2006; oh what a year!

Oh the places I go! [a year of traveling.]

The year began with a rendez-vous in France. Champagne and (fake) fireworks ensued. Robberies at la tour Eiffel and that general sense of American paranoia. It was Paris, Toulouse, a little bit of Spain, and a grand (sad) finale in Normandy.

February was capturing a dream. A flight to London and a flight to Cape Town. A feeling of "lost-ness" proceeds as the world becomes bigger (or, well, smaller).

Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana. Trying to figure out just what "Africa" is.

August was a painful return home.

December brought an unexpected but delightfully enjoyable return to Mexico and the realization of what a few years can do to a place.

Oh the things I do! [the smart ones and the stupid ones.]

Diligent planning and preparation made the transition to South Africa smooth and less frightening than I had originally imagined. Following ones dreams isn't always as easy as one would think. Going to SA was one of the most brilliant things I've done. The idea in itself maintains a surreal position in my head.

Giving up riding for the first time in my life was difficult but rewarding. Sailing, rock climbing, hiking, camping, climbing mountains... things I would have never done in my horse-consumed life.

I became stupid when it came to school. I was unhappy with myself for skipping classes, for lacking that general sense of enthusiasm I always had for learning. I drank too much, I smoked too much, I ate too much. I fucked with relationships. I walked home by myself at 3am one too many times.

Back home, the 8:30am class might not have been the brightest idea but it was a smart one, hot poetry professor ended up teaching it. 498 was stressful but educational. And it ended just as quickly as it began.

Oh the people I meet! [and the adventures we have.]

South Africa brought new friends and lost friendships. Distance seems to weed them out. We braved the postal system and discovered skype.

Germans, Norwegians, Americans, Canadians, South Africans. I could never quite grasp the sense of inclusion-like-family in that country but it was pretty fuckin' awesome. It was the first time in a very long time that I actually felt like I had my own group and that's quite a special feeling to have.

While some bonds were severed cross-continentally others were built (and then broken again). I met so many new people during 2006 it was incredible.

Oh the horses I love! [once a passion, always a passion.]

After spending my first winter without a horse and then after being away from riding for the longest period of my life (6 months) I took the plunge. Frustrated with riding other people's horses with other people's rules, with the encouragement of my mum and trainer I fulfilled another life long dream: I bought my very first horse.

And just as god wouldn't give you anything you can't handle, and just like when it rains it pours I found myself buying my second horse (pony) a mere 5 weeks later.

I needn't regret those decisions, it's hard to go wrong with investing in things you love.

Oh boys. [oh boy, oh boy.]

Following the track record of 2005 I wasn't too surprised with how the year started. One would have thought that I would have learned to listen to myself by '06, but 'tis not the case.

I didn't place full blame for April but I didn't accept full responsibility either. I realized by then that I had become very good at convincing myself of what I wanted to believe. I prefer(ed) not to think/talk about it, that was one I could set aside and leave there.

I found myself in a mixed up game of flirtation without communication. It was a heart-racing, eyes-piercing, secretive (or well, I guess not so much anymore), many-a-early-mornings of sneaking out, sneaking in, or just a lot of general sneaking around. It was a lips sealed, eyes concealed, I don't understand you deal. It was no questions asked no questions answered. It was exotic and dreamy and completely the last chapter of that book.

I met AVH. Between exams, and hikes, and ticks. The logical voice in my head adamantly told me 'no, no, no' but as things go one thing lead to another and I found myself curled next to him at the foot of Table Mountain. It was bittersweet, I cried a lot. "Circumstance and situation" continually ran through my head. Stealing the bed, clean laundry, dark blue (dark blue), holding hands, very surreal. And waiting, lots of waiting. But despite my self-distrust, the distance, and his uncanny ability to call me out on my ambiguities in language I'm so very (very) happy. Those butterflies haven't gone away. (that's a good thing, I think.)

Oh AP! [go away, stay forever.]

UCT killed my work ethic. Despite being one of the most diligent internationals I lowered my standards and took the trip as the vacation that it was. Consequently, it was one of my most educational semesters. Funny how that works out.

Returning to the blackhole and AP here was merely just a bitchslap in the face. 5 classes, 16 credits, 2 horses later I learned what I'm really capable of. The ruined work ethic, the early mornings, the general sense of 'I should be done already' was overwhelming. Yet, whenever I look back on AP I always realize how much I enjoyed it, even if I didn't realize it at the time. Plus, I discovered Machiavelli, and that I like to read his books for fun.

In starting I have to end. That was a scary thought (and still is one).

Oh I got old! [another turn around the sun.]

Past the point of no return, no privilege of voting or drinking or well, pretty much anything besides maybe renting a car. The year saw the most partying I've done in my life and the most non-partying I've done in my life. It saw bedtimes of 5am and those of 9pm.

My body decided that it would hate on me. Besides gaining my freshman 15 a mere five years too late I experienced the stomach illness (worms?) of death. Months of that general feeling of sickness proceeded well into October and November.

Oh there's plenty more. [and then some.]

Dark Blue- Jack's Mannequin
Lightening Crashes- Live
I Go Back- Kenny Chesney
Angels- Robbie Williams
Africa- Toto
The Ascent of Stan- Ben Folds


a lot of dreams came true in 2006.