CIncy Trip

I had been planning a trip to see my best friends in Cincinnati since last fall, and things kept coming up, I think I planned and rescheduled the trip at least 4 or 5 times and a year went by! I try to go every year it doesn't always happen, I get so busy and distracted but one way or another I always do seem to find my way back home. I was born in California, lived in Florida for years, live in Indy now - but Cincinnati is my home town. Not because I'm originally from there or spent the most time there but I lived there from the time I was 14 to 22. The years you really start getting out on your own and figuring out life, who you are as an individual along with what and who you love most. I loved exploring the town, running around with my friends to clubs, it was the late 80's early 90's and we were punks. Hanging out in dive bars, trying not to get destroyed in mosh pits although we'd go back for more over and over. Seeing bands like Agnostic Front, 7 Seconds, The Ramones, Blondie... so many others... no cell phones, no internet, just taking busses and piling into cars with too many other kids to get to where all our friends would be hanging out. I fell in love for the first time in Cincinnati and made some of the best friends of my life. So now I live a couple hours away but try to make it back whenever I can. Me and one of my best friends have been hanging out since I was 14 years old (the girl in the picture with me) we shared an apartment over Bogarts on Vine St. in Cincy and had the most phenomenal parties. Now we chill out in her backyard while her husband grills steaks and my friend refills my drink too damn many times lol. This year was really special though, I got to see my first boyfriend for the first time in 27 years. I was so nervous, in fact I had cancelled the trip repeatedly because of car troubles and random family issues but I may have just been scared. How do you see someone for the first time in 27 years that saw you last when you were 22... someone that you loved the way you can only love your first love... someone you still dream about even though you both moved on years ago... I'll tell you how, with your best friend by your side, loud music and a smoking margarita to take the edge off your giddy nerves, at least that's what worked for me. The best part though was that when we all got together the years didn't really matter, the energy was the same, we laughed and talked just like we used to and being together again was the most natural feeling in the world. I did cry on the drive home because I don't know when I'll make it back, and I don't want to go another year without seeing some of my closest friends or another 27 years without seeing my first love, hell no (I won't let that happen again) but over all it was just a damn good time. Connections are so important, and it's so easy to let life get crazy, to let days go by... that suddenly turn into years without seeing or talking to people that matter to us. I know I'm guilty of it. I've spent years distracted with daily survival and trying to make something of myself... I never meant to put off connecting more with people I love, I just get so damn distracted trying to make it and get some place... but life is everything that is happening now, not what I want to be or do later. And I'm learning, I'm always learning, and I can keep learning and at the same time make more time for the connections that matter most to me. I feel like it took me too long to figure this out, but I'm writing it down so I won't forget again. ;)
I had been planning a trip to see my best friends in Cincinnati since last fall, and things kept coming up, I think I planned and rescheduled the trip at least 4 or 5 times and a year went by! I try to go every year it doesn't always happen, I get so busy and distracted but one way or another I always do seem to find my way back home. I was born in California, lived in Florida for years, live in Indy now - but Cincinnati is my home town. Not because I'm originally from there or spent the most time there but I lived there from the time I was 14 to 22. The years you really start getting out on your own and figuring out life, who you are as an individual along with what and who you love most. I loved exploring the town, running around with my friends to clubs, it was the late 80's early 90's and we were punks. Hanging out in dive bars, trying not to get destroyed in mosh pits although we'd go back for more over and over. Seeing bands like Agnostic Front, 7 Seconds, The Ramones, Blondie... so many others... no cell phones, no internet, just taking busses and piling into cars with too many other kids to get to where all our friends would be hanging out. I fell in love for the first time in Cincinnati and made some of the best friends of my life. So now I live a couple hours away but try to make it back whenever I can. Me and one of my best friends have been hanging out since I was 14 years old (the girl in the picture with me) we shared an apartment over Bogarts on Vine St. in Cincy and had the most phenomenal parties. Now we chill out in her backyard while her husband grills steaks and my friend refills my drink too damn many times lol. This year was really special though, I got to see my first boyfriend for the first time in 27 years. I was so nervous, in fact I had