237 Apartment Memories

 I am reminded by my dear sister and brother in law's first apartment in Fremont. They lived there for their first year in a half of marriage, and I would visit them often. It was those days of adjustment, change and often times nostalgia and sadness of not having my sister at home anymore. But it was those days of bloom, joy, richness and growth that we were able to meet up and visit each other and do fun things like go to our favorite Starbucks in Union City, take walks, watch movies, have sleepovers, go to Mass and thrift shop!

Many precious memories come back to me when I think of that time of Fall 2016, leading into 2017 and eventually until they moved, May 2018. Those were days where a lot was on my heart and mind. A lot of the time, things felt dark, and cloudy, heavy and melancholy. It wasn't until I would visit my sister that it would help those longings go away, rekindle much needed inspiration and learn how to continue on without her directly in my life, directly where I lived. 

I have sweet and fond memories of taking walks, and bike rides to the little nursery, and to Quarry Lakes. Of seeing the water sparkle as we took a break at a bench nearby to look out during our walks or bike rides. We would easily spend a number of hours at Starbucks chatting away, reading, and studying language with a black and white map of the world displayed nicely and inspiringly in the background. So many conversations, and deeper ones too, so much that was going on interiorly.

I remember Thanksgiving dinner we had there, their first year of marriage hosting and providing a wonderful and memorable meal. Just a week later we went out to a Persian restaurant for a report I had for an Anthropology class. I still have that photo. I loved the ambiance and little touches my sister displayed in her new home, and the big, glowing Christmas tree for their second year of Christmas and how it enlightened the room. We watched our favorite movie, Little Women that night and the lights sparkled, and our hearts laughed.

In the spring, I brought red orange roses and they were displayed on the table, and I talked about job prospects and the very real, hard transition of college to work, of being lonely and figuring things out. I remember being there for the exciting news of her first pregnancy, as well as the very devastating and sad news of her miscarriage and supporting her through it all. 

Those walls, that space held our hardships, our hearts that were at times aching, other times laughing and connecting, crying or just thinking and praying. Those walls and the company in it helped and carried me through a difficult season, one that I'm sure I will always remember and hold dear, because it taught me a lot and showed me a lot even through the pain. I look back on those days with gratitude, hope, inspiration and lessons to hold on to in these cold days of winter and light and grace filled days of Advent.