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Finally reunited with my crew. So excited to be around friends and even closer to home in Columbus Ohio. Another week past, even more lessons learned. The last few days I spent in Pennsylvania (hell) turned out to not be so bad. After I ventured out to the airport, I made a rather impacting friend. Justin, a student pilot, newly credited A&P Mechanic and the FBO's "go-to" guy. Even in the rudest of places, theres always a smiling face willing to befriend a stranger. Justin saw that I really wasnt enjoying my stay in Williamsport and so kindly offered for me to join him for dinner downtown. It was fun! I really enjoyed his company and of course, all we talked about flying. I really do hope he can get his private pilot certificate soon.
A few days later, there was finally a break in the weather and I saw hope to get the heck out of the mountains. a 2 hour flight turned into a rather adventurous 4 hours dodging snow squalls and low rolling ice-balls substituting as clouds. I stayed focused and avidly monitored the weather around Pittsburgh. I do believe I will NEVER live in that city either. No matter what time it was or how clear the weather was all around that city, Pittsburgh always forcasted horrible weather. as soon as I passed over the mountains, Ohio was a very enjoyable and calm sunny flight right into Port Columbus. I was sooooo happy to see Kimmy. She greeted me happily at the FBO. Its so crazy how people make the most vaguw of places feel like home. Sort of the same way that a church isnt just a building, its a group of people. I like to think of that in essence to home.
Kim and I didnt waste any time in downtown Columbus, Ben and Manny werent being very social the first few days I was there but Kim and I went crazy and called it our "pre-mature quarter life crisis". We have been talking about change, fun change, so, we hit up a famous piercing parlor in OSU called "Evolved" awesome artists there! Kim and I pierced our noses and ears, even at 23 I STILL called my mother to ask her permission haha! my reasoning was that I have a good head on my shoulders so I reserve the right to decorate that head, she fell for it with a smile in her voice she said OK Aubs, its all you. I mean, its going to come out for my next job anyway, I just figured its now or never. So wierd taking steps backwards in my maturity level. I would have never thought about piercings, traveling, running a muck, being single, dancing the night away, or anything else of the sorts a year ago. I cant believe how mature and BORING I was haha!! 22 and going to bed at 9pm... what was I thinking!?
The real moral of the week hit me when we took a mini road trip home to see my family and friends. As soon as the door opened at the Willises, The smells, sounds and decorations hit my heart full speed. even the lotion Kalyn put on made me realize how easy it is to take such small joys in life forgranted. When little blessings are part of your daily routine, you dont ever miss them or truly notice them til they are totally gone. That night in Michigan, Kim and I dressed up, something I havent done in a very long time, I could barely walk in my heels (which I use to be a master of before I inherited boots for flying) a night out in Novi was just what I needed. The best part, was suprising Lindsay for her birthday. Thanks to her awesome boyfriend Jason, he brought her to the club without her knowledge of me being in town, the suprise was amazing. She was shocked, she teared up, and hugged me like I have never been hugged before.
Really getting to see her and Jason together that night gave me so much to think about, so much so, that Im still piecing it all together in my mind 3 days later. I truly felt priveledged to watch "new love" in action. The way they held each other, smiled, goofed around, danced, even when Lindsay was clear across the dance floor with me, Jason still kept an eye on her with a smirk of content on his face as she twirled around with me. Its so crazy for me to witness this becuase, during my relational demise this summer, Lindsay, as well as Kalyn, Leeha and Kassey, all supported me and gave me words of "single girl" wisdom, they swapped stories and books and sayings with me to keep my spirits up. The best thing I have learned was that, all of us 20-somethings, during this time of our lives are the "rule" not the "exception". (quoted from "hes just not that into you") but these girls lived by it, and age, as well as experience is truly showing in all of their individual stories.
Kalyn, the most experienced of us all, has fallen happily in love and finally became the exception to the rule. She never settled though, Nice, sweet, handsome, was not enough, Kay knew something has been missing for so long, and finally, Zach came along. As fiesty as Kay can be, he never gave up, he knew she was the one and he fought, he fought hard so hard that he was even willing to sit down with me at starbucks as I layed it out for him. I will never forget the convo, it was as if I was laying the guidelines on how my friend WILL be treated if he knew what was good for him. I guess he took my words to heart because she found her prince that treats her like a queen daily. But she went through so much heart break and trial and error to get to that point in life.
Leeha, is a perfect example of "you must take care of yourself before you can take care of others". So happy and confident and comfortable with herself, caught the eye of a prince from Florida that officially swept her off her feet last summer. Leeha is a great example of being happy with yourself will result in even more riches in the world. Kassey, my youngest friend of the bunch, is rather wise for her age. Boy can she debate, and always win! The best way to describe what I have learned from her is that shes "old enough to know, and too young to care". She is embracing youth and still holding onto the dream of her very own fairy tale While shes still the rule and not ready to be the exception, I know Kassey will fall hard when the right guy comes her way. For now, youth is a great learning advantage and the best way to have excuses to let the "duds" down softly.
Back to Lindsay, shes one step ahead of me and I pray im not far behind. Our stories are so incredibly similar. We were the bi-products of long term relationships (ironically both firemen) that crushed us up, took advantage of our personalities and finally gave us both strength to say "enough is enough". It took me a year longer to finally give up hope on a failed relationship but out of the ashes of Lindsays failure, grew Jason, a man who did everything right (so far, they can still always screw up) He put up a fight for a girl whose heart was behind her own bars. He never gave up fighting for her. He consistently went out of his way to prove himself a prince, and when she started to feel smothered or overbearing, he so gracefully stepped back and gave her time, not just any time, he gave her HIS time. I love the fact that his idea of gifts arent just to drape a pretty blonde in diamonds, but to fly her fiends in for her birthday so she can be with her present, not just wear it. Memories are far more valuable than jewelry. Jason has my blessing over and over, and im sure he knows, if he ever trips, theres not very many states he can live in where he wont be haunted by angry crazy blondes that are the rightful keepers of Lindsays heart. lol.
As for me, I hold these friends, and all they are teaching me, so close to my heart. THEY are MY keepers. I just hope my exception is close by, im getting bored of being the rule. Patience is still my greatest challenge during the search for my prince. especially while im traveling. Poor guy, where ever you are, you have 3 blondes and 3 brunettes to impress before you can even get close to me haha! fair warning imaginary man! I hope im worth it for you. the longer you dilly dally the smarter and stronger I get so, start searching for me already! (Okay I just wrote an excerpt to a ghost so I think im done with this journal entry for now).
Guess I have Love on the brain, I need to get my head back in the clouds where it belongs...
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Lindsay I feel like I should be on the couch in sweats with popcorn and a glass of wine with my girls watching this movie...... then I realize, wait, that its my best friend writing this!!!! I'm so honored to call you one of my dearest friends, you've touched my life in so many ways and I couldn't be more blessed! And you possess far more than any man could ever imagine when he meets you! The world is your oyster!!