Goodbye, 2012. Hello, 2013!!!

What a year it has been! As I sit here reflecting on the past 366 days (thanks, leap year for the extra day), I can only smile and feel blessed for each and every person, lesson, trial, and laugh that graced its way into my life. From New Year’s Eve in Denver, CO to my road trip home in May, to the week-long driving vacation with Telisa to Canada, to my moves back and forth from Chattanooga to Nashville, it has been nothing less than an exciting roller coaster of fun, loss, gain, crazy emotions, love, and endless stories that will be told for years to come.

On this day last year I remember how ready I was for 2012 to arrive. Since mid-February of 2011 I had been praying for a new year and a change from everything that I knew.  Anxiously I held my breath