"We are so blessed..."

This is something my friend Mariam and I often say to each other. And we said it again (many times) this past week during her amazing visit to New York City.

So what are some of the blessings from this past week, you ask?

The full-on arrival of Summer & think painted toes. Beaches. Summer dresses. Red burns that turn into golden tans. Sandcastles. Kites-a-flyin'...


I know these aren't the things you would typically associate with New York. But we took a day trip (by subway) to a little place you may have heard of called Coney Island.

Home of the Cyclone. The Wonder Wheel.

We walked along the boardwalk. And checked out the carnival game kiosks only to discover that some of the men holding the microphones went rogue and used this as a tool to share wholly inappropriate comments with us. Apparently fairgrounds are no exception to New York edginess.



Home of the famous Nathan's hotdog (yes, that dog does deserve the hype).

Another blessing? We danced on rooftops wherever and whenever we could. You see, it's our tradition. No matter where we are in the world, we will find a rooftop. And then we will dance.

And if we are dancing in NYC, our friend Mike is never far behind(thanks to Mariam for this shot, above, and the nighttime shots below. Note, I never bring my baby henry - aka my fancy camera - to a nightclub!).

We watched the 4th of July fireworks over the Hudson from a rooftop on Fifth Avenue.

The ones that left tracers of gold dust against the blackboard sky - well, those were just pure pyrotechnic beauty.



And my favorite part of all? Spending an afternoon in Central Park. We ate a picnic. Watched a pick-up baseball game on the Great Lawn. All from the comfort of our spot under the treetops where we listened to music (soundtrack courtesy of dj Khan) safely sheltered from the Manhattan cemented heat.

And these here? Well these are my favorite photos from the weekend. Why? Because they symbolize who we are.


We daydream...

We reach for the light...



Despite all of our experiences. The lives we've lived. The pain. The changes. The growth. In all of it, we trust it's happening for a reason. And when we forget one of us will remind the other. It has created a richness that we have bonded over.

We know life is precious. We know we're here for only as long as God sees fit. And in this knowing, we want to go into the blood and guts of life. It's a big part of why I left what I knew and came to pursue my dream in New York. And this Fall, Mariam departs to live out her own dream of living in Paris. Life has taught us better than any book or teacher could that we are indeed blessed.

Of this, we know.

So let's keep reaching, Mariam. For the light. For the dreams that may seem just out of reach.

And let's always remind each other of what is possible... if only we keep reaching...
Much love from your fellow seeker,
xoxoxo