#2 Hayley

Cotton Balls and Cherry Cloves, Oh My God the Things you know about me!

Hayley, Hayley, Hayley, I guess the first thing I should say in your defense is "Me did it!!!" and yes, yes you did, you've gone and found yourself a knight in ah shining kilt!

I hate that I got chocked up during your toast so, I thought this was the PuRRRfect way to tell you and your friends how much you mean to me and to say that I am so very happy for you!

We’ve known each other through thick and thin and through it all, you have inspired me, pushed me, guided me and have taught me some of the greatest lessons in life. In particular, you taught me the seasons of friendship. For knowing the seasons has helped shape my relationships today. For everyone I meet is special in someway or another and I love knowing true friends, whether we are near or far, that when we see each other it’s as if no time has passed and we pick up right where we left off.

Who knew the day that we would meet, would be over me impersonating a poor soul named Abigail as you interpreted for a student, would actually bring us together. I’m so glad it did though, because over the next 3 years, you became my Mentor. You taught me skills such as Sign Language into which, I can still understand and have a conversation with someone who may otherwise might pass me by and being able to communicate with the deaf, I has helped me view the world in other perspectives. You also taught me the tricks of the trade w video production, helping me my senior year, getting our film into The Brooklyn Bridge Film Festival! Without your help there is no way it would have been an award winning film. It was you who continually pushed me and sure enough after 3 months working endlessly on the 13 min short film (Sniff) we sent in our little film that could waiting to see if anything would happen and what did you know... out of 1000 entrees we were picked to be in the top 10, to which we took the grand prize in our category!!! I never felt prouder! That 36 hour trip to NYC where we had a special dinner and got to see our film on “The Big Screen” was and still is one of the Grandest adventures I’ve been on. From Pizza by a slice to Central Park exploring and from Andy Cohen critiquing our film to our cheesecake adventure to Junior’s and sneaking into a hotel to eat our cake over the city lights! You were not only my Mentor but my friend. We’ve had many crazy adventures and late night talks. I’ve always felt I was able to be myself around you. You never judged just encouraged, you made my high school years a little sweeter just because I knew I had you in my corner, rooting me on!

I seriously mean it when I say, you are like family. I know over the years we haven’t always kept up but I still had you in my corner and I was and will always be in yours. So when I saw the first FB picture of you and Scott together I knew he was the one without you even saying anything. (I think I actually called you to get the gossip) All I can say is, I'm so glad you waited to find your guy. You knew that day would come, in fact, you knew after your first date w him that he was the one and you’re right, he fits you so well.! I’m so So SO very happy that you found each other and even though you had to wait as long as you did that you found your frog! Plus, after seeing how you two interact with one another as well as his kids, there is no doubt in my mind that you both have a grand adventure ahead of you.

I am so thankful that I've had the privilege of knowing you for the past 14 years and through it all I can honestly say to Scott, that he has found himself a diamond in the rough! For there are never any dull moments, that every day is a new adventure of taking on the world together! I wish you both, all the greatest treasures and much love! For when you wish upon a star and trust God to show you the way, your dreams really can come true!

Gyi AnGah Gonna Come! I said, I said!

Two Souls (Soles) One Pair!
-Loren

P.S. Thanks again for helping me find myself and being okay with who I am.

Today:
Song: The Eagles - Hotel California
Quote of the Day: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and do good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25
Fav Food Consumed Today: Grapefruit
Craving: Sushi
Drinking: H20
Random Fact: The first speeding ticket I received, was when I picked up Hayley to take her to a Doc's apt because she had broken her leg indoor rollerskating... Fail... hahaha! Never a Dull Moment!

#1 My Parents

My parents are pretty amazing people...
They have both taught me so much, specially on ways I look at the world and the people around me. So, as I sit down to write, it only makes sense to open this project w them. (I will later go into depth about them individually) These two people have both shaped me and my moral code which majority is to be good to people, to treat them and the things in my life the way I would like to be treated as well as looked at.

