New York for me. Or at least nobody has yet. There hasn't been any drama or fights between friends. There haven't been any stupid boys doing stupid things or horrible girls being all...witchy (not the word I wanted to use). It's a happy place that I never want to lose. It's mine.

I was not wanting to move from that wall.

"Emily, are you ready to go?"

"I don't want to leave."

"Come on, we have to pick up Parker."

"No."

"Fiine. I'll take more pictures & then we are leaving."

*10 minutes later*

"Are you ready?"

"Nooooo."

"Emiilly! You'll be back soon!"

"I don't care!"

And that's when I got pulled off the wall.

You're probably thinking I was being a baby at that point but it was my moment. New York is my home. It's where I'm happy.