I <3 N, pt. 1

I love my brother's newest hobby, photography. I was in New York City all week for his graduation from Columbia! (I felt so proud of him during the Architecture commencement that I leaked a few tears!)

It was a week full of excitement, joy, pondering, and hope. My parents and grandparents were there for the festivities for the first half of the week, and I stayed through the weekend. It was a such a sweet time for my brother and I to re-connect... and we do that best by taking pictures.

So for the next week or so I'll be re-documenting the trip through Barrett's lens.

Day 1: I decided for my trip to the big city I would have a look. You see, my mother always has a look. Right now it is the equestrian look: Spandex pants, ruffled shirt buttoned up to the collar, gothic boots, fingerless gloves, and a blazer. So I decided I, also, should have a look. I went for the upper-east sider meets hipster look: a blazer my Sitty (grandmother) gave to me over Christmas break. It's a Tommy Hilfinger, totally has shoulder pads, and I'm thinking it is from the early 90's.
Tangent: I decided to ask Sitty when she got this killer blazer, that happens to fit me perfectly, "When did you get this, like late 80's, early 90's?"
"Oh no honey, it's not that old at all, I got it at some outlet mall a couple of years ago and just have never worn it."

My head dropped and my heart broke. "You mean, it's from the new millineum?!"
"Oh yeah, it's not old at all!" Sitty verified unknowing that I actually wanted it to be from the 90's. And so, my lesson was learned, don't ask questions unless you are prepared for the truth.

Back to my look: blazer, sleeves rolled up only a little, wayfarers in multiple colors, and anything else. One day I wore my look with jeans, one day with jorts, and then with yellow jeans. It's versatile and fun. However, I am officially sick of the blazer after this trip. I'm not sure how my mom does it... she is so content with no change. She will wear the same thing 5 days in a row because she knows it looks good and she likes it. She will of course change accessories, but the overall suit is the same. She is quite the creature of habit. I'm different. I like to be able to wear many hats. One day I'm a preppy girl from SMU, one day I'm a hipster from Brooklyn, the next I am rafter from Durango, and that night I'm an artist at my opening.

Maybe I'm going through an identity crisis, maybe I'm just a poser. But I think I'm okay with either...

Saturday

I woke up this morning, cooked Julie and I breakfast: scrambled eggs, cinnamon toast, and OJ, and Julie left for work, and there I sat on the couch, for about 2 hours. I watched the food network, I cleaned out my email, I added things to do on my iCal, and finally I begrudgingly showered.

I went to work, at a support club for anyone impacted by cancer, and talked to three new people to the club. They were all so different. One, a 48 year old man who loved the f-bomb. Next, a woman who just moved here from Nigeria, her English is pretty good, but when I asked her personal questions she laughed and looked at me as if to say, " I know what you're asking and I'm not going to answer that question." And finally, a woman in her 60s who simply wants to do some yoga. 3 very different people, 3 very great conversations.

Then I came home, made iced coffee, watched the Mavericks blow it, and finished writing my last paper of the semester: Art, Faith, and Humanity. *More on that to come.

I am currently still sitting on my couch, having talked very little all day except for when I was at work, and I'm so happy. Happy to not have to talk. Happy to not be out. Happy to be on the couch with my roommate who feels the exact same way.

Sometimes life wears on me, and I just need to be. Not talk, not perform, but simply be.

That is what Saturday's are good for, right?