These memories are not necessarily easy but they enriched my life in such immense ways so here we are…
1. our trip to Iceland. My first international trip solo with the kids! R was 2, L was 4. A balmy 50 degrees mid June. The sun that just would not set. Fermented shark, never again. The cleanliness, the emptiness and rugged beauty of that country. I felt completely and entirely safe traveling alone with two small kids.
2. My wedding. I felt so beautiful, so loved, all my friends and family were there, I was the center of attention. The party was small – only 50 people, and it was in a historical hotel, Lambertville, NJ, at the end of June. During the vows, a monarch butterfly landed on my bouquet, probably a sign from T’s father who passed away when T was just fifteen years old.
3. the birth of my daughter. She was the calmest, chillest baby, even when she was only a day old. I was in active labor all day, since morning, when T drove me to the hospital at around 6pm, I was 7mm when we got there. And yet, she stayed put. Finally, she was born at 10:45pm.
4. the birth of my son. Same hospital, except we had L already so when my water broke at around 1am I had to drive myself to the hospital. I wasn’t in pain so driving wasn’t a problem. I was told “your water broke, and, if you are not experiencing contractions, we need to give you Pitocin.” By 7am I was having contractions all right. I then had to go to the bathroom and, oops, my son was born in the bathroom of the delivery room.
5. Fulbright in Chile. In 2017 I received a grant to travel to Chile and do research: the Fulbright Teacher grant. I was living in Chile for five months. Many weeks were spent traveling around Chile. I went as south as Puerto Varas and as north as Atacama. I also had a side trip to Buenos Aires to attend a book fair and explore the city.
I also found out, while in Chile, that I was pregnant with L, my daughter. When I came back five months later I was already showing.
The above five memories are the grand events of my life…
But then there are other, smaller memories that I would like to relive: tasting my first Snickers bar, standing in line to get into the US embassy, taking the oath to become a US citizen, seeing Paris for the first time, seeing Ankor Wat for the first time, seeing Taj Mahal for the first time, spending the night in Rajastani desert, visiting the birth place of the Buddha, first date with my husband. Defending my dissertation. Serving as an interpreter to a couple from Spain who were adopting two Russian kids.
What memories would you like to relive?
This month I am participating in #NaBloPoMo2025. A running list of participants can be found on San’s NaBloPoMo page as well as more information about this lovely initiative on this NaBloPoMo page.
Pic on the front: vicuñas in Atacama desert.
Mom of Children 