Change.

School started this week in the District of Columbia. All the kids have new, shiny shoes and fresh backpacks. The teachers are friendly and bright eyed when I introduce myself. Walls are newly painted.


Summer is ending. Fall is approaching.

Change. A new beginning.

When I was younger I hated change. My family has lived in the same house since I was born. At varying times, my parents would toy with the idea of moving and look at real estate; my sister and I would protest so much that the idea was eventually shelved. 1343 Campbell St. is still the Mahurin home. That house represented stability and if it changed, it seemed as if my world would shake.


My parents still have that house. They aren't even there very often, but it still offers some sense of comfort and tradition.

For example, at Christmas. I am 26 years old and every single Christmas of my life has been the exact same. Christmas Eve at our neighbors home. They are Cuban and its their close family members + the Gringos (us) and this tradition began before I was born and continues.....We did add martini's somewhere in there, so I guess there has been some change, and for the good!

Christmas morning, the "kids" (we've added Jonathan) still have to sit at the top of the staircase why the parents are at the bottom. When they give us the "ok", we can come down to open presents. This made sense when we were little and there were unwrapped things from Santa on display, like a new bike, or a sleeping bag with a big bow on it. Now there is no reason for it, we just do it because we always did. Its like what is going to happen if I bust down before Mom and Dad?!! ahhh craziness. After gift time, we are rushed through a pastry breakfast by Mom who is all of the sudden freaking out that we are going to be late getting to the relatives. We fight about the Christmas spirit being ruined and pack into the car. A hour on 1-4 and we arrive for Mom's side of the fam Christmas. Ridiculously great food, and a lot of it, by my culinary gifted Uncle, friendly banter, hugs from people I only see once a year, watching my precious grandmother open a sweater and dust buster from her family, and of course, random moments of the "Christmas Story" with Ralphie on TBS. Then we get back in the car and head back on I-4 to Orlando. We used to have to go back to the house to let our dog, Daisy, out, but now she died and that still makes me really sad. Man, I really want a dog (damn condo board, stiff asses!). Then we head to my Dad's side of the family Christmas. More food, but something like cold ham and veggie soup and olives that you can put on your fingers. Some more banter, hugs from people I see once a year but have known me my entire existence and all of the sudden its 10pm and I've seen every relative on my side (poor Lively's are totally neglected in this tradition). Busy day. And repeated every December 25th to a freaking tee.

Now here is my confession: I kinda want to go on a cruise for Christmas.


I've grown to like change. To crave it. To embrace it.

Maybe I'm rebelling against the extreme stability in my early life. After graduating from high school, I have lived in 7 different residences. 3 cities. 3 states/provinces. The fact that we bought something in DC sometimes makes me feel like I have a noose around my neck. I have lived here a year and LOVE this place (condo and city), but there is an "antsy" spirit inside that starts to itch.

Will I ever have roots again?

I want to explore. For something to be different everyday.

I love the changing seasons. I get sick of the current one and always embrace the new one coming. In Florida, not so much. You better get used to feeling warm.

Now back to this whole Christmas cruise thing, it's not going to happen. My family already allowed Jonathan "in" on our tradition and that was probably enough change for the next 10 years!! I just want a chance to get tan in the winter. Is that totally selfish? (I am still not adjusted to this whole NE pale skin thing...depressing in the most vain way)


Some perspective: When I was sharing some of my "extreme" views to the fam at some point this summer, kinda for shock value and not totally serious, my Dad pulled me aside and said something to the point of, well, we will not be able to have family vacations forever, suggesting that him and my Mom would be too old or sick or dead for time together. I'm not even going to go there because I am not ready for my parents to deal with any of the above (or me to deal with it by their side).

Soooooo trying to balance it all out....Change vs. Tradition?!

Can a person have it all?