Remembering

[syrenatricksy]

I just looked at the calendar. It's seven years to the day since I took my Eliza home. She's the first dog I've had who has been mine, not my family's. And though she has been a shared-custody dog for about a year and a half now, she is mine (and has been since that day seven years ago -- and I am hers). She's laying in a sunbeam right now,

Comments

[ramblingregina]

Yay for you and Eliza! I hope you have seven more very happy years together. She's such a cutie :).

Seven years--wow! Seven is supposed to be a really important number in Christian numerology, and I like that it's the year 2007. Ok, for me--I got a high school diploma (exactly 7 years ago, acutally!), BA and MA, I moved out of RI and to NYC and lived all by myself, I've discovered a life path, I've made lots of great friends and strengthened friendships with people I've known my whole life, I went to Disney World for the first time (and like you, saw it all gussied up for Christmas!), I've gotten drunk for the first time...Wow, what a good exercise! I could keep going on, but I won't.

Here's to seven more years of growth and happiness!

[syrenatricksy]

My first response is O MY, HOW YOUNG YOU ARE (my 20-year reunion will take place later this year, so ... well, you can do the math!)!!

But yeah, there is a weird magic to the number seven, isn't there -- it's got a certain pride of place in Christianity, but it's also strong in the secular and pagan worlds, too, isn't it? Seven is good. Also, perhaps of a different kind/intensity, drunk is good, too! Especially at your age (less so at mine ... ah, the body, she does change!).

And thanks for the Eliza-wishes. She's even kinder than she is cute, so I think she's pretty special!

[ramblingregina]

I am 25, which doesn't seem overly young, except when you do the where-were-you-seven-years-ago thing, and my answer is high school!!! The seven years between 18 and 25 are ENORMOUS! Be that as it may, even doing the math, you are hardly old! Plus, academics are kinda ageless. We all seem the same age to me.

Yes, I think seven is good no matter what the worldview. So I hope that means a really great year for all of us!

[lady_frolick]

I think this comment is exactly what the doctor ordered. (Yours is really awesome, by the way.)

Let's see, in the past seven years I've given up a teaching fellowship, got my MPhil, started a bad relationship, herniated my disc, had a nervous breakdown, ended bad relationship, traveleled around Mexico by myself twice, beat depression, got fired, went to Paris for the first time, ended 7-year roommate relationship, lived by myself for the first time successfully, started tutoring business, lost my dad to cancer, fell in love, lost my beloved Kitty, learned how to write a dissertation, moved to second successful living-alone arrangement, gained a sweet Oofy, and fell out of love.

Man, there were many highs and lows in that 7 years! I'm hoping for a more peaceful coming seven. But lots of growth.

[syrenatricksy]

Ah, Lady -- your travel tales make me jealous! When I was running through my memories to come up with my list, it dawned on me that I haven't left the country in 8 years (it was England and Ireland, and it was fantastic). I have never been to Paris, and I have only seen one little border town in Mexico, so maybe I will use you as a model, eh?

And growth is good. Painful, usually, but good -- if I didn't become unengaged, for example, I'd have never moved by the beach, seen dolphins in the ocean, or started seeing a really nice fella. So pain begets opportunities for happiness ... I hope!

[lady_frolick]

I hope so too! My mom says the Buddhists say that life is suffering but it's worth it. Some of the above suffering I hope never to revisit. But I hope I've gained something from it, like you so clearly have.

I had a must-get-out-of-country-once-a-year policy, which I've upheld for the past 4 years. It feels good to get an entirely new perspective (even if three of the four were to Mexico). I heartily recommend. But this year I'll be breaking my run due to lack of funds and diss defense. Two of my chapters focus on foreign countries, so that's a little like mental traveling. But nowhere as good as the real thing!

And I particularly recommend Mexico for you: the Pacific side, including Baja of course, are so close and it's cheap for everyone. For my next trip I really want to go to Copper Canyon, which you can take a train through and is 4 times as big as the Grand Canyon!

[elizawharton]

Hmmm...7 years...wow...

In the last seven years I: got married and divorced, moved back to the U.S. from Italy, got fired from 3 jobs, almost got a master's in anthro (regret not finishing that), got my babies, moved to NYC to live completely alone for the first time, got my MA, lost my grandfather, met all y'all!, and got a Fulbright. Not too bad for seven years!

[roxana]

Last seven years, huh?

Well, I got a Ph.D., met and married darinbradley, became an aunt, lost a really good friend to cancer, got the best pets I could dream of, lost a relationship with my father, kicked depression's nasty ass, learned a lot about friendship, and got a fantastic job. Basically, I grew up.

I hope the next seven years are just as good and just as bad.

[salient73]

Oh, and yay for Eliza! Our babies are what make life worth living!