Recently, I spent some time at home, on Long Island, with my mom and sister, doing all the things I rarely get to do in Brooklyn, like sneak off to the beach late at night, stroll around Huntington village, go shoe shopping with my mom, argue with my sister about who gets to drive, yell over the car-radio to each other, "Are you hungry? I'm hungry", "OMG, you missed the turn, will you just let me drive".
If you've moved away from your childhood home, you can understand how weird it sometimes feels to get back into the groove of your family dynamic. Spending time at home, usually makes me realize that life doesn't only happen when you're in it. My siblings are growing so fast I can barely keep up! My parents weekends are significantly busier than mine. My cousins are getting married. But, once I get settled, it's always the best feeling to let my hair down, go for a run around the neighborhood, wake up to some yoga and a huge cup of iced coffee - seriously, the iced coffee proportions here are enormous and approximately half the price - and spend some QT with my family or with myself. I spent so much time alone, that I for the first time this year, wrote in my journal, - fine, I've been watching too much Bridget Jones - took a trip to my local bookstore with a FiveStarbucks chai in hand, and the best part of all. . .
My phone
has been
on
silent.
Oh, what a feeling.
In fact, there are a lot of things about being home, that I'm only learning I really love and perhaps took for granted, like;
how bad-ass my mom is, seriously how did she do it working like a boss and raising us girls to be the same? Talk about a superwoman, I definitely know where I get my Tied to the Moon, kick the day's ass and take names later, attitude from.
My sister, who, although younger than me is so much cooler, way fiercer, and even though she will never admit, is surprisingly sarcastic, with an impeccable quick-wit (just like her older sister, right Steph?).
I'm also realizing, how essential little rituals at home mean to me. Mornings at the beach, coffee talk with best friends from high school, belting out some Alanis Morissette… too much?
Now, back to the grind. Back to my Brooklyn Fam.
Monday's, don'tcha know.
Shot by Cheralee Lyle
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