A Picture From The Past

Ever since I wrote about my mom the other day, I have been on a memory lane kick, I probably have too much time on my hands and my pictures are too close at hand.  I saw one of me when I was  23, my life changed greatly after that picture... that night I went out dancing and I ended up meeting Tony.  He was to become a huge part of my life for over 20 years.

When I look at that picture I see a girl who knew very little of how her life was to be shaped in the future.  Andrea was 5 years old at the time... I had just completed a year of college and I was unemployed.  I remember thinking back then, wondering how my life would ever change...  I was on assistance and there were many people around me in the same situation.

I knew I had to get out of the area I was in, it fostered the same situation for each family and their children that followed in their foot steps.  I did not want Andrea to follow on the path I had taken... I made changes after that move, I worked, and I went to school to upgrade myself.  I know I sounded like a broken record with Andrea as I am sure she would recall it that way; but I so wanted better for her.

Life is never easy but some paths are a heck of a lot harder than others, I really chose a way that wasn't simple, though I am grateful that I could be a stay at home mommy a lot of the time Andrea was little.  She and I had many days of fun where we would bake, play games, go to movies...  I am a much busier mama with Valentina because I am working and away from home from ten to eleven hours per day.  These memories of Andrea reminded me that it is really important for me to make that time with Valentina too.

Before Valentina comes home in a few weeks, I am going to dig out all my old board games and play them with her when she gets home.  Although Andrea was a sore loser while playing games, she learned to be a gracious loser.  Plus playing these games will give us a chance to talk about important things. Not that Valentina and I have issues talking as neither of us have that problem...  quite the opposite.  What I think it will do is have us set aside time to just be her and me.

One of the activities that Andrea and did a lot together was walking, we would just pick up and go for the day, we would be exhausted by the time we got home but we would have had fun going to the park and feeding the ducks or seeing some great site that Halifax has to offer, we are a tourist city with lots of interesting and inexpensive sights to see.  I had already decided that I was getting back into walking and taking Valentina with me, just more time to spend together.

It's interesting how a picture from the past can help you make changes in the future.

I cherish my past, I accept my present and I dream for my future ♥