I need more than one "thankful feather..."

It is hard to believe it is Thanksgiving week and how fast this year is actually flying by.  Last year during this week, I was stationed in New York helping survivors of Hurricane Sandy in shelters.  This year, my life has changed significantly, and honestly, I am still so happy.  Now having lived in New Orleans for 7 months now, I am apart of the rebuild process.  This time around I am a site supervisor of volunteers that come in and out of the city weekly or sometimes daily to volunteer with our organization.  I got out of training in about the end of October and we started to be site supervisors of our own houses.  I have had the opportunity to work with a few different groups of volunteers so far on one particular house and these volunteers have changed my life. 

SBP sporadically gets a volunteer who I now like to think of as the SBP town crier.  Carl P Lewis is his name and he comes from Boulder Colorado.  He is an adult who has high functioning Asperger's Syndrome.  He worked with me for the past 2 weeks doing any task I asked of him.  His fixation with his disability is transportation...boy does he know his stuff.  He told me that he has visited Boston before on a stop coming from Maine, with a layover in Atlanta that took him to Denver DIA airport on an American Airways flight.  I had him doing tasks with me all week that had me working closely with him and I really got to know Carl pretty well.  He loves holding hands and getting to know others, too.  Carl reminded me how much I love people and how much I love getting to know the stories of people.  I can't wait for him to come back and visit my sites because as he calls me, "Christy, my friend," will be waiting for his return!

Last week was "Nuns Build."  This particular week was amazing for me.  My house I work at was sent 22 Nuns from all over the country, most were Sisters of Charity.  We were on the Drywall stage of construction so these nuns, ages 26-81 were lifting 12ft sheets of drywall upstairs, holding it high on ceilings, walls, and using drills to screw the pieces into walls.  They were amazing.  One of the nuns, Sister Theresa, was from Dorchester.  She was a little spitfire, no taller than 5'2.  She had the "Medfa" accent and worked in my BAAAA-thrum all week.  She gave me the most sarcastic remarks to my teachings and anything I had to say.  All of the sisters as a whole were literally unreal.  Before this week with my volunteers, I was feeling very unconfident in my knowledge and skill set.  After a week with these amazing women, I knew I was doing okay.  I would explain an idea or a skill to them and I would get an standing ovation at the end of my demonstration, now that gave me some hope.  On Friday, their last day, to start the morning they had Lauren, my co-worker, and I go in the front of the house.  They took some drywall home with them the night before.  They gave each of us a piece of it with the square of drywall outlined in beads from Bourbon Street (yes they can drink and go out, AND they DID).  This piece of drywall had their picture on it with the saying "Nun as Fun as Nuns build 2013."  As they were giving it to us they were singing an Latin Hymn and honestly I lost it in the front yard.  Having had a great 2 weeks with carl and then these fantastic ladies hit me hard and made me realize how happy and thankful I am to be doing the work I am doing.

The nuns+ Carl

With that being said, and given that it is Thanksgiving week, I am thankful for...

My family and our traditions...lately I have been talking to my friends here and other people about traditions.  The traditions we started as young kids with our parents are something I am so happy we have and I can talk about.  Not coming home for Thanksgiving this year made me really think about traditions we have.  One of the best- the bread on the table.  This is the first major holiday I am missing ever so I have put some thought into our traditions.  I am lucky to be raised in a family surrounded by deep tradition.  That stems from our solid upbringing, which makes me thankful for my parents.  They have taught the 5 of us that true love exists and can last, that family always comes first, and that if you want something, work hard and you will get it.  I am lucky to have the C parents allowing me to blaze my own trail.  They always put their 5 children first and make sure we all know they care, even from 1,500 miles away.  I am always thankful for Momma and Daddy-z Conceison.

