The past few months have been blurry.
I remember them. But I would describe life as a bit of a barrage. I don't really know how to summarize, or what even to summarize since there is a lot to unpack. I catch myself wondering if perhaps I’m the figment of someone else’s imagination at times.
I suppose a good place to start would be my birthday. The big 4-0. Normally, foreign travel would be in the cards for a big birthday event. In the past, we've traveled to exciting destinations such as Peru, Turks & Caicos, Mexico, Cuba, and more for celebrations of birthday and life.
Actual picture taken upon my arrival to Cuba
This year, travel has been confounded by a number of hiccups and issues. But I had the honest-to-God pleasure of a small, quiet birthday dinner of crab with my parents and Karina. I remember smiling and quietly watching my parents many times throughout that night during our meal, reflecting on the various memories and sentimental moments I've shared with them throughout my life.
With food, stories were shared. Laughter was exchanged. There was a sweetness to my time with them that evening, though somewhere inside of me was a pang of sadness as well. There is a reality I’ve been coming to terms with, that time is starting to run out; these moments have started becoming increasingly precious to me. Love makes realizations like this very difficult.
I wanted so badly for that evening to last just a little bit longer. But time continued slipping past us as we sat there by the water. "I'm one lucky kid," I've told them countless times throughout my life. I have to say it. It's the truth. And I made it a point to say it yet again amidst our sharings, musings, and memories together on that very pleasant evening.
I will forever be that lucky kid.