Elizabeth's List

Poster: Elizabeth

Approaching thirty makes you really look back…High School, college, studying abroad, countless adventures, great experiences with some stumbling blocks that have helped shape us along the way. It’s been seven years since we graduated college. Since then we have gone through so much together. We have had a blast together living in the city, celebrating every birthday, and sharing every story, traveling all over for bachelorette parties or even just for fun. We have watched our friends get great jobs, fall in love, get married, have babies and buy houses. Oppositely, we have also watched one another’s hearts break numerous times over lost loves, lost jobs, lost family members or even feeling lost inside in general. I believe sharing these joys and moments of vulnerability have helped shape us but more than anything, have also created long lasting bonds with one another.

The word THIRTY also makes you look forward and we tend to think about all the big things we want in life. Whatever stage in the journey we’re at in achieving those things, we all have so much to be proud of. I have never seen such a wonderful group of ladies that really never settle for less than they want, always strive for more in life and aren’t afraid to admit that they want to change and better themselves. You truly are all amazing! I am so excited that Widner put this together because it’s so easy to forget about all the little things we want and all the things we have forgotten we wanted to do. So what a great excuse to share another bundle of experiences with each other?

I was in Miami celebrating the holidays when I received word of the bucket list. It dawned on me that I would be turning 30 in one year and seven months…I figured I had plenty of time to accomplish ten things that I have always wanted to do. Then suddenly, I realized that within that year and seven months, while we are all trying to check things off our lists, my whole life would be changing as well. As of July 2010, my new home would be Miami FL. So much panic came over me when I realized how soon that was and how many things I have always wanted to do here! Don’t get me wrong, I am so excited to embark on this new stage of my life, but there are a lot of special people and things I am leaving behind. Thanks to Sarah, I have a little fire under my ass to take the initiative to do some of these things and to enjoy sharing more funny and amazing moments with all of you.

1. Go Sky diving- I’m absolutely terrified…but would LOVE to know that I could be brave enough to get the thrill that everyone talks about

2. Do a mission trip- my spiritual journey has been monumental in my life the past few years. I NEED to give back to others the love that God has shown me by spreading his word to those who have never been touched

3. Travel within the U.S.- I have spent sooo much time traveling abroad but cannot say I have been to many places within the US. I really want to see some new places I have never discovered. A few that I would hope to hit are California, Texas, Boston or Wash DC

4. Spend more time with my family…quality time! On the way home from Miami, my parents told me that I am the spark in their lives and they are heartbroken about me leaving. They stressed how much they want to have time with me before I go. But my Mom was clever and specified that she wants more than just the times that I stop at home to eat dinner or pee really quickly before heading home. I think I can sacrifice a few Friday or Saturday nights with Mommy and Daddy!

5. Fill my new home in Miami with pictures and memories of friends and family- I have always been so jealous of all those people out there that have all these beautiful photographs of their memories all around their house. I have great pics, but have never done anything more than post them on Face book. I have to grow up and have something interesting for my guests to be entertained by while visiting my house besides vodka red bull.

6. Plan a trip back to Spain and see Paris for the first time- I keep saying I want to head back to Granada where I studied abroad and have yet to do that. In addition, I have never been to Paris…I HAVE to get there before I turn 30.

7. Get signed up for either my reading specialist certificate or masters in school social work- I just got my Masters in teaching and want to enjoy that accomplishment for a while but I know that by 30 I will be itching to reach my next goal professionally. I want to at least decide whether its Social Work or Reading that I want to master next.

8. See more musicals, visit every museum and go to anything cultural that this wonderful city I have been living in for the past 28 years has to offer.

9. Take Salsa lessons…and cooking lessons too! I have to say I am a great Salsa dancer and a BAD cook. Lets just say I really relate to Amelia Bedelia…its tough! Anyhow, I would love to learn more tricky moves in Salsa and I just plain love it. As for cooking, I just need help in general!!!

10. Learn about my Greek descendents- I think when someone asks me what nationality I am, we all knows what the answer is…CUBAN. I am so proud of it and I love knowing the whole history about my family. However, I don’t know a darn thing about where my father’s family comes from. All I know and like to say is that I am SPARTAN (its fun) and I know a few words in Greek. I am OBSESSED with this country and I truly feel it’s a sign that I need to find out some history that my Dad never bothered to do.

11. Eagle Camp or Competition? (Per Widner’s request) Ok, Ok…I guess this list wouldn’t be enough without some sort of act of humiliation (But I secretly love that God mismatched me and created me into a human with a white brain, a Latina body and moves of a sista!!) I will do this only if I can count it as 11 and make it all about having fun with my girlfriends.