 So as I have been hinting the past 4 months, my landlord is selling my townhome. So after much thought, I am leaving Pennsylvania. I never wanted to live here. And I have never truly felt as if I belonged here. Originally both Tavo and I put in for jobs in New York, California, Washington, and Illinois. Washington got back to us first, and we started looking for houses. Weeks pass with not many prospects, we decide well maybe we were going to drop everything and move down there on a whim. Stay with my friend on her property if we had to. We, as a family were all just so over Pennsylvania. I started to tell friends about the Washington move and everyone was excited. Then the worst thing possible happened. His job fell through. We were left feeling hopeless. But I am a firm believer in what is meant to happen will, and we were offered more money in Chicago. Chicago was also a better choice because here we have my in laws and my kids can see their grandparents. After a few trips back and fourth, we finally have everything in order. Our moving pod arrives in two days and this all is really happening! I am nervous but excited all at the same time. It means a bigger home and space. Better job, better schools, and the chance for a fresh start that we all desperately need.  I am going to miss my little home. It wasn't so small that we felt crowed. It was warm and snug. It brought us closer together. I was ridiculously proud if the fact the we upcyled everything. All our furniture was second hand. We didn't waste a ton of money on nonsense to make our house a home. I have so much pride for what we put into it and it always made me smile when people told me how at home they felt here. God I am going to miss it! The funny thing is, when I first thought about making this post, I was going to list all of the things I hated about Pennsylvania and that all that I loved was my family and home. But as I started writing and digging deeper into my thought process, I started to look through old photos I had online saved from our life here in PA strung out over the past 12 years. Not everything was bad. In fact, there is quite a lot about Pennsylvania, especially my little city that I did like. Dare I say love? So I am feeling inspired. I would like to share some of that with you. I created a list of things that I either loved about living here. OR that happened that are special along with some more images from our life here in PA over the years. I think that ultimately leaving in this way is far better than leaving on a mad or hateful vibe. So on that note, here is my list in no magic order! Rocky horror picture show
Philly china town Thrift shops Coffee shops Candy store Free sunflowers Harvest of the arts Farmer's on the square Abandoned places Old dinners My secret rock The Trout gallery First Tattoos The local pool Fair grounds fireworks 2 of my children were born here My oldest grew from child to adult My last memories with my dad were here Planting basil with my dad every year, then planting it in his honor with the kids The old labor house Coffee on my back porch The food Catching salamanders in the back yard Fireflies The lung cancer community Centralia Learning my passion for photography Becoming more politically active Seeing Bernie Sanders Speak The fair Now for our next Journey.  Dear Dad,
We are coming up on the last week in this home. The home you last lived in. The home in which you took your last breath. At first the idea of leaving brought me nothing but happiness... but as the days pass I feel a bit conflicted. I have this thought in the back of my head that when we die, our souls get traped at that location. Ridiculously silly, I know. And I could see you laughing at me for thinking such a thing. As silly as it is, I think a part of me is going to wonder if you're still at the house on North Pitt. Waiting for us all to come home. Sigh... After all, I am the person who stopped burning sage because it chases spirits and I wanted you to stay. I wish I could talk to you about the choice to leave as a whole. Packing us all up to go to Chicago is overwhelming. You would have loved to see Poppy-Marie and Justin playing in the snow. It's supposed to be spring, but it doesn't feel like it. Not at all. I am still struggling through therapy. I say struggle because constantly having to explain how I feel is tiring. I get that it's helpful, but some days I just want to crawl under a rock. Till next time. Love you. Miss you. Last years event turned out so amazing. We got to meet some really great people. This year I will not only be walking in the Philly event come this October, but also the Chicago event in Aug!!
Join us as we walk together to raise awareness and funds to defeat lung cancer and raise our voices for lung health. LUNG FORCE Walks are a time to laugh, learn and imagine a world free of lung disease. Our walks promote fitness and help forge lasting connections between participants. Your support saves lives by funding key lung cancer research and providing people who are impacted by lung cancer with invaluable resources, assistance and information. Get involved today by forming a team, registering as an individual or participating virtually. Why Do We Walk?
Join us for the LUNG FORCE Walk - Chicago on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at 10:00 AM . Soldier Field 1410 Museum Campus Dr. Chicago, IL 60605 http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/lung-force/about-lung-force/ I will post more information about the October event as it becomes available. |
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I get a little tired of people who assume that just because you have kids, you are automatically completely uncool, and that all your time is spent wiping babies from head to toe, giving spit baths, criticizing their every move, volunteering for PTA, blogging in your spare time, clipping coupons before crock potting a pot roast, ironing the clothes, bleaching the whites, mopping the floors, harvesting your eggs, sewing for your etsy shop, scrapbooking the little things, taking pictures of everything they do, saving for college, reading Dr. Suess, socializing at the bus stop, sweeping the floor, laughing over coffee with your jogging stroller, wearing your birkenstocks and listening to Baby Einstein.
Just because I DO THESE THINGS OCCASIONALLY. Does not mean for one second that sometimes I don’t just want to be a kick ass girl with streaks in her hair, a ring in her nose, a tattoo on her arm, concert tickets in her purse, vodka in her fridge, a leather mini-skirt in her closet, her best single friends and a standing reservation for Las Vegas once a year with a don’t ask don’t tell policy, and the desire to just once be seen as more than the mother of 5 kids. Sometimes I just want to be seen as a “Maggie”. A “Maggie” with an extremely adorable set of children… (I joke, but sometimes it's hard to over come labels. ) ➳ [Basics] Married + 5 Children Born in New York Living in Chicago Land Italian + Mexican American household Published Photographer + Artist Birth Doula Lung Cancer Activist + Advocate Hospice Volunteer Social Media Enthusiast Openly in Grief Therapy Politically Active Feminist Body Positive Believes in Freedom Of Religion Gun Owner Studied Animal Science Pro-Marijuana Spiritual Journey Sand Cloud Ambassador ➳ [Hobbies] Backpacking + Hiking Urban Exploring Gardening Crystals + Meditation + Yoga Upcycling Writing + Scrapbooking + Blogging Digital Art Foodie + Cooking + Banking Beach Combing Tropical Fish Keeping Video Gamer ➳ [Loves] Sushi Bubble Tea Coffee + Coffee Shops Good Books Nature The Beach Cats Travel + Road trips Mexican Candy Jellyfish Okkervil River + Good indie bands Tattoos ➳ [Hates] Cigarette Smoke Victim Blaming Misogyny Proselytism Racism Poor Shaming Archives
May 2018
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