My siblings...all 4 of my siblings are different in their own way.  Bobby is the silent (sometimes) leader of us all.  He leads by example and paves the way for us all to do good. (yes good, not well) MaryKathryn is our fun, spirited teacher.  She teaches all of us about everything.  She makes me laugh constantly and is the ideal older sister role model.  Paul is the fearless Axel. He does his own thing and is very independent. He has goals that I admire and is a great older sibling for Bridget. Then there is Bridgie, the life of the party.  She can light up a room with her smile, she is curious, and most of all she is caring.  Bridget cares about people in a way that most 11 year olds cant even comprehend.  She is our rock and always will be.  I don't think she knows how important she is to so many people, especially me. I am thankful for my siblings everyday...especially when they send me a little extra love $$

Casey Joseph Walsh Conceison...the cutest, most lovable Godson on the planet.  Almost daily I get a picture sent to me of Casey from Kara and everyday he gets more adorable.  What Casey doesn't know that his little face sometimes is the best part of my day.  The day he was born I felt a sense of responsibility for this little guy and I am more than happy to be his Godmother.  Coming home in October was a priority to meet this little stud and be able to be at his Christening.  I hope he knows i will be at his important events, just like his mother was right there front row at all of mine (minus one). I am really thankful for this little guy and to see him again at Christmas!

Rachel and Margaret...It is safe to say that without these 2, I would be pretty lost.  The three of us talked last year as our NCCC term was coming to a close about moving to New Orleans together.  The 2 of them made it a reality, and honestly, my case of FOMO was out of control.  I found myself a job and now we are happily living together in a great place (maybe) where we laugh, cry, snuggle, eat (a lot), and do just about everything together.  There aren't any2 other friends who have made an immediate impact on my life and there aren't any 2 people who understand the ups and downs of the life we are living quite like they do.  I am so lucky to have them in my life.  They bring me happiness, make bad days good, support my every move even when they know they shouldn't, a reeses fastbreak when we go grocery shopping, and some of the best memories of this city I have had so far.  I am more than thankful to have 2 best friends in this city with me.

New friends...starting a job in August brought on a whole group of new friends.  AmeriCorps is a beautiful program in that way.  There were 6 of us that trained on a house that we built together from start to finish.  I learned so much about these people and it is safe to say they are some of my best friends in this city.  I have never laughed so hard as I did for the 6 weeks we were all together working as hard as we did on our house.  These people in a short time have changed me for the better and I am really thankful for them this thanksgiving.

Second chances at things in life that are worth it...distance makes the heart grow fonder, right? I am more than thankful for the fact that two people can remain happy with one another after realizing what is really important in a relationship.  I am happy to have such a solid rock, maybe too far away, but still there enough with a caring loving attitude. Hey, if Joe can put up with my crazy as much as he has, something is going well.

Friends old and new...I've met a ton of people in New Orleans in the past 7 months, and i have remained close to friends at home.  I have had visitors, phone calls, and random presents sent to me that all mean more than words can say.  I am lucky for all I have in my life, but friendship is very important to me.  All friendship, old and new, is one big thing I am thankful for.

My life...it may seem weird to say, but I am so thankful for the life I am living.  Turning 25 for me was a little shocking.  I didn't really know what to make of it. I was reading an article online one day and it kind of hit me.  At 25 I've done more than I thought I would have ever done, I am the happiest I have ever been, and I am at a place in my life where I know I am supposed to be.  My age is just an age and I am happy I am where I am.  I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for everything I am thankful for this year.  I am volunteering for some of the most incredible home owners, I have traveled the country more than I ever thought I could, and I am living independently in an unbelievable city.  I feel very lucky this year on a holiday I love.  My turkey feather would be out of control!

