Reminiscing: 2009 in words

It wasn't quite an annus horribilis, but I'll be the first to admit that at times, it felt that way. 2009 has been a trying year, to say the least, and while there's a lot to be thankful for, I can't say that I'll miss it too much when it disappears in a few short hours. So to kickstart the annual "Reminiscing" series, here are the words to sum up 2009:

George - probably the most profound impact on my life this year came in the form of a now-9-pound fluffball named George. He's taught me a lot about life and the world: that pleasure can be derived from the simplest things, and there aren't too many problems in life that can't be solved by a nap or a nice long walk.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose - Yep, this one made it back on my list again this year, and then some. I know better now. Here's to a smarter, better 2010, without the same ol' drama of yesteryears.

Empire State of Mind - I know this song became every New Yorker's anthem this year, and in 2009, I became a New Yorker, too, sorta. There's still a lot to learn and love about this great town, and I hope to make more time for it in 2010.

Blessings - They come in all shapes and sizes...congrats to everyone who had babies, got married, got engaged, or were just plain blessed this year. Thanks for letting me share in your blessings and happiness.

Home is where the love is - Never felt more true than in 2009, where I basically became bicoastal/nomadic for 9 months out of 12. Not sure if there's any end in sight, but I'm grateful for the friends and family who continue to support and love me, even when I have no idea which time zone I'm in, or which "home" I'll be crashing at that night.

I think my personal theme for 2010 will be "starting fresh" -- in many, many ways. Au revoir, 2009, I don't think I'll miss you too much.

P.S. Stay tuned for Food and Travel reminiscing...

Snapshots in time, moments in memory

I am a trigger-happy person. (And no, I'm not referring to my shopping habits.) Ever since I owned any sort of camera, I have liked taking lots and lots of pictures of people, places, and moments. In college I had a wall filled with Polaroids -- the only rule about the Polaroids was that they had to have people in them; none of this fancy artistic wannabe stuff -- just pictures of mostly-happy, sometimes-intoxicated, shiny people. As I moved from dorm to dorm, the pictures followed me everywhere, growing as my network did in college. When I packed them away for good upon graduation, I noticed that many of those people in the pictures went away and became a figment of my college days as well.

Fast forward a few years and bring on my DSLR. Suddenly, every snapshot was about capturing the best and the most beautiful things that nature, foreign destinations, and restaurants had to offer. People were optional and often missing from entire albums. Vacations became another opportunity to capture that perfect shot, with the perfect light, and the perfect shadows...

But I've come to realize the world I see from behind the lens is nothing like the real one. We take pictures in an effort to remind ourselves of moments in time, and to encapsulate a moment for eternity. But our minds do a far greater job of capturing the essence of these moments -- the way the blood rushed to your cheeks, the coolness of the morning air on your bare skin, the warmth that you could only relive by closing your eyes. And remembering. Every vivid detail. And those are the memories you treasure the most.