"You know," she turned around to face me in the line, "I think this year is gonna be good for us." She smiled in a way that made me believe it. An internal churning began with a little stomach flip. The espresso aroma seemed more powerful in that moment as we waited for our drinks; the colors more vivid. "Really?" I asked. "Really," she responded with quiet confidence, "just you wait and see."
That was exactly one year ago, December 19, 2008. It was a bitter cold evening after work, and we chose to get coffee instead of dinner. It was that kind of day. Leave it to caffeine to be the Muslim girl's crutch.
Since that conversation, I found that I have been mentally cataloging certain things that have happened over the year. February, when my music received recognition on MySpace. May, the contract, my spontaneous Egypt trip that changed everything, and my getaway trip to Chicago where the silence and many miles of walking were therapeutic; almost a rite of passage to process my trip to the homeland. July, an ending and beginning of many things: my aunt and cousins, laughter and tears. August, a romantic vacation where I finally gave in to many thoughts I'd been having. September, heartbreak (of a different kind) and yet another new beginning, and the past three months being a combination of self-realization, actualization, and rediscovery.
Since our conversation, my friend has experienced her own share of changes, and it truly is something amazing. Because as we look back on the year together, we realize how much change has actually occurred. And that's probably how it's like every year. We go through these changes, but never take the time to truly acknowledge our blessings, our milestones, and even some things that we considered failures, but later realize that they were successes in disguise.
"God doesn't give you the people you want. Instead, he gives you the people you need. To teach you, to hurt you, to love you and to make you exactly the way you're meant to be."
I can't help but wonder: what will I write one year from today?