This Thanksgiving is going to be different for me, but I am starting new traditions on my own.  I will be with awesome friends eating great food.  It wont be 10 Thomas, but it will be close as I am bringing cranberry sauce and squash, thanks to Dad.  I wont forget to put the cranberry sauce out, at least one Conceison has to remember.  I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving wherever you are.  Save me a seat at the kitchen table, in front of the onion dip, and a piece of chocolate cream pie for dessert! Ill be thinking of my family on Thursday hopefully winning the football game and enjoying Elf after dinner.  Little tradition to uphold even though I'm not home :) Love you all! Gobble Gobble

All Kinds of Kinds

It has been quite some time since I have even logged into this account never mind even typed a single word.  I decided to take this blog on a little bit of a ride instead of solely updating about my life.  To start, I have since left my job with one non-profit organization and joined another, St. Bernard Project.  This organization is rebuilding homes for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Yes, as of tomorrow 8 years later, rebuilding New Orleans.  I have fallen completely in love with this city.  I knew coming down here that I loved everything about New Orleans, the culture, the people, the food, the music, and the overall love each person also has for the city.  Never did I think after 4 almost 5 months living here that I would love it more. I have met some of the most incredible people since I moved down.  People from all over the country come here to serve with the same ideas and purpose in life as I have.  I know now that I am a lot happier in the job department of my life.  I was missing something since I moved here and started a job that involved me sitting behind a computer, we all know how well I do not interacting with people, so there's that.

I started at my new job almost two weeks ago, and honestly, I am so happy.  The organization has been rebuilding homes for individuals who lost theirs from the hurricane since 2006.  Now, 8 years later, they have completed 500 homes, as of TONIGHT.  Rachel became the site supervisor of the 500th house of the organization about a  month ago.  She knew the deadline for the home to be done was tomorrow, the 8th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.  The family who the home was rebuilt for are 4 of the most incredible people I have ever met.  The two kids in the home are being raised by their superhero grandparents.  I have learned so much from all of them, especially little Quinnton.  This 8 year old with a love for the world around him is one of the most life changing little boys ever.  I got to meet him about two weeks ago, and I instantly fell in love.  He is so curious about the world around him and told Rachel, Margaret, and myself that he doesn't care what his room looks like, he just wants somewhere to sleep...and to watch animal planet.  Since I moved down here to a city that my two best friends happened to be living in, we don't really do anything alone.  Needless to say, we were at this house working until, sometimes, the wee hours of the morning, just so this family has somewhere to finally "eight years too long" as one family member said, call home.  Everyday we had Vanessa come check on us to make sure we were okay, and to share a few stories about anything going on that she cared to share, which we loved hearing.  The Ross family has changed my life forever.  Their home was the first home I worked on with SBP and it will be a thing I honestly will never forget.  Each time a home is completed, our organization puts together a welcome home party for the family.  This one is the #500 home and it is going to be kiiiiind of a big deal.  I am really excited to see the faces of the kids when they go into the home and to experience what it is like to see a family come home from something the rest of our country views as something that is totally fixed. I am more than happy to have helped out on this house and more than proud of the job Rachel did leading the way the entire time.  This family is lucky to have someone as dedicated as she is to her job be in charge of leading the force on this home.

That being said, one thing I have really learned in the last almost 5 months being here is that, "to keep the world spinning it takes all kinds of kinds."  All Kinds of Kinds is a song by none other than Miranda Lambert (genius) that got me thinking, and gets me thinking every time I hear it.  She then created a music video that has people holding signs that say what "kind" of person they are and it got me thinking.  How does this song relate to my life you ask? Over the past 5 months I have had ups and I've had downs.  Ultimately, I have learned so much about who I am and who I want to be and quite honestly, who I want to share that journey with.  I have met some of the most amazing people, all who are EXTREMELY different than I am.  Everyone has their own story. In turn, everyone is their own kind of person.  I was trying to identify myself with a certain "kind of kind" but  trying to do this, I have discovered that my kind is an accepting kind.  Before the last 2 years, I haven't thought of anything outside of my bubble of where I came from.  Now, I couldn't picture my life without the different kinds of people I have met.  Those people, whether friends, coworkers, or the Ross family, have shaped me and molded me into who I am today; the happiest and most accepting me I have ever been.  If everyone I associate with here hasn't dropped me, the crazy person I've always been, like a bad habit yet, I must be doing something right!

