Big Jet Plane

Although the song has nothing to do with this post, I wanted to share it.

So I am realizing something. It has been about 7 years since I was diagnosed with clinical depression, 5 years since I've been off anti-depressants and it has been six months since I've stopped going to therapy. While six months is nothing compared to 7 years or 5 years, for those who have been diagnosed with depression, six months without therapy is a big deal.
I'm not coping, I'm better.
I'm not "cured," but I'm stronger.
I'm not sad, I'm happy.
I have had a hard journey, but I am grateful for every step of it; not because it was fun or remotely easy, but because I won. I won the battles and came out on top.
I'm making this realization a specific blog post because it is important to me that I document this.
I feel like it is important to note the day I realized I'm winning.

"I Will Remember You"

This song for this post seems the most relevant.

For the past maybe 10 anniversaries of the tragic attacks on the twin towers in New York, I have been have been thinking/pondering on something
       --is it really necessary to commemorate.           the event every year?
       --are those who still take specific notice           people who directly lost someone that           day?
I ponder these things because if it were me and it was a day I lost a loved one, I would not want a national reminder that I lost someone I loved.

Now, don't get me wrong, it was an awful day and I remember exactly where I was when that second plane hit and I will NEVER forget that moment--how I felt, what I thought, etc. It will always be with me. But I do not find it necessary to yearly express my sorrow because while it was a terrible day for our country, it was an exponentially worse day for hundreds of thousands of other people. I find it much more inconsiderate to "always remember, never forget" than it is to let the families who lost people to grieve in peace.

Again, do not get me wrong--terrible day it was on 9/11/01. But in reality the large majority of the country lost nothing except maybe a temporary loss of peace of mind.
Sure, always remember the tragedy, but maybe it's time to stop commemorating.

*To the families of military men and women who lost people from the resulting war--I'm sorry for your loss and I'm grateful for their protection.

"Drive My Car"

No, you can't drive my car, but you can listen to this song!

So, um. I bought a car. What??? Still hasn't quite sunk in. I love it, I'm so excited, but it doesn't quite feel real yet.

This is my little car. MY first car. Wow. I named him Zazu (yes, from Lion King).

So that is that...I also am going on 9 months with Michael, it's been really good. There are some rough times, but nothing more than normal but the majority of the time, we're doing really well. Happy and in love and all that. We've discussed him coming to Utah for part of the Christmas break. He has never really seen snow, so that should be interesting.

I have moved into a much better, much nicer apartment and it is fantastic. I'm very excited about it.

I finished summer school a few weeks ago which was awesome. School starts in a month. WHAT? I hate short summers. But I'm very excited for my new major and my new classes. It will be much more align with what I want to do in life.

In THREE (3) DAYS, the Backstreet Boys will be releasing their brand new CD, In A World Like This and you better believe I'll be getting it. In four days, I will be going to the beach for a week with Michael and some friends. So excited! I can't wait for some relaxing beach fun. Much needed.

Other than that, my world has stayed the same.