What's around the corner?

Just the other day, one of my best friends called me with news that literally had me smiling for hours.  After meeting an amazing man back in February, they started dating. On a random Tuesday, he took her out for ice cream and as they walked back to her apartment he asked her to spend the rest of his life with him. She said yes. and the ring is gorgeous!   

Its funny to think that if you had asked me a year ago from now if I would believe my friend would be engaged today, I would have never believed you.  

Last year around this time, we were preparing for another friend's wedding.  Both single, and both working a full time job.  We had even laughed at the thought of us sharing a hotel room at another wedding since we were the two single bridesmaids again.  It was hard to even see the word boyfriend, let alone husband in our close future.  We had both felt a little down about our current situations but tried to comfort each other with the idea that something is out there for us, we just couldn't see it yet.  

When she called on Tuesday with the news, after my immediate gasp and screams of joy, I began to start thinking, that you really never  know who you will meet today, tomorrow, or even a month from now.

I remember a blog post of mine from back around Valentine's Day.  A fellow blogger posted:

"Happy Valentine's Day, my sweets! What are you doing tonight? On this day four years ago, I was feeling sad and lonely....and had no idea that I was only two weeks from meeting Alex. It goes to show that you never know what's right around the corner!"

The phrase although sappy and somewhat far-fetched is actually quite true.  Even last Christmas, my dear friend could not see that just around the corner was her future husband.  Within months of dating and falling madly in love she realized it was her soulmate.  Having someone close to me have this happen to them helped to bring some light to my current situation.  My friend Emily was living proof that this is true.  

As I approach my 27th birthday a small part of me is scared to get closer to 30. Aging only gets me thinking of how far from my childhood goals/dreams I am getting as another birthday approaches.  However,a lot could happen in the next year. I could finally shed the weight that I have always wanted to lose.  I might find a new job, settle in a new area, or even yet, meet someone who will change my life.  Instead of dwelling on what hasn't happened up to this point in my life, I need to rejoice in the face that its a new year and a new day for something to happen.

I am looking forward to meeting my friend's fiance on Saturday for lunch and finally getting to smother her with hugs and kisses.  I am so happy for her and can't believe this day has finally happened for her too!

Congrats Emily and Joe!

Surprise

Got the best surprise at work today from two very important friends in my life. I almost cried!

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Serendipity: Chance Meetings

I really do feel like everything happens for a reason.  Last week I was back at my college for a presentation.  Although I graduated 5 years ago, the feeling I got on this campus the first day I stepped out of my mothers car, never seems to go away.  Its a feeling I receive each and every time I return to campus.

During this trip I was trying to cram multiple visits to old co-workers, professors and friends within my short time frame.  As I was crossing over through the lounge on my way to my presentation (yes unfortunately I was running a few minutes behind) I did a double take as an old classmate walked in the door.  He was someone who had been in love with a roommate of mine for years and tended to end up at the same parties me many times in the past.  It had been years since I had seen him but this time something was different.  I am not sure if it was the nerves for my upcoming presentation, or the fact I was caught off guard seeing him, but something came over me that left me on a natural high the rest of the weekend.  

He had always been such a bubbly personality and quite the catch for any single lady, but was never in a relationship.  I learned quickly in the two minute conversation we had, that he recently started working back at the college as a coach.  I immediately emailed my roommates to let them know of my chance encounter.  I had always hoped he would marry one of my girlfriends, and as they each slowly get married, I am slowly turning the page on that dream, however, something inside of me hopes that I run into him again in the near future. 

Opportunities

Just remember that every opportunity in life has a shelf life and won't be around for ever.  Either snag up opportunities that pass your way, or let them go and forget about them.  Some opportunities are once in a lifetime.

The Last Dance

I never realized how fast 8 weeks could go by until I started taking a dance class once a week.  In the beginning  I thought it would give me something to do outside of my normal routine each week,  but what I didn't know is how much I would fall in love with the class.   This week I danced my final waltz in the studio (well for the time being).  As I set my frame and tilted my head, the music transported me to a completely different location. I could almost picture myself in a competition gliding across the floor to the music.  I forgot how much I loved to dance.  Perfecting each of my steps to mimic what the instructor had showed us came so naturally to me.  