Just a little review...in April I came down here to work for one non-profit.  I have a great relationship with my supervisors still which is awesome.  I love everything that organization stands for, I just ultimately had to do what was best for me, which involved getting a new job.  For the month of June until the beginning of July, Joe came to visit! He rented this sweet apartment close to where I live and work.  I got to show him around the city, he got to meet my friends, and I got to share my life down here with someone who now can understand what I am constantly talking about.  One fast month for sure! I started my new job 2 weeks ago and I haven't been this happy in a LONG time.  September brings a few friends coming to visit for a bit.  Then October, MK is coming to see me on my birthday again! Pretty exciting stuff coming up. As for this long weekend, I have never wanted to sleep, drink beer, and relax more than I have in the last 2 weeks.  Now that the house is done and our new little family is home, the three of us can relax, which we are looking forward to!

That's all I have for now. Keep the people of New Orleans and the Ross family in your thoughts tomorrow, and always! Thanks for reading!

My new life

So here I am week 3 into living in New Orleans.  Still haven't decided the route I am going to take for this year's blog, but I will figure it out.  Let's rewind to getting here almost 3 weeks ago...

I got here on Thursday the 11th.  Nice and easy travel day for me which was great.  Had a reunion of all reunions with Rachel and Margaret.  I still can't believe that the three of us are actually living in the same city kind of like we planned last year.  It may have taken longer for it to sink in for Margaret than it did for me since she did tackle me the second she got home and kept reminding me where I was...I didn't hate it, still don't.  I had nothing to do all weekend, but enjoy being in New Orleans during French Quarter Fest, meeting all of their awesome friends who kept reminding me that I LIVE here now, and trying to prepare for a week in Denver.  That brings me to Monday the 15th...

Marathon Monday for me has always been one of my favorite days with my family.  I remember growing up each year we packed the station wagon/green van/silver van full of coolers with subs from Burlington Cold Cut, cokes, water, the terrible radio so we could hear the start of the Marathon and sox updates. We would go with what seemed like a million people we knew and their kids clapping all day and screaming out whatever was on each runners shirts going by.  Standing at mile 17 each year, across from the oriental rug place, rollerblading behind buildings with Jill, Paul, ad Joey usually every year, trying to beat the runner across the street.  As we got older, I started to remember the people we all knew running by us, occasionally mom and dad jumping in to run with their friends, or even seeing Mom pass us running her first Marathon.  Now, making new traditions with my friends from home going into the Fenway area and enjoying the day with them.  These are the kinds of days I remember as Marathon Monday, until this one.  I got off the plane in Denver to read tweets about praying for Boston and getting texts from friends across the country asking me if my family was okay.  Immediately I checked the news, that is when I heard about the bombing.  Never in a million years would I think something like this could happen to this city on a day where the entire city is out on the streets enjoying an event that people all over the world tune in to.  This day was now filled with making sure my family was alright and that everyone I knew from home was safe.  Thankfully everyone is, but still being so far away, this feeling was uneasy for me.  Hearing stories about some of the people we know being minutes from the bombing, some people not finishing the marathon, and fear among the city made it hard to focus on what I was about to embark on.  That is how I felt the whole week following this event.  All I wanted was to be in Burlington with my family watching the news instead of a hotel room in Denver watching CNN with people who didn't really understand what was going on.  I spent a lot of time with Nick who I met who is from Boston and he actually went to Bridgewater himself.  We updated each other all week on what we were hearing and kind of stuck together to make sure we were okay.  Kind of the comfort we both needed.  This one day could never take away the memories from Marathon Monday growing up as a kid, but it has changed my view on my city for sure.  Watching Rene Rancourt give up his spot light we all know he loves to have the Garden sing the National Anthem was probably the highlight of the week for me.  I cried like a baby watching on my air mattress as the videos got quickly uploaded, and nobody will ever understand what this whole event means to our city besides people from Boston.  I am so proud of my upbringing, my accent, being rough and tough around the edges (not really) because of where I am from, but most of all I am proud to say the Marathon is one of the best family traditions we have.  Someday I will run the 26.2 miles and run by mile 17 with the memories we made and the same feelings I have now knowing those Monday's were some of the best ways to start April vacation ever.

