Two Decades of Bushey

There are moments in one's life; blind-sided. These are the moments that something hits you so hard emotionally, you physically reel from the impact. I've had a few of these moments lately, and it takes a toll. Like, remember when you were little, and you'd lay on your side and roll down a hill? You'd get all dizzy and dirty, and the smell of the grass filled your every sense. The sky whipped by every couple of seconds, and it was impossible to tell the difference between earth and the air. At the bottom of the hill, you'd lay there, the world spinning like a top. You'd close your eyes, and there was nothing more amazing than that exact moment in time, when gravity was real, and possibilities were endless.

I like to complain, but I live a charmed life. I don't know why. I can only assume that my parents made some sort of deal with God a long time ago, that they'd live kind, humble lives in exchange for their miscreant daughter to fall ass-backwards into the kind of happiness that shouldn't exist outside Disney animation.

My parents, my friends, my family...none of us will live forever. It's what we decide to do with the time given to us that matters. (Apparently.) This past year, my life has been consumed by death. Reminder after reminder that our time on this earth is precious, and too valuable to waste with tears and regret. Twenty years ago this week, I married my best friend. (He tricked me. Well played, sir.) He's still my best friend. I've loved him through every adventure, every scary leap, every crash, and every soft landing. I've loved him as a father to our two ridiculously entertaining children, I've loved him as a partner in crime, I've loved him in sickness and health- I've loved him even when I've hated him. I told him I wasn't getting him an anniversary gift this year, since I bore his fruit (twice), and gave him the best years of my adult life (before my metabolism crashed and my face caved in). By the way, PETE: YOU'RE WELCOME.

He bought me a car. A FREAKING CAR. Not just any car, but the car I've wanted ever since I can recall wanting a car, lol. It's beautiful and shiny and so flashy it's (almost) embarrassing. It's extravagant and over the top, and probably cost more than our entire WEDDING (rings included) twenty years ago. I'm floating in a bubble of happy disbelief, and being gently eaten alive with guilt. Why am I so lucky? What did I ever do to deserve this life? In a world filled with so much suffering, somehow I am here with friends and family and more blessings than I can count. I'm grateful. So grateful. 

Thank you to everyone who was able to celebrate with us the other night. Thank you to everyone who couldn't be there, but love us just the same. (This is the part where I feel like I just won an Oscar and can't possibly remember everyone to thank.) Thank you to everyone who assisted Pete in the heist of the century: Jen & Jason Spiesz, Roi Nimis, Denny Wagner, Troy and Danielle Gibbens, Ron & Jen Ganner, Tim & Michelle Stromsodt. Thank you to Michelle for the GORGEOUS cake (that tasted even better than it looked- sorry you missed our wedding in 2006, but you were like, 9.) Extra shoutout to Tori & the Spieszes for the photo wall, setup, and holding the primo parking spot for multiple hours before the big reveal. Thank you to the staff at Sidestreet for their generosity and hard work. Thank you to everyone for the photos, the cards, the hugs, the laughs, and the well-wishes. Thank you Fr. Smith (wherever you are) for marrying us all those years ago, and bringing my husband into the Church- the gift I never knew I needed. Our parents and siblings f
or putting up with us, our co-workers and friends for putting up with us, and our kids for putting up with us...basically, thank God for putting up with us. Thank. God.