This week, Froggie picked the topic: Have the past 10 years been what you expected them to be? Are you where you thought you'd be? What are some of the highlights of the last 10 years for you?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
Earlier this summer, I read an incredibly moving novel called "What Alice Forgot" by Liane Moriarty. It's about a woman who wakes up from a head injury at the age of 39, but in her mind she is still 29. She has to face her life as she is currently living it without any recollection of the events of the past 10 years. The premise at first is similar to "Remember Me?" by Sophie Kinsella, but there's so much more to this novel.
While I was reading this book, it got me thinking about what it would feel like if I completely forgot everything that has happened over the last 10 years. I also thought about how I'm now 35 and almost completely different from who I was at 25. So if I were to be in my 25 year-old frame of mind and suddenly wake up at 35, I would be in for a huge shock!
For starters, I was single up until the last half of age 25. For all intents and purposes though, I'm basing it on this time of year in 2001 and then fast forwarding to the present time in 2011. So yes, I was single. I lived in a condo in the suburbs that used to be owned by my maternal grandma. I took improv comedy classes and spent almost every weekend in Chicago (Lakeview). It was a blast.
If I woke up in 2011 with no recollection of the last 10 years, I would find myself married to a stranger, as I had not yet met my husband at this point in 2001. What would be even crazier is the three kids in my house, including a baby. And yes, I realize that I said "house." To top it off, I would be living in a different STATE from where I was living in 2001 (and that I had been living here for two years already). Back then, I hadn't even thought of leaving Illinois, EVER! If someone told me that I had spent a couple of those 10 years in New Jersey, as well, I would be gobsmacked!
Furthermore....
2001: Friday nights were for going out, either to the city or just doing dinner and a movie with friends. I spent my Saturday mornings lounging on the couch in front of a TV watching cheesy teen shows (nothing could ever be as good as "Saved by the Bell" though) and then going shopping, checking e-mail, driving all over the place, calling friends, etc. At night, I'd end up in the city, most likely, to go to dance clubs with friends or watch improv shows.
2011: Friday nights are for Shabbat dinners, lighting candles, saying kiddush, eating challah and a filling meal, as well as discussing the parasha of the week. I spend my Saturday mornings walking (with the three kids in tow) to shul and then having Shabbat lunch at home or at a friends' house. The whole day is quiet and relaxing. Nighttime is spent putting the kids to bed and then curling up on the couch in my PJs to watch a movie.
2001: I barely went to temple other than for high holidays and did the bare minimum for those days.
2011: I go to shul unless someone is sick or the weather is awful (and even then I will still go in rainstorms). I am Shomer Shabbos and holidays, meaning no technology, driving, shopping, cooking, etc.
2001: I was a picky eater and avoided most vegetables. I also ate cheeseburgers or would have an ice cream sundae after enjoying a steak. I went to McDonald's all the time.
2011: I like more vegetables now, including asparagus, zucchini and cauliflower. I apparently haven't eaten more than a salad or a few fries at McDonald's since 2003. I eat only Kosher meat now and don't combine it with dairy in any way, shape or form.
2001: I had really short hair. I dressed rather flirtatiously. I had a youthful appearance. My clothes came from New York and Company or Express.
2011: My hair is about neck to shoulder length. I dress modestly and don't wear shorts at all. I still wear short sleeves but most of my flirtatious clothes have left my wardrobe years ago. I cover my hair on Shabbat and holidays (with scarves and hats). My clothes come from the thrift store or Target (if I want to splurge). My figure is different for various reasons, the main one being that I've had three pregnancies. I definitely look older and I'm getting gray hairs.
2001: My family consisted of my parents, sister, three living grandparents, my uncle, aunt and lots of cousins (some being twice or thrice removed)
2011: Aside from those listed in 2001, my family now consists of a husband, three kids, lots of in-laws (with whom I get along), as well as nieces and nephews (on my husband's side). There are also some cousins on my husband's side that we have become close with. My family no longer consists of two of those grandparents, the only living one being my paternal grandma (Nana).
2001: I had lots of friends from various places, mainly high school, college and work.
2011: I still have most of those friends even though a few have fallen off the face of the planet since then. And Facebook has helped me meet tons of new people, some who have become close friends rather quickly. Also, living in a couple of different states has helped. I only get to see my friends from Illinois once a year unless they decide to come for a visit (hint, hint...) but we stay close through e-mail, Facebook, Skype, etc.
2001: I had a really stressful job at a cell phone corporation. I would work lots of late hours and want to pull all my hair out many times. Had some nice friends there, including "Jack," who kept me somewhat sane. And having a Bennigan's in walking distance helped.
2011: I work for a Jewish non-profit and love it there. It's very meaningful and fulfilling to be part of this organization. There's a nice mix of people to work with, as well. My chick lit blog has almost become a second job for me. It keeps me busy and I get paid in free books.
2001: I went to NYC and saw the World Trade Center standing tall and proud from my window on the train. George W. Bush was president and I didn't like him all that much.
2011: The WTC is no longer a part of NYC's landscape and the world has changed in many ways as a result. Barack Obama is now the president and I still like him even if the country is a mess. I don't even know how to explain that logic. I just do.
2001: "Sex and the City" and "Friends" were my favorite shows and they had new episodes. I also started getting into "Six Feet Under." I think "Dawson's Creek" was in it's last season at this point. I liked "Will and Grace," as well, especially since it was so close to my life.
2011: None of these shows are on with new episodes. SATC and "Friends" are syndicated but it's been ages since I've seen SFU. I also don't seem to see "Dawson's Creek" anywhere on TV. I love "Modern Family," "How I Met Your Mother," "Glee," "90210," "Desperate Housewives" (show closest to my life now) and "The Office."
2001: I was listening to a lot of techno music and had written off country, even though I had listened to it in the previous years.
2011: I am a full fledged country music fan, but I also love a lot of other music on the radio.
2001: I was going to Broadway (in Chicago) shows all the time, thanks to some connections from a woman at work.
2011: I apparently haven't seen a Broadway show in over two years.
2001: I bowled in various leagues.
2011: I rarely go bowling as it is expensive and the good bowling alleys are further away. Apparently, I did go bowling a lot one summer in NJ when we did a "Kids Bowl Free" program with special adult rates. I'm not as good as I used to be though.
2001: I never so much as saw the inside of a gym or workout facility.
2011: I apparently belonged to various workout facilities and then we got our own exercise equipment and now I make a point of getting up extra early to work out.
I could go on forever, as there are so many more ways I have changed in the past 10 years. To think, if all the changes in 10 years would have shocked me if I forgot everything, imagine how my life looks to someone I had no contact with for even longer than 10 years! I've had a few such experiences already. It's fun (in a weird way) telling friends I knew from my "Rocky Horror" days that I'm now Modern Orthodox Jewish. Talk about a major change! However, I'm glad that I actually have remembered all that has happened during these 10 years. I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything! It will be interesting to see how the next 10 turn out...
Then............and now:
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2 comments:
OMG! I just read the same book, and was very nostalgic as well regarding the past 10 years! I have to say Melissa, if we had to compare you now to you then... you are like fine wine. You for sure get better with age. :) Look at those pictures! You are simply gorgeous 10 years later!!!
Really fun post, and a great way to take stock of how the years have changed us! I have What Alice Forgot in my TBR stack and just might make my own list in the near future. :)
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