With that being said, moving on to Pre Service Orientation in Denver.  This week was filled with learning about our roles as AmeriCorps VISTA's for the year.  I learned a lot about poverty in the United States and how as a VISTA we will be living at the poverty level of the city our organization is in.  No big deal, nothing I can't handle.  Basically we were separated into class rooms all day learning different things, I learned a lot, but most of all I made some new connections.  I met some aw3esome people in the 5 days 4 nights I spent in Denver.  We explored the city a bit, saw Coors Field right next to a sweet bar we found, drank a Coors Light in Denver, and enjoyed getting to know each other as like minded people about to start a year doing similar work.  Side note...the Rockies game was cancelled one day while we were there because of snow.  Never heard that one before, but God damn it was cold so I get it.  After this one week, I knew that choosing to come here and do another year of service was definitely the right choice.

When I got back to New Orleans I didn't do much all weekend.  Monday started my first day of work SINCE DECEMBER.  Did I miss working or what?  Monday and Tuesday were used to meet the people of the office I will be working in, getting to know my supervisor, and learning more about what I will be doing.  So...what I will be doing...this year for me is primarily recruiting volunteers.  I work closely with Johnny, he was a VISTA 2 years ago in my position and now is the front man of my position.  He brought me to the different facilities that Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans serves.  I met a whole bunch of people and honestly, I remember like 2 names.  But this year there are different events already set up that I have to recruit some volunteers for.  I was at my desk everyday this week doing research on different VOA's in America so I could see what our organization offers as a whole.  Pretty interesting stuff if I do say so myself.  There are already a few events I need to create volunteer recruitment material for, but that is next weeks work.  One major highlight from this week, amongst a lot of them, was Friday.  Not only was it Friday, but Johnny, Caitlin (my other supervisor who is actually from Marshfield, MA) went to the Hilton downtown to see where we will be hosting an event in early June.  The representative from the hotel took us to the room we are utilizing, toured our area, then treated us to lunch.  Again, food was my highlight.  We went to a seafood place, my mouth watered the second we got there.  She asked if I had tried oysters yet since I moved, and since I said no, she ordered a dozen.  I absolutely loved them.  She ordered those, Fleur de Lis shrimp which was unreal, and I got a catfish po boy.  I was pretty New Orleans all afternoon.  I thought I would never eat again after that. 

This weekend was veeeeeeeeery relaxing.  Friday night I made some pizza for the three of us.  We ate, sat on the couch hysterically laughing and eating Ben and Jerry's, and were in bed by 11.  Perfect Friday night.  Saturday Rachel and I got up early to go to the beach with one of her friends she works with.  The beach was quite a drive, but it was an adventure to say the least.  We packed basically a 7 course meal for the beach, laid out all day, went in the WARM water (Gulf of Mexico), I stepped on a fish and since I am afraid of fish it was traumatizing, and obviously since it is me I got FRIED.  I am currently the color of a Maine Lobster.  I will be tan in a few days so it is fine, but lesson learned, the sun is stronger here.  I should have known.  Last night we did a bit of the same, laid around and went to bed EARLY.  Today is another relaxing day for me doing a whole lot of nothing but catching up on shows and house hunting still.  Someday soon I will have an update saying I have an apartment finally...can't wait for that day!  This week is going to be extremely busy for me so I am glad I got to use today to do nothing. 

One last thing I forgot to mention...since I don't have a car here and where I'm living is pretty far away from work, I have a nice hour commute in the morning and night after work on the bus and street car.  You thought your life was weird, try to ride the New Orleans public transportation.  I laugh at my life every morning at each stop.  I stick out like a sore thumb and wouldn't have it any other way.  This ride gives me the opportunity to really watch the culture of NOLA come alive, to put it in the most PC way possible.  There are some characters in this city, let me tell you.  However, on the first day of work on my first  day on the bus, mom you'll be proud, I did it all panic stricken all by MYSELF.  Brave little toaster.  Now, I am giving directions to people who need help and I am an old pro navigating bus 88 from the Lower 9th ward to Canal Street.  I tweet out bus diaries daily, look out for those.