Sadly this last week we were short one female, leaving the men to take turns standing out during each routine.  During one of the songs I happened to look over noticing the 85 year old man standing alone along the wall.  Although many others had taken their turn waiting patiently for a female partner, a part of me ached to see him waiting alone. Although I was dancing the fox trot with another partner at the time, I began remembering the previous class when I had the opportunity to have my final dance with the elderly man.   As the instructor was teaching us techniques he held onto my hand tightly.  Most partners stand with their arms crossed or at their sides, and had it been anyone else I probably would not been happy with the continuation of physical touch, however, with the old man, it was different.  It was almost sweet the way he wanted to stay close to me as we waited to take our place on the dance floor.  I will never forget this 8 week ballroom dance class, however, more importantly, I will never forget the old man and how much he made me smile just by sharing a dance with me a few times in the studio.


I hope in a few months I can save up enough money to take a few more of the classes.  I would love to continue practicing dance, and who knows maybe one day I will actually make it to a competition, even if it is just to watch the professionals.  

Short but Sweet

Yesterday at work my boss told me about a blog she loves, A Cup of Jo.  After reading just three posts I immediately added her to my blogroll.  But it wasn't the fabulous giveaways that made me fall in love.  It was her post about unexpected love....a true case of Serendipity that really stuck with me:


"Happy Valentine's Day, my sweets! What are you doing tonight? On this day four years ago, I was feeling sad and lonely....and had no idea that I was only two weeks from meeting Alex. It goes to show that you never know what's right around the corner!"


Her post really hit home to me.  So many times my girlfriends and I think that we will never find our match, however, we never know when we are days or moments away from running into our soul mates.  Who knows, I could  meet him on the way to work today, I could share a seat with him on a bus next week, or I could have had dinner with him within the past month.  Life really is full of serendipities, we just have to wait to see how they all play out.  Thanks Joanna for giving all of us hopeless romantics with no one to love, hope.  


Who will you meet this week?

A series of small serendipities

Some of you may have noticed that although my blog address is Tall Cup of Love, the blog title is Serendipity.  And yes, like most women, the first thing they think about is the movie with John Cusack or the deliciously sweet restaurant in NYC (soon coming to D.C. ).  Of course, I am a fan, and I am embarrassed to say that I have watched the movie approximately 10 times over the years, however, I choose this blog title because of the meaning of the word Serendipity.  If you search it online you will find it is one of the hardest words to define.  Although it may be hard to settle on one exact way to define it, the overall meaning is: making fortunate discoveries by chance in a happy or beneficial way.  


We can certainly choose to live our lives to the fullest and hold onto every opportunity that passes our way, however, some of the best things in life are the discoveries, chance encounters, and series of events that happen to us without having them planned.  Most of the time these occurrences can be good things and those are the moments in life that we live for.  The overall theme of my blog is Serendipity.  Life is about chance encounters and random events.  Between the moments we plan for and the moments that come our way by chance, I will be blogging along the way.  

Fresh Starts

Greetings readers! (Or possibly at this moment lack there of)...however, by rolling out this new blog I hope to possibly generate some new readers who will turn into friends and followers.  I had tried blogging in the past but decided to start fresh. 

As I clenched my teeth on my blue pen today anxiously deciding my new blog address I stumbled upon this quote from the television show, The Wonder Years:

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love,

the things you are, 

the things you never want to lose.  

The quote reminded me that in the end your life is just a book of memories.  However, we all have the chance to write our life story and the memories, characters, and happily ever after are determined by how we live our life each day.  

I mean truthfully, on a normal day would you walk into your local coffeeshop and ask the the barista "Just give me a cup of anything".  Hopefully not.  Like most people we make decisions based on the emotions and feelings we want to get out of it.  You add a shot of espresso to help you get through the day, a generous helping of caramel to satisfy your sweet tooth, a dash of cinnamon to bring out the flavors of the beverage, all topped off with a dollop of whip cream to add a fun element to the top.  Tall Cup of Love, came from the theory that what I order for my life should be like ordering your morning coffee, filling it with all of the extra additions that make it more than just a cup of the same old boring cup of Joe.

We have all heard the expression, don't let life pass you by, and I couldn't agree with it more. Within the past 2 months I have done a lot of soul searching and "growing up".  I have realized I only get one shot at this life and I don't want to screw it up.  From now on, instead of just settling for what life throws at me, I am going to challenge myself to start ordering everything Tall Cup of Love style.  Filling up my cup with people, memories and experiences that I love.  

And sure, life is not perfect, I get that.  I am sure along the next 70 or 80 years I am bound to hit a few bumps in the road, but those curve balls give us a few funny stories to pass along to our kids right?