cancelled the trip repeatedly because of car troubles and random family issues but I may have just been scared. How do you see someone for the first time in 27 years that saw you last when you were 22... someone that you loved the way you can only love your first love... someone you still dream about even though you both moved on years ago... I'll tell you how, with your best friend by your side, loud music and a smoking margarita to take the edge off your giddy nerves, at least that's what worked for me. The best part though was that when we all got together the years didn't really matter, the energy was the same, we laughed and talked just like we used to and being together again was the most natural feeling in the world. I did cry on the drive home because I don't know when I'll make it back, and I don't want to go another year without seeing some of my closest friends or another 27 years without seeing my first love, hell no (I won't let that happen again) but over all it was just a damn good time. Connections are so important, and it's so easy to let life get crazy, to let days go by... that suddenly turn into years without seeing or talking to people that matter to us. I know I'm guilty of it. I've spent years distracted with daily survival and trying to make something of myself... I never meant to put off connecting more with people I love, I just get so damn distracted trying to make it and get some place... but life is everything that is happening now, not what I want to be or do later. And I'm learning, I'm always learning, and I can keep learning and at the same time make more time for the connections that matter most to me. I feel like it took me too long to figure this out, but I'm writing it down so I won't forget again. ;)I had been planning a trip to see my best friends in Cincinnati since last fall, and things kept coming up, I think I planned and rescheduled the trip at least 4 or 5 times and a year went by! I try to go every year it doesn't always happen, I get so busy and distracted but one way or another I always do seem to find my way back home. I was born in California, lived in Florida for years, live in Indy now - but Cincinnati is my home town. Not because I'm originally from there or spent the most time there but I lived there from the time I was 14 to 22. The years you really start getting out on your own and figuring out life, who you are as an individual along with what and who you love most. I loved exploring the town, running around with my friends to clubs, it was the late 80's early 90's and we were punks. Hanging out in dive bars, trying not to get destroyed in mosh pits although we'd go back for more over and over. Seeing bands like Agnostic Front, 7 Seconds, The Ramones, Blondie... so many others... no cell phones, no internet, just taking busses and piling into cars with too many other kids to get to where all our friends would be hanging out. I fell in love for the first time in Cincinnati and made some of the best friends of my life. So now I live a couple hours away but try to make it back whenever I can. Me and one of my best friends have been hanging out since I was 14 years old (the girl in the picture with me) we shared an apartment over Bogarts on Vine St. in Cincy and had the most phenomenal parties. Now we chill out in her backyard while her husband grills steaks and my friend refills my drink too damn many times lol. This year was really special though, I got to see my first boyfriend for the first time in 27 years. I was so nervous, in fact I had cancelled the trip repeatedly because of car troubles and random family issues but I may have just been scared. How do you see someone for the first time in 27 years that saw you last when you were 22... someone that you loved the way you can only love your first love... someone you still dream about even though you both moved on years ago... I'll tell you how, with your best friend by your side, loud music and a smoking margarita to take the edge off your giddy nerves, at least that's what worked for me. The best part though was that when we all got together the years didn't really matter, the energy was the same, we laughed and talked just like we used to and being together again was the most natural feeling in the world. I did cry on the drive home because I don't know when I'll make it back, and I don't want to go another year without seeing some of my closest friends or another 27 years without seeing my first love, hell no (I won't let that happen again) but over all it was just a damn good time. Connections are so important, and it's so easy to let life get crazy, to let days go by... that suddenly turn into years without seeing or talking to people that matter to us. I know I'm guilty of it. I've spent years distracted with daily survival and trying to make something of myself... I never meant to put off connecting more with people I love, I just get so damn distracted trying to make it and get some place... but life is everything that is happening now, not what I want to be or do later. It’s now. There’s a quote I love “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”
— Pablo Picasso
i get that does not mean we can and should do everything right this second, but life is now and if you really want something you do it now because now is the only time that actually exists.