I stayed in Dallas for 4 more days since Z flew back to our home over the weekend after attending Allie and Aaron’s wedding (post coming up soon!). Between Monday and Wednesday, I participated in 3 major graduate program fairs and visited 3 community colleges. Oh, and then I drove back to Houston on Thursday morning and worked until 7pm. Exhaustion was an understatement.
Nevertheless, no words can express how lucky and what a blessed life I live in. Traveling to Dallas allowed me to reunite with my friends – college friends, graduate friends, my former boss, students I used to work with, etc – that made this trip so much more meaningful and appreciative. Yolanda met me several times to have lunch and dinner with me, as well as joining me on my birthday shopping (yes, I went shopping using birthday as an excuse…). We had sooo much to talk about since I relocated in May; we relived our usual animated conversations that developed over 2+ years of our friendship.
I also visited Discovery Park, where I used to work, a couple of times to see Lisa (my former boss) and all the student workers. Some of the current students that are still there stopped by to say hi, too. Seeing all those students I have built relationship with over those years made me miss my times in student affairs, even though I greatly enjoy what I do now in admissions. I loved seeing them mentally grow even more and being able to appreciate what I was trying to do to help them become the adults who are productive to this society. It really broke my heart when they told me that Discovery Park was not the same without me. I will never know how much of an impact I actually left on those students, but that comment really made me miss my time there because I truly enjoyed working with them.
Lisa invited me to her house for dinner on Monday night, and we long hours of conversation about our profession, her future career path, my future life (as a married woman!), and etc. I am so grateful to have had my first boss as wonderful as her; I couldn’t have asked anything for more from her when it comes to developing myself professionally to where I am now.
On my birthday night, some of my old graduate friends and Lisa were able to join me for dinner. We had a wonderful time catching up and learning about each other’s new jobs (oh…we are all so grown up now!).
When I FINALLY got home around 8pm on Thursday, I was greeted by the very happy fiancé. He already had dinner prepared, got me a tiramisu birthday cake and sang the birthday song all by himself (for your information…tiramisu is my favorite), and a nice little book for me to read on my leisure time. He wrote a card with the sweetest message you can ever imagine...I had no idea he can be this lovely! All the dishes were washed too!! He really did exactly everything the way I would want for my birthday. I love that man.
Lastly, I wanted to thank everyone who thought of me, emailed me, texted me, called me, Facebook messaged me, or send birthday cards like these!! I barely had the chance to pick up my mails this afternoon. I giggled, smiled, “awww’d” depending what I read. Although I have to say, my dad always sends me that ridiculous birthday card with baby on it every year.
It has been another wonderful day of birthday celebration. Thank you!!
Happy late birthday! Looks like you had a very special day! Dads are so funny... Mine always sends me a card with a monkey on it. And this year it was a singing monkey :)
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