Many of you probably know that I had a nasty mountain biking accident several years ago. Actually, exactly 6 years ago, today. I spent 2 months in a neck brace and another month in physical therapy - I still can't turn my head very far to the right, but thankfully, that's the worst of my injuries. I was lucky and felt that I had been given a new chance in life, so I made the decision to move on from Yellowstone and try to live my life to the fullest in Bozeman.
Just a year and a few months later, I met Jeff. I new I was in trouble from day one. We had a crazy romance that at times I thought would go nowhere, but luckily 2 1/2 years after my accident, he proposed. We got married just over 3 years after, and we both finished our degrees just over 4 years after. Five years after the accident, we were living in Bulgaria and I was nearly done being a high school teacher. Now, 6 years later, we're still in Bulgaria and I'm a PR specialist - not something I ever expected to do in my life.
I think that I have successfully lived my life to the fullest during the last 6 years. I earned a Ph.D., I married an amazing man who luckily is not only my partner, but is my best friend (insert gag reflex here), I took a teaching job that I was terrified of - and survived, I tried another new job that is so completely different from anything I've ever done or trained for (and I think gained more priceless experience in communications), and I've travelled all over Europe and a bit of Africa and Asia. Now I'm getting ready for another move with Jeff - to Massachusetts in August. Another new chapter that I hope will be full of adventure. A pretty full life.
Today I've been going through what I've done on May 28th for the last 5 years - I always wanted to do something special as a sort of celebration of life. Sadly, I can't remember for a couple of the years, but here's what I do remember:
May 28, 2006 - My friend, Diane, and I went to the Sasquatch Festival at the Columbia River Gorge - heard some amazing music, ate "sasquitches", and stayed dry during a hail storm by huddling under a tarp; the best part was when the rainbow showed up behind us and Matisyahu spoke about second chances - seemed prophetic
May 28, 2007 - Jeff took me and his friend Chrissy and her boyfriend (now husband) David down the Narrows in Zion National Park - one of the most beautiful places on this planet, I think; an amazing hike
May 28, 2008 - ? I wish I could remember what I did then
May 28, 2009 - I had a party at our house to celebrate friends and life
May 28, 2010 - I was here in Bulgaria, I believe there was a birthday get together for Lindsay's birthday
Today, May 28, 2011 - This morning Jeff, Jess (a fellow teacher), and I took seven students to Vitosha Nature Park to join in the national Volunteer Day and help clean up parts of the trail that our school has adopted (this is an initiative I've been working on with the school that I hope continues after we leave!). It has been a beautiful sunny day and we all enjoyed being outside seeing all the flora and fauna of this mountain that is almost literally in my back yard. Wildlife sightings were: two snakes, one dead skink (legless lizard), and two forest long-legged frogs (man can they jump!). After returning home, Jeff and I napped out on the lawn - until it started raining, and then there was a very loud and quick thunderstorm - I'm sure two of those lightning strikes had to hit somewhere on campus. Tonight is also Prom for our school, so all the students (and their families) got gussied up and came to campus to have pictures taken. Prom is slightly different here in that it is not run by the school - in fact, other than the pictures on campus, it is not associated with the school, so the seniors actually invite teachers. If you were not invited, you can buy a ticket for the equivalent of $132. Jeff was invited because he teaches seniors. I was not and since I don't really know the seniors, I decided not to go. That's where Jeff is right now. I'm enjoying a quiet evening at home. I didn't take any pictures of the gussied up students, but I'm sure Jeff will and maybe we'll post some (although most of the dresses this year were fairly tame, unlike what I've heard other years have been like). Anyway, it has been a very nice and memorable day.
On that note, I will leave you with a couple of group pics:
I hope everyone enjoys their Memorial Day Weekend!
Just a year and a few months later, I met Jeff. I new I was in trouble from day one. We had a crazy romance that at times I thought would go nowhere, but luckily 2 1/2 years after my accident, he proposed. We got married just over 3 years after, and we both finished our degrees just over 4 years after. Five years after the accident, we were living in Bulgaria and I was nearly done being a high school teacher. Now, 6 years later, we're still in Bulgaria and I'm a PR specialist - not something I ever expected to do in my life.
I think that I have successfully lived my life to the fullest during the last 6 years. I earned a Ph.D., I married an amazing man who luckily is not only my partner, but is my best friend (insert gag reflex here), I took a teaching job that I was terrified of - and survived, I tried another new job that is so completely different from anything I've ever done or trained for (and I think gained more priceless experience in communications), and I've travelled all over Europe and a bit of Africa and Asia. Now I'm getting ready for another move with Jeff - to Massachusetts in August. Another new chapter that I hope will be full of adventure. A pretty full life.
Today I've been going through what I've done on May 28th for the last 5 years - I always wanted to do something special as a sort of celebration of life. Sadly, I can't remember for a couple of the years, but here's what I do remember:
May 28, 2006 - My friend, Diane, and I went to the Sasquatch Festival at the Columbia River Gorge - heard some amazing music, ate "sasquitches", and stayed dry during a hail storm by huddling under a tarp; the best part was when the rainbow showed up behind us and Matisyahu spoke about second chances - seemed prophetic
May 28, 2007 - Jeff took me and his friend Chrissy and her boyfriend (now husband) David down the Narrows in Zion National Park - one of the most beautiful places on this planet, I think; an amazing hike
May 28, 2008 - ? I wish I could remember what I did then
May 28, 2009 - I had a party at our house to celebrate friends and life
May 28, 2010 - I was here in Bulgaria, I believe there was a birthday get together for Lindsay's birthday
Today, May 28, 2011 - This morning Jeff, Jess (a fellow teacher), and I took seven students to Vitosha Nature Park to join in the national Volunteer Day and help clean up parts of the trail that our school has adopted (this is an initiative I've been working on with the school that I hope continues after we leave!). It has been a beautiful sunny day and we all enjoyed being outside seeing all the flora and fauna of this mountain that is almost literally in my back yard. Wildlife sightings were: two snakes, one dead skink (legless lizard), and two forest long-legged frogs (man can they jump!). After returning home, Jeff and I napped out on the lawn - until it started raining, and then there was a very loud and quick thunderstorm - I'm sure two of those lightning strikes had to hit somewhere on campus. Tonight is also Prom for our school, so all the students (and their families) got gussied up and came to campus to have pictures taken. Prom is slightly different here in that it is not run by the school - in fact, other than the pictures on campus, it is not associated with the school, so the seniors actually invite teachers. If you were not invited, you can buy a ticket for the equivalent of $132. Jeff was invited because he teaches seniors. I was not and since I don't really know the seniors, I decided not to go. That's where Jeff is right now. I'm enjoying a quiet evening at home. I didn't take any pictures of the gussied up students, but I'm sure Jeff will and maybe we'll post some (although most of the dresses this year were fairly tame, unlike what I've heard other years have been like). Anyway, it has been a very nice and memorable day.
On that note, I will leave you with a couple of group pics:
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| The Vitosha Adopt-A-Trail Crew |
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| Jeff and all of his prom dates! |
I hope everyone enjoys their Memorial Day Weekend!
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