25th Reunion (and some thoughts on reunions in general)

Adam and Chris are Photobombing Us! :)

I'm not letting another amazing reunion pass by without posting about it! At the end of July, we had our 25th high school class reunion, for which I did a bunch of the planning. I had planned most of our 20th reunion from BED, so to be able to plan this reunion more easily helped me to see how much my life has continued to change in the past five years.

I Adore These Faces

I was so very excited to see these faces. Jess, Kate, Jamie and I were part of a group of eight friends from 7th grade on through high school (although I met Jess in 4th grade! :)) It was wonderful to have Jamie's wife, Urvi, join us and to see Amy after 25 years! 

Ready for the Reunion

I was able to attend the entire reunion, plus stay an extra hour chatting with some folks. I also stood most of the four hours of the reunion. Like, whoa?! This is my whole new life.

25th Reunion Ready!

I don't often look back at old photos of myself, but as I got ready to write this post, I found the pics from our 20th reunion. When I look at the photos of me from this reunion compared to the last one, I am amazed at the difference in my pallor. And, as you can see, I'm sitting the entire time at the 20th reunion. I literally sat on a chair at one of the high top tables and everyone came over to me to chat. This year, I could mingle as much as I wanted (with a few breaks to sit in between).

Kate and Me at our 20th

Apparently, I choose blue and ivory to wear to my high school reunions?

Megan, Jill and I Go All the Way Back to Elementary School

So glad I got to see Megan at both reunions, but we missed Jill this time around.

I Am Sitting in the Presence of Two INCREDIBLE Women Here:
Abena and our English teacher, Ms. Riley

Our 20th reunion was a much bigger event--including a Friday evening event with former teachers. I got to see lots of my favorite teachers and also this wonderful favorite woman, Abena.

Our 20th Reunion Crew

I know that people have become less and less likely to attend their reunions, as is evidenced by the number of people we had this time around compared to five years ago. People seem to feel that social media is "good enough" for keeping in touch. I also think people felt that five years ago seemed like just last year, and were less inclined to attend. That was a bit sad!

Our 25th Reunion Crew

I have LOVED both of our reunions. I've reconnected with people I've lost touch with; I've healed old wounds and miscommunications that went unresolved; I've enjoyed being together in a big group with some of my favorite and oldest friends; I've laughed a lot and hugged a lot of people; I've even connected with folks I didn't even know in high school!

We Haven't Aged a Day!
Megan, Brian, Adam and Aaron

Just making it to my 20th reunion was one of the hardest things I could do physically, but also one of my biggest victories. This time around, it was a little bit hard, but not very, and I didn't crash terribly afterwards. Just a bit!

By the end of the night I could feel myself getting the shakes and struggling to sit up any longer, but compared to how my body used to respond (or compared to not being able to attend at all) this seemed minor.

The most difficult part is getting my ANS to calm down after an event, and usually that requires a lot of medication if I want any sleep at all.

Adam, Aaron, Me, Megan

Facebook is no substitute for seeing people in person, catching up, giving hugs, laughing and talking. I am so thankful to everyone who showed up for our reunion!

Jess and Kate

Forever and always friends with these two!

Reunion in the Restaurant's Solarium

We held our reunion at a local restaurant--with beautiful hors d'oeuvres and signature drinks. It worked out perfectly.

Jame and I Just Joined The Old IM Basketball Team! :) 

Look at all of these friendly faces I've missed seeing!

Jess, Kate, Jamie and Amy

And these women are so special to me.

Look at this Crew! :) 

On Sunday afternoon, our 'crew of four' along with kids and Kate's husband, Brad (also a classmate) went to Jessica's parent's house to chill at the pool. I didn't last very long, but was determined to make it.

Jamie and Her Kiddo

I also got to meet up with Jamie and her kiddos at our local pool on Monday!

The Kiddos

How fun to have everyone's kids all hanging out together while the four of us fell right back into our goofy banter. Jess's daughter, Zoey, thought that we were hilarious as she hung out listening to us. She will soon be just like us with her own friends (she's 12). :)

Poolside Mini-Reunion

We missed the rest of our crew, but I am so very thankful for the time we had together during reunion weekend. Jamie and Jess made a huge effort to travel far for this and I thank them big time.

I still believe in old fashioned reunions. I still believe in taking the time to plan them and reconnect with folks in ways that wouldn't otherwise happen without a planned event. 

Thanks to everyone who has attended the past two reunions! You made it well worth the effort of planning!

See you at our 30th!

Blessings, 

Emily

Then. Now.

May 2013: Corina and Me

Four years ago, I traveled to DC for one of the most special, memorable and meaningful visits of my life--to meet three other women with whom I had spent a decade corresponding with on a forum for dysautonomia.

My friend, Corina, re-posted a pic of our wonderful memory of meeting one another.

FOUR YEARS AGO.

May 2013: Corina, Nina, Katherine and Me

It took a Herculean effort to get to DC to see these women.

I saw the picture that Corina posted of me in the Rolls--cooling vest and all--headed out to a meal with her. She held my hand the whole way.

I struggled through every moment of the time we all had together. Every moment.

These photos, these memories from years past hit me hard.

So. Hard.

April 2017: Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Visiting Dr. Rowe

Because yes, there was joy. Lots of joy in those hard years.

But it was always through suffering, within suffering, while suffering, part of suffering.

Now, joy can come more fully, sometimes completely, without awareness of physical suffering.

Not always, but sometimes. 

When suffering is present, it is minor compared to just four years ago.

February 2017: Sunset Beach, NC

Corina's post of me just four years ago came a couple of days after I published my post on being The Face of Medicaid. 

In it, I wrote about how much the ACA and Medicaid Expansion has contributed to my ability to achieve improved health.

I said: I don't think it's a coincidence that my health has improved at the same time that my access to care has also improved.

If I needed a visual, if you needed a visual, if the world needed a visual of the changes that can happen with a combination of good health care, hard work, good doctors, family support, and two puppies, here it is.

No Rolls

This isn't intended to be a political post. It's intended as a post of pure, simple, awe-inspiring gratitude for the healing I have experienced.

As painful as it is for me to see the photos of me during the sickest days of my life--actually I don't HAVE photos from those days--it's also the most humbling, overwhelming and gratitude-inspiring reminder of how far I've come, how much I love this new life, and how much I want to keep healing.

Then. Now.

I choose NOW.

Blessings,

Emily

41

Family    Pumpkin Brûlée    La Crema Wine    Flowers    Voicemails  

Snail Mail   Gifts  Chocolate Cake  Pumpkins  A Country Drive  Love  Dinner Out   A Pretty Dress   Sunset   A Walk in the Park  Holding Hands

Kiernan   Stonefly Wine   Donations to Dr. Rowe  Hot Tea   Gershwin Warm Socks   Tovah Rose   Pretty Jewelry   Mom   Blue Sky   Fall Colors  

Text Messages   Picnic   Singing   Facebook Wishes  Lunch with Rebekah  Thoughtful Notes  Feeling Alive   80's Pop   People Magazine  Friends  Good Food   Dad   Abbie  Gorgeous Weather

Mom, Me, Kiernan
Abbie, Dad, Michelle (Kiernan's mom)

And there you have it--41 descriptors of my 41st birthday celebration.

Sunset on the Way to Dinner

On Saturday evening, the whole family went out for dinner at a restaurant about 45 minutes outside of town. On the way there we saw an incredible sunset.

The Happy Couple

Over the last three years, we can tell a dramatic difference between how we celebrate my birthday from year to year.

I Love This Guy!

We drove out of town to a restaurant, had a long meal, were in a very noisy environment, were in a big group, and I was able to fully enjoy it. I had wine. I spent the afternoon taking a shower, getting dressed up, doing my hair and painting my nails.

Mother and Son

Even one or two of these things used to wear me out, more or less all of them in the same day! And some of them (most of them) were impossible for me.

16 Years of Marriage!

Dad and Abbie treated us all to this special dinner out and Mom treated us to the wine. I've spent a lot of years celebrating my birthday from bed or in a recliner. Instead of gifts I said that what would mean the most to me would be a dinner out with those I love the most. 

It's Mom's Mommyversary!

I am the happiest when I can be with my family and the love of my life.

Gnocchi and Roasted Veggies

Three of us ordered the homemade gnocchi, 

Duck Breast, Roasted Veggies, Jasmine Rice, Carrot Puree

and the other three of us ordered the duck breast. :)

Make a Wish!

The birthday girl found room for pumpkin creme brûlée for dessert.

I Love Pumpkins!

On Sunday afternoon, Kiernan packed us a picnic and despite the chill in the air, we ate outside. We took a long Sunday drive though the country, stopped at a local art gallery, and scouted out the cheapest pumpkins we could find. Two bucks for the big ones! :)

A Walk in the Park

After our drive we stopped at a new park in town for a walk. The park offered beautiful views of the mountains surrounding us.

It was a perfect afternoon.

Sunday Soup

On Sunday evening, I took a little time to recuperate and hang out with Mom. We had a delicious Fall carrot soup for dinner with sage leaves, browned butter and popcorn as garnishes.

Birthday Cake Gum, Red Velvet Rooibos Tea from Maine, Socks from LL Bean outlet in Maine and  Earrings from one of my Favorite Jewelers

And Mom surprised me with tea and socks she snuck back from Maine, some funky and delicious birthday cake gum, and a pair of earrings I had been eyeing from my favorite jeweler at Arts Fest.

On Sunday evening, I took a long bath, settled into bed, read my birthday cards that had been arriving in the mail and some of the latest People magazine!

From Lana and Co.

On Monday, I woke up to a flower delivery from Lana and Co.

Lunch out with Rebekah!

I went out to lunch with Rebekah.

Upon my arrival home I was greeted with flowers from Kiernan and we went for a walk together.

He gifted me with a framed picture of us with pressed flowers from our yard that he used to decorate the frame. My guy is so creative!

Mom made a delicious birthday dinner of shrimp, pasta, roasted tomatoes, sweet red peppers and salad.

We kept hoping the Sox would pull off a win in honor of my birthday. They didn't! It's okay, though, because the Cubbies are gonna win the World Series! :)

Tovah Sacked Out On K's Lap

Tovah and Gershwin want to be wherever Kiernan is. And they didn't want to miss out on any of the celebrating!

And Gershwin Stayed Close By

Under his Red Sox sweatshirt, Kiernan wore his shirt that says: If you love a Davidson girl raise your hand. If not, raise your standard. :)

Mom made a gluten-free chocolate cake and I must say, it is the BEST gluten-free birthday dessert we have found to date.

I took making my birthday wish very seriously.

I hope it comes true! I've got big plans and big wishes for the year ahead.

On Tuesday, it was a perfect Fall day, so I went to the Farmer's market with Mom and the puppies where I got these gorgeous flowers, a free Maple Vanilla Goat Yogurt from one of our favorite vendors, and enjoyed that I could stroll around the market with the puppies!

What a birthday it was! 

I'm living a life I never imagined possible. I spent my birthday surrounded by those I love. And those far away called, texted, left singing messages, sent cards, or donated to Dr. Rowe in my honor.

41 feels a little funny. Am I really in my 40's now? Life feels like, in so many ways, it's just beginning.

Thank to everyone who made my birthday so very special. You are my heart.

Blessings,

Emily