My dad told me “99% of the world will never do anything important, it is your job to try and be happy and know the way you talk and interact w people was the ability to change them. So, be good to them.” As I have had a lot of time to think about this statement, I have noticed that this is true. You never know in meeting someone whether it is a min interaction in which you will probably never meet again, to someone that you see regularly. Everyone has the ability to change the way we look at the world. So why not make it better, or challenging or question what we are doing and who we are doing it with.

My mom has told me “You will be lucky if you are able to go through life and have 1 to 3 really good friends that you will know through you life.” As sad as that sounds, I have found that you really are lucky if you can have even that. As people, we change so much, we go through different seasons of life and as we go through them we are lucky if we can bring others with us. Every relationship is work... It’s not just the romantic ones, to really be a friend and be there, it takes effort on both parties; calling, writing, thinking about them and reaching out to show that you care and are interested.

After my back surgery, I got a wide awakening. I was moving at the speed of light going out meeting people, feeling important just because I could hype a crowd, that I was the “Fun one” but the truth is... I’m just like everyone else trying to make it in the world and to find some sort of happiness. Just because people knew my name and saw me as a fun loving, wild individual doesn’t mean that I don’t have layers and that underneath it all I am hurt and broken like the rest of us, just wanting to fit in and enjoy what is around me. I found out who my real friends were, the ones who came around, who continued to challenge me and to push me so that even though I was falling apart, almost going blind, relearning how to walk and cursing the sky at times that I could find a way to push back and it is through those people that I have found my way back to the ground I am walking on.

So, here’s what I have to tell you about people. Enjoy the FU*K out of them while they’re around, do what makes you happy, tell them how you feel because you don’t know if this is the first or last time you will get to have an experience with them. People are both good and bad, try to stick with the good ones and letting go of the sour and bitter ones. In life, if you have a chance to fly, take it and if the people around us are suppose to go along for the ride they will. Enjoy your “seasons” and know that out there in the world, someone is thinking of you from time to time, make that thought one worth remembering.

Momboroni and Papa Bear, thank you for wanting me to reach the stars even if it is in my own weird unconventional kind of way. I am trying the best that I know how and with out you and your support, I would have sank like the Titanic on that cold April night. Words will never be able to formulate how and what I feel for you both but I will keep trying.

With All My Love and Best Wishes,
Loren


Today:
Song: Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
Quote of the Day: "We touch other people's lives just by existing." - JK Rowling
Fav Food Consumed Today: Pineapple
Craving: Steak and Mash Potatoes
Drinking: White Cherry Gatorade
Random Fact: The first CD my dad bought and listened w my brother and me was Chumbawamba. I was in either 3rd or 4th grade and we were visiting my grandparents in NC. We must have danced to Tubthumping at least 20 times in a row! So here's to "Kissing" the night away because "Pissing" just isn't as appropriate!

Polaroid Project

The Signature Series

A few people have told me I fall in love too much but the fact is, I fall in love everyday. The people who walk into my life don't always change it but in some way they do.

Three years ago I started taking polaroids of my friends and asked them to sign them not knowing what I would do with them but I love looking at signatures, I find them to be another part of us like a fingerprint and capturing a moment with their own personal stamp is an exciting and sometimes painful way of looking back. A part of me is still putting my ideas together but what I've come up with is that I should write a story to go along with all the photos to not only give a window into my world of the people who I not only have met but have shown me another way of looking at the world because at the end of the day life isn't about money, cars, and clothes but about the memories we make and the people who are with us through our journey.

By reading the entries I hope that I may inspire and push you to look at the world in a different way, with kinder eyes. So, as I like to say, Read, Love, Follow!
-Loren


Today:
Song: James Bay - Let It Go
Quote of the Day: “Art Changes People and People Change the World”
Fav Food Consumed Today: Lucky Charms
Craving: Thinly Sliced Cucumber
Drinking: H20
Random Fact: I bought my first polaroid camera when I was in 6th grade w my Christmas money, it was green and yes, I still have it!