Today is the 10 year anniversary of when I moved to Calgary.  Might not seem like a big deal…

I was in university, decided that sucked and I wasn’t the learned type, and I was going to Alberta with the promise of a $12/hr receptionist job.  Big money back in 2000 folks, let me tell you!  So my parents paid for my ticket (aren’t they happy they’re finally done paying for my airfare!) and I managed to get my departure flight info all messed up (no surprise).  When we got to the airport my name was being called over the PA and my gate was closing. I rushed through with a passing glance back at my parents and not much of a good-bye.  My poor mother ran through security, bells ringing and lights flashing, threw off all her metal jewelry and gave me one last tearful hug good-bye.  I was her youngest afterall…the baby…the one everyone knows parents love THE most I said I’d be home again for good in 6 months.  It was 6 years later when I finally called to say I was coming back. And by that time my parents thought I was a little off my rocker to migrate back to Newfoundland when for decades people only went West! But when God puts it on your heart to do something, you’d better do it.

When I was little we took our first big family vacation to Florida. My sisters both loved being in the pool, but I was a fraidy-cat who had to towel her face off every time a drop of water splashed on it!  Seriously, I was hiiiigh maintenance.  So last Christmas while my mom and I were lazily tanning by a pool in Florida about 20 years after our first trip, she said “You were always so afraid of everything, I don’t know how you grew up to be so fearless.”    A lot happened in those 6 years to help shape who I am, but I had some great parents who started me off right…afterall, you’d probably get shot today for running through security without a ticket

I remember my heart racing when I thought about moving to Calgary, and I remember my heart racing when I decided to move back home.  It seems like no time has passed, yet there’s a lot that happens between the lines, as we all know!  That experience has made me a lot more confident..oh and not being 19 anymore helps a lot I’m sure!

I spent some time in NYC (alone) to start off my UK trip a few weeks ago.  I would never have done that 10 years ago, I could barely go to the mall alone back then! You take so many baby steps when you’re trying to grow-up and figure things out, that when you look back at all the time that’s passed, it seems like a giant leap to where you are today.  It’s only fitting to end this with photos from the city where dreams come true!

On top of the Empire State Building….

A trip to NYC isn’t complete without over-dressed, over-sexed Italian tourists!

The little point on the island (top, center) is the Statue of Liberty…pretty spectacular right? haha

And here I am, finally, overlooking New York City (as taken by a French tourist).