Category Archives: Memories

How I Got To Texas: My Story

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It’s pretty amazing the people that we meet in life and how we get to the place we’re at. I’m pretty intrigued with hearing people’s stories and thought about how we all got to where we’re at. I’ve decided to start a series called “How I Got To Texas” which will introduce you to some of my fellow blogging friends and learn a bit about their background and how they got to the great state of Texas.

Back in sixth grade, I tried to convince one of my friends that we were going to move to Texas together when we “grew up” and write country songs. She didn’t go for it and the dream quickly dissipated. Never would I have thought how it would all pan out (minus writing the country songs – at least not yet.)

My Story

My story actually starts back in 2006. One of my good friends (Heather) graduated college a semester early and moved to Texas in January 2006. That May, as a graduation gift to myself I had planned a trip visiting friends throughout the country and Texas was on the itinerary. A week after I saw Heather at our college graduation, we met up again in Texas. I hated it. I said I would never move here. It was busy, over populated and it was busy.

Mama always said, “Never say never!”

Fast Forward  – October 2007

I had wanted to move out of Vermont for, well, a really long time. I grew up there, went to college there and then was working there for a year and a half after graduation. I just wanted to try something different. Where to go? Heather happened to be getting married (in Texas) in October of 2007 and I took another opportunity to make a multi-stop trip. On the way to her wedding, I took a detour to Colorado/Wyoming to visit another friend from college. I found myself driving all over Colorado and Wyoming for three to four days and realized, as much as I loved the landscape, I didn’t know a soul.

Then I arrive in Texas, ready to have the time of my life at this wedding, because, well, I wasn’t going to see these people again. Let’s make the most of it. (It’s probably a good idea to just start laughing about this now.) Everyone knew I was thinking about moving and everyone had a plan – to get Diana to Texas. First, it started with Heather’s dad and sister. Then it progressed to a few other friends. To make a long story short, by the end of the weekend, I had pretty much made my decision… I was headed to Texas.

In March of 2008, I packed up my belongings, filled my car, said my “see-ya-laters” and left Vermont on a very cold morning. I think it was about -10 Fahrenheit. Pit stops and must see destinations were made along the way (NYC, Philadelphia, Louisville and Graceland). Then on St. Patrick’s Day, after driving hours through tornado weather in East Texas, I had arrived.

Fast Forward – 2013

Traveling and exploring new places have apparently always been something that I’ve enjoyed, although not necessarily something that I knew I was keeping up with as a hobby. I started my blog as a way to show my family everything I doing and then it’s evolved into something a little bigger and I’m glad I get to share my experiences with all of you.

Texas, especially in the last year, has really grown a special place in my heart. Although, Vermont will always be my number one, Texas is a close second. There’s just something about it, the rural country, the cowboy boots, the music, the Western lifestyle, the fact that there’s something going on all the time or that this place is so big and there’s every type of landscape. Luckenbach, Gruene, dancehalls, Texas Rangers baseball and those old windmills in the fields just do it for me.

I’m now familiar with BBQ, Mexican menu’s, and making sweet tea. (Although, I typically stick to enchiladas on the menu’s and I’ve been reminded that I am a Yankee and I need a Texan to tell me what good BBQ is.) I enjoy eating stuffed jalapeños and can make some pretty good chicken enchiladas. I’ve got two stepping down and could dance all night if I had a good partner. I own cowboy boots and I’m not scared to throw around a good “y’all” or “right quick” every now and again. I like to think it’s a great blend of the North and the South.

I’m not entirely sure where life is going to bring me but I’m glad that life brought me to Texas.

Blog Everyday In May: Vivid Memories

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Today, I’m joining up with Story of My Life.

Today’s question: Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

I have a few vivid memories from when I was a child – going back to I guess before I was three.

I remember sitting on my great Memere’s lap (she was bouncing me on her lap) sitting outside my grandparents barn.

I remember sitting in my grandparents sugarhouse.

I remember walking in my grandparents barn with the cows.

 

This is probably the most vivid, because it was probably the most traumatic (for a little one). My grandparents use to own a farm and would partake in maple sugaring in the spring (it’s Vermont, I think most farmers did/do). I remember being in the woods collecting sap from the buckets (they used the tin buckets back then on the trees). They (my uncle, mom and I think my pepere) were collecting the sap. They would take the sap from the buckets and dump it into a tank on this wagon (I’m presuming being pulled by a tractor). Well, the tractor took off and I either fell off the wagon or was already off the wagon. I remember seeing them start moving away and I just started screaming and my uncle came and picked me up and brought me back.

Aww, how sweet the uncle is you might be thinking… I also remember him making me kiss the fish when he’d take me fishing.

What’s some of your earliest memories?

Have a great weekend!

Blog Everyday In May: Life’s Lessons

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Today, I’m joining up with Story of My Life. Today’s question:

Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you.

  • Everyone comes into your life for a reason, season or a lifetime. Don’t burn your bridges. You’d be amazed at how relationships come back later on down the road.
  • If you are really passionate about something or need to learn more, take it upon yourself to get there and don’t let anyone stop you.
  • Learn how to do things by yourself. Don’t be the person sitting at home wishing you did it.
  • At the end of the day, the only person you can rely on is yourself.
  • How to deal with hurtful people. The ones that take advantage of people’s kindness, who are unreasonable. Those who expect to be forgiven but cannot forgive. We’re all human, not super human. We make mistakes.
  • The understanding that some people will never change (above) and just enjoy being miserable.
  • Death. I have an extremely hard time with this one.
  • Work ethic. My family taught me this which I am forever grateful (even though at times, I won’t let myself sit down for more than five minutes).
  • The need to take a drive. Sometimes, we all just need to get in our car and take a tour down a road we haven’t been to in a while.
  • Never say never. I’ve said it twice (that I recall off the top of my head) and have ended up in the place I am today.
  • Life experience is completely different than what you can learn out of a book or classroom. Live it.
  • Not every battle has to be fought.
  • How to let go. (I haven’t learned this one yet…)
  • Enjoy the little things – they’re always the best!
  • Change is good.
  • Go with your gut.
  • No matter how far from home you go, you’re heart will always be there.

Does anyone have any others to add? I’d love to hear them!