Anyway, again, I am glad everyone in my family and my friends are safe.  I know a lot of you were in Boston or near Boston that day or were somehow affected by the "man hunt" in Watertown.  I love now more than ever telling people I am from Massachusetts because, as Big Papi said, it is our ******* city! I hope all is well with everyone at home! I miss everyone! Until next time..

Successfully avoiding packing...

I guess I can start blogging again!

Tomorrow I leave for another AmeriCorps adventure, because why the hell not.  This year is different from last year.  I am going to be an AmeriCorps VISTA instead of being in NCCC.  The difference being I am not traveling around the country, I am staying in one city working with one non-profit for a whole year.  I am moving to New Orleans to work for Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans.  Yes, like I said many blogs ago, I AM actually moving to the city I wanted to!  I am very, very excited. 

Since last term ended, my life again has changed.  I came home in December to a tough transition back into life here.  I felt like I didn't fit in anywhere and didn't know what I wanted to do with my life.  Frankly, I still don't know what I want to do.  The one silver lining to coming home for me was I got to get back into an activity I loved and that is coaching.  In November, the head coach of the high school varsity team in Burlington asked me if I wanted to join the staff when I came home.  Thankfully enough, they allowed me to come into the season two weeks late.  From day one at the rink I knew the team was something special.  I got to coach the girls into the first state tournament birth in school history, I got to help 20 teenage girls become 1 team, and I got to develop relationships with athletes that will forever be in my life.  In three short months, I learned many things about myself from these girls everyday.  They taught me the true definition of perseverance.  Some of them have been on the team for 5 years, 5 unsuccessful years.  They did not give up on their team and made it as far as a team could go.  That taught me, without them knowing, that anything is possible if you just stick to it.  I am going to take that lesson with me and remind myself that everyday while I am gone.  I owe a lot of my happiness in my life to the girls because of how easy they made my transition from the Amerilife to real life for a short period of time.  These girls have changed my life forever.

In addition to coaching, I lived the unemployed life.  Let me tell you, that was not fun.  I found odds and ends to do thanks to dirty windows and an office moving.  I interviewed for a few jobs, but this one is definitely the one I want.  I am feeling a bit different this time around about leaving.  My excitement comes from knowing I am going to a city I loved AND two of my best friends live there.  They are two of the reasons why I am really thankful AmeriCorps happened in my life.  I am going to be staying at their place for a bit while I find a place of my own and we are going to have one HELL of a reunion tomorrow.  I honestly can't wait.  I am also excited to be starting a new adventure in the "job" slash volunteering world.  I am going to be a volunteer recruiter for the non-profit.  I will be working with almost each employee in the non-profit.  I will know more after my first two days of orientation with them, and I will for sure fill y'all in on my life when I know more.  I move tomorrow and will be spending the weekend in NOLA, but then Monday I have VISTA training through AmeriCorps.  I will be traveling to Denver for 3 nights 4 days of training.  Warmer weather, to snow for 4 days, then back to warm.  Kind of New England like for me.  I am excited about that too.

This week for me has been full of seeing people to say bye, looking at everything I need to pack because yes I haven't started yet, and trying to not think about how I am again taking a year to be making minimal money.  But honestly, I wouldn't have my life any other way than it is right now.  I have some of the most supportive people around me daily and I am really lucky that I am going to be living the life I want again for another year.  I am happy and ready to start a new journey in New Orleans.  The way I look at it, everyone I know now has an unreal place to come visit.  I hope the city is ready for me!

Again, I am excited to start a new adventure and I am so thankful for the people who have come into my life in the  last year and for the people who have always been there with the utmost support.  I think Winnie the Pooh sums up perfectly how I feel right now...“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." In my case something is somethingS. 

Until next time blog readers...