Merry Christmas! Sorry for the extreme hiatus between this holiday season lately. I feel horrible for inhaling my emotions and leaving them out of the light until now, Usually, I would have an abundance of news to announce on hand at this time of year, but it has all been kept a secret for the past month and I am fully prepared for the GIANT key bulletins to be posted on the board... and review its rewards and repercussions.
December 7 commenced as a typical day. Nathan and I ate breakfast, retrieved our mailbox items in the form of shopping catalogs and newsletters, and tended the herb garden on the patio. The phone rang just as I finished watering the basil. My mom was on the line. She told me to drive to the medical center as soon as possible so I did just as she said. I arrived at the hospital my mom was directed to and was led by a certified doctor into the ER. Scary sensations. After being consulted with the doctor taking care of my mother, I learned my 50-year-young mom had a heart attack while she was waking up that morning. I didn't know what to say, but a sea of tears began to flood my eyelids automatically. Since then, I have been assisting my mom recording weekly portable defibrillator tests. It is a very unexpected occurrence, but I'm staying strong throughout this taxing time, and hold an even more powerful heart for my mother's sake.
Sliding along to an upbeat story - December 17: Right before I left the house, my cell phone rang just as I stepped foot onto the front porch welcome mat. Eliza Darielle, the first-season judge of PoptropicaStars Fashion Fever, was on the other end inviting me to attend the Pasadena Bowl X-Mas Lighting Party. I agreed to commute there right after a morning of signing New Year's Eve fashion show paperwork. Once I arrived at the Pasadena Bowl, Eliza was standing next to a gigantic SUV carrying at least twenty pounds worth of wrapped presents. I quickly learned that those gifts were embellished with neatly tied bows to give to the foster home children in downtown Los Angeles. Thus, Eliza and I rode in the vehicle to the shelter. We spent the entire afternoon distributing Barbie dolls, monster trucks, stuffed animals, edible candy jewelry, and magical Disney toys to these energetic kiddos. Although the children there may have an unorthodox Christmas holiday, nothing can overtake the joy of seeing elementary school students and toddlers leap in excitement.
Finally on December 20, 2014, Nathan and I went on a winter boat excursion to revisit Santa Catalina Island, the destination of our first date. The locale was decorated with festive lights, rows of faux Christmas pines, and candy cane statuettes dangling from two ropes. Nathan and I went on a stroll along the marina. He explicitly told me, "The day I met you is and always will be the best day of my entire life having gone through some of the toughest situations in, like, the past several years." After I said something similar, but very cheesy, we sat down on the dock to talk about memories. Within five minutes of a full, random conversation, Nathan does something unspeakable to me... he immediately gets on one knee and says the four words I wish my dream guy would say to me in my teen years, "Will you marry me?"
I immediately shout "Yes"... and I do a sport-winning victory dance. Best moment of 2014.
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| Our engagement rings :) |
I promise there will be so much more news to come in 2015 than this year.
