cougartown

Today is the day I say adieu to one decade and aloha to another. There must be a correlation between aging and time flying...or is it that time is flying because I'm having fun? While the previous decade had a lot of turbulent learnings, the last decade was where the learnings turned into living. It was a decade full of good and bad moments, but the common theme was that they were all pivotal points of some sort:

• Lived through 9/11 and the aftermath. See carpe diem.
• Lost my virginity - I know that it may seem like a shock to many for different reasons: 1) for those who thought I was a sexual prowess up to that point...yeah, no...fooled you!; 2) for those who thought I would save it for marriage, well Mr. Right never came a'knockin and come on, I held off long enough. Yet one doesn't experience something like 9/11 and not think of all the things on one's bucket list. But I do apologize to the individual whom I've known had a crush on me since college and approached within the month after to start the bucket list - a bit straightfoward and definitely callous of me. However, it eventually happened with a different person and on the right terms.
• Learned to love (at least to the extent that I was capable at that point in my life).
• Purchased my first apartment. 
• Achieved the ultimate level at work. While I had eventually given up in the prior decade on seeking my parents' approval and while they still have no clue what I do, they understood enough of the accomplishment that I was told that dad teared up with pride.
• Blessed with the most loving, adventurous, curious, intelligent nieces and nephews who constantly entertain and amuse their favorite and crazy aunt (no biasness whatsoever).
• Purchased my first house.
• Experienced loss. See in loving memory.
• Became a godmother to a beautiful goddaughter with wonderful parents.
• Found me! See unanswered prayers.
• Met my soulmate, at least one of them. 😄 And while the first meet was when I was still the shy, cautious self, I got the opportunity to see him again in the confident skin, and it was much more fun. Ironically, it was because of the regrets from the first meeting that I started throwing caution to the wind - living a fearless life.
• Sold the apartment and paid off all the mortgages.
• Prioritized, packed up and relocated for new adventures.

If the pattern and momentum of history is any indication of the trajectory of my life, the next decade is bound to be better. ROAR!