11.05.2010

Where I am

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Where I'm from is another story entirely.

I was born in Salt Lake City, one icy and cold night in December. My due date was Christmas day. When I was 10 days old (the minimum age to fly) my family and little me moved to Tokyo Japan, where we would proceed to live the next 8 years.

I remember so many beautiful things about Japan. But perhaps they are just beautiful because it was my childhood, and whether I was in France, Egypt, or Arkansas it would probably be just as beautiful. I got lost on trains with my sisters, learned to ride a bike with my dad - as he balanced his hands on the back of the handlebars, and cheered me on while I rode wildly down the empty Japan streets, and went to school with thousands of girls from hundreds of different countries who had different beliefs than I did, but we learned to love each other all the same.

When I was eight, my parents had enough of ex-pat living, and promptly moved to Alpine, Utah and built a house. This was home for years and years. This is where I met the best friends I have ever had, where I had my first kiss, where I really learned what it means to be a part of something bigger than myself. Where I attempted catching rattlesnakes with Lacey, and where Jess and I pretended to be ice-skaters for over a week in the basement, with roller-blades and thrift-store leotards. Where I graduated from high school, and where I crashed my car into mom's pine tree one late night with Melissa.

After high school graduation, I moved to Provo Utah, where I would attend BYU for the next 3 1/2 years. This is where I learned who I was. Where I walked so many cold mornings up the hill to class because I wanted to. Where I spent more time alone than I thought I ever would, and that time alone showed me that I can be alone and not be lonely. Where I was taught Whitman, and Morrison, and Italian. Where I learned to be myself, regardless of what others think.

For a brief time I lived in Connecticut - where Jess and I spent every waking moment together, and I felt so lucky to have been born into the same family as my best friend. This is also where I let go of the broken heart I was harboring, and learned to fall in love with someone so right for me.

For a brief time I lived in Hawaii - where I learned that being apart from people you love can strengthen you. And also where I learned that I can do hard things.

And this is where I am from, but not where I am. Right now, I am married to a kind boy who makes me smile when I want to be mad at him, and scrapes the ice that is slowly accumulating in the mornings on my car. I am living in a four-plex, and he goes to school and I go to work and the little time we have together consists of making pizza and playing cards and singing the Doo-Run song. And even though this is where I am, and I love where I am, I'll never forget where I am from.

25 comments:

kara lynn said...

this was fascinating and enthralling to read. i wish i could say i have lived that many places.

Christa said...

I liked reading that. Sometimes I really miss living in Alpine and my childhood. But I love where I am too. It's not where I thought I would be. That's for sure.

Annie said...

Love this... So beautifully written and well-said.

She Loves To Make said...

This was so fun to read!

Laura said...

i miss alpine too! especially right now with the weather i'm missing. i miss you too! see you in 2 months!

p.s. where do you go to design your headers?

Jaimie D said...

great post. i loved it.

Julie Wilding said...

Beautiful! You are a fantastic memory-rememberer.

Dee Paulino said...

Well written, great post!

Diana Smith said...

Cool Story!! My birthday is Dec. 18, when is yours?? Gotta love December birthdays...

Unknown said...

I loved this. :)

Laura said...

Woah you've lived in some really interesting places! I'm heading to japan for a couple weeks next year :)
Really interesting to hear some of your back story.

L x
Half Dressed

Jalene said...

beautiful!

Michelle said...

I did not know that you lived in Japan when you were younger!! That must've been really cool.

Your parents were just there because they wanted to live outside the US? what made them choose Japan? I think it would be hard to switch to such a different culture- and I've had Japanese influence in my life, albeit not that much.

janis said...

this was so beautiful to read! well done! :)

drewandlacey said...

nice mands

Shelby Lou said...

I love the way you write. It makes me happy inside. Really, I felt like I was there with you in all the little things. Your life is so very exciting! I love my life, and I love to read about yours!

Have an awesome weekend.

-Shelby Lou

megan f said...

Small world...I used to live in Japan for 7 years! Asked my mom if she knew your family and I guess your parents showed us around when we moved over there! Crazy-growing up in Japan-best way to do it!

ashley sullivan said...

beautiful, mandy! what an interesting story you have. thank you for sharing.

Jessica said...

sweet mands, i liked it a lot.

Melissa said...

this was really fun to read. nice!

Kevin said...

I feel incredibly lucky to be married to you!

Anna said...

I love this. I wish I could sit down with everyone I meet and understand where they have come from. I believe if we could all just so much as try to understand one another on these terms, we would all be so much happier. I love the history of the individual.

Erin {pughs' news} said...

Absolutely beautiful, Mandy.

Amanda said...

beautifully written.

Love getting a little history lesson on your life, too!

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