Life UPDATE

It has been awhile since I have updated everyone on where life has taken me.  Some of you I know IRL or follow me on social media so you may know bits and pieces of what has gone on.  Let’s start with 2014 after my life took a drastic turn in a unplanned direction.

Life after Tragic Loss – It has taken some time but I am finally at peace with the passing of my grandfather. His continued pursuit for knowledge and ongoing love for his family near and far, blood or not lives inside me. He continues to shine his bright light over me as I carve my path throughout this twist and turn we all call life.

Life after Divorce – They say it takes 1 year to get over someone for every 5 years of the relationship. Well 12 / 5 = 2 years and 4 months. Well it’s been 1 year and 8 months and I can say I am over the man and the physical relationship but I miss my best friend sometimes.  A marriage is built on friendship, love and most of a common goal. Although our goal was lost somewhere along the way, my love and friendship will remain. I have taken those experiences I have learned and apply them to my life now. I know what I do want and need from a partner in marriage (both of which are slightly different), I know where I am willing to budge on my wish list and most of all to trust my instincts.
Cross Country Move – Moving to the Midwest – first Detroit now Chicago – was a big change. This west coast girl was ready to brave the elements…mostly snow to be exact. The first winter wasn’t bad (although everyone keeps telling me it was mild and I got it easy).  The midwest is a slower way of life and right now that is exactly what I have been looking for.  I have gotten to meet tons of new people – especially AOII sisters, tried many new restaurants, and ventured through tons of tourist locations.  I can’t wait to experience more.
What Reality Is Now – LIFE IS GREAT! I love the new adventure of my life. I am happy with who I am and where I want to go. I love my family, friends, work and my bright future.

Although this is a lifestyle blog and I will keep you abreast with my life and loves, I have decided to focus more towards beauty.  Makeup, skin care, and overall health and wellness is one of my true loves.  Add in some live music, sorority family, and traveling and that about sums it up.  Stay tuned for more information, reviews, and loves.

Sorry For Missing You

So sorry my loves for missing my blog these past few months. Things have just been crazy in life and after such dramatic events, I took a little time to get my head screwed back on a little before putting it out to the world. While my head has been turned back on, its not tightly wound but I am ready to share my deepest thoughts of over coming loss with the world. Stay tuned for deep and insightful as well as some light hearted and fun posts coming up. xoxo, Jane

Celebration of my Papa

For those who missed a wonderful celebration of life for my grandfather this past Sunday, I wanted to share my speech with the blog-o-sphere. I was just one of many who shared beautiful stories and memories.  I can not wait for the video to watch back since this day was a little bit of a blur. Thank you again to all those who came out, sent beautiful messages, and have been a shoulder to cry or lean on these past few months.

“As a young child, I idealize Papa for many reasons.  To me, he was wise beyond my years and could teach me about so many wonderful things. To me he was in a simple word…Perfect.

When I was young child, Papa use to take me into the garden and teach me about the plants and flowers. All I really wanted to do was play with the bugs or swim in the pool. He continued to try.

In the evenings, he would curl up in his chair in the living room and read for hours with me. It didn’t matter that he was reading Cat in the Hat or Little Red Riding Hood because in his mind, I was reading. To me, I just got to sit in the big chair that was always reserved for him.

As I got older, into those “rough teenage” years, he gave me books from the library. I in-turn gave them back to the library.  He tried to give me advise on school, I pretended to listen. The only thing that really caught my attention during this time was of course, what every teenager wants…money. We bonded over the stock market. I learned how to read stocks, bonds, and most of all money markets from the newspaper cause that’s how they did it back then. I followed closely how much my $100 was turning into. I don’t know if he will admit it but I thank Reaganomics for the boom of my money market fund to send me to college. Papa being a democratic would probably more than likely tell me it was just great investing on his part. Without his wise decision to bond with me over the stock market early on, I probably would have done what every other student of my generation did and had to take out loans for college. I feel I got lucky because he invested in my education not just by teaching about the stock market but also by being able to help provide for my future.

As I became an adult I found we continued to talk about finances and he stressed the importance of investing up until a few days before he passed. One of our last conversations was of him reminding me not to forget to max out my IRA for this year because social security more than likely will not be around to collect when I’m of age.

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Living 4 hours away, sometimes you can feel left out when you phone home and find out everyone went to the local BBQ place spur of the moment but I always knew he cared. I would randomly get snail mail of an article from the newspaper he read which related to me whether it be my migraines or the housing market. There would always be a little post it note included which read, “Tam, thought this would interest you, Love Papa”.

As I have known grown, I have learned perfection comes in many forms.  Papa is perfect.  He was my idea of perfection of what a grandfather was.  He was persistent, strong and intelligent. Ambitious, adventurous, and supportive.  Loving, respectful and giving.  All of these things make up a perfect grandfather, father, husband, man.

Papa has set the foundation. Many paths have been paved for me to explore. Each one is engraved with his teachings along the way. As I continue to go on my journeys in life and explore the world and all it has to offer, his memory will shine bright and his inspiration for charity to others will flourish from within. ”

 

Change

There are times in life where we find ourselves thrown into change. This change may be from something wanted or something unwanted, either way, its not always that easy to deal with. At this moment, I find myself at a cross roads. While my world has been turn upside down professionally because of a choice I made, that path is well on its way to greatness while my personal life is being turned upside down because of a choice I did not make but instead am having to respond to.

In times like these I am blessed to have a wonderful support system. A mother who I can call upon at the drop of a hat with sound advise and encouragement. A group of sisters who may or may not know what is going on but always support me with phone calls, text messages, lunch dates, and of course my favorite sushi dates.

While I know it takes time to figure out my next steps and to build this new path to greatness just like I did professionally, it still hurts along the way. It still angers me this has happened. It worries me of what may come.

As I now prepare for the moving on part, we’ll see what happens down the road…stay tuned.