Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Hello 28!

Year 28 is off to a GRAND start... because I am getting published! The book, entitled TRAVEL MEANS FREEDOM, is coming out 12/22/2011 (hopefully) just in time for Christmas. I submitted a short story about my volunteer travel with Operation Smile in DR Congo and it was selected to be published in the book! Proceeds from the book will benefit the charity: water (NGO bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations).


Want to check out the organization promoting the book? Buy a copy?
http://wegetthere.com

2011 - the night cap.

My boyfriend Kris would say that 2011 was the year of the pastry (he likes pie; it’s the only thing I can make). I would say it was the year of the weddings. 7 weddings. Meaning next year might be the year of the baby showers. Weddings took us from Put-in-Bay to Wisconsin, from Lafayette to Maria Stein. I now have no excuse to buy a dress for ten years.

I experienced my first Paw Paw Festival. Athens, Ohio. Paw paw ice cream, paw paw beer, paw paw salsa, paw paw soap, paw paw clothing, paw paw cheese, paw paw raw, paw paw clad people, and the paw paw-razzi capturing it all. I had no idea paw paws had so many facets! Nor do I have any idea how to describe what a paw paw tastes like. A cross between a mango and apple or a banana and a pina colada? Looks like a green potato. Delicate like a kiwi.

I had my first collegiate commencement speech. The memory still flares up the ‘ol anxious nerves. The Speech Pathology Department at Miami University, my alma mater, asked me to speak at their graduate school ceremony in May. I couldn’t think of a good enough excuse to say no, and so quivering teeth, legs, mind and all, I spoke about my experiences as a speech pathologist -from departing on a plane bound for India the night of my graduate commencement to present-day working at a pediatric hospital, a place where my patients call me “fun-size” (and their dads “king size") and refer to the hospital as “Mia’s house” – and learning and loving my job every step of the way. Even when my smiling 3 year-old patients with their speech problems sound like cursing adults…”b*tch” for “fish” or “f*ck you” for “thank you.” Smile and nod and hope they’re not handing out my business cards.

It was the year of traveling to countries with questionable motives. New Year’s in Jamaica… the summer equinox in Colombia… No, I am not, to my knowledge, involved in any cartels of any sort. Unfortunately, my new passport only reads these 2 countries. Hopefully my trips in the coming year to Cambodia (with Transitions Global) and Uzbekistan (with Operation Smile) don’t put me on the CIA’s radar. Oh, just googled top drug countries and looks like I should just stay home – U.S. tops the list for world’s largest consumer of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana! (Disclaimer: My only drug of choice is caffeine – mocha-style on Monday mornings, extra whip cream, please. J).

The best books I read this year were “Little Bee” by Chris Cleave and “Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn. I’m still reading the latter and have been for a while but still believe it’ll be topping the list for its thought-provoking writing. These fine literary gems, they have my thumbs up. (To be honest, they were probably the only books I got close to finishing...)

This month marks my 28th year of living. Looking forward to what my 28th year and 2012 will bring. Hopefully a more living-in-the-present state of being, greater confidence, continued compassion, smiles & giggles, and a keener sense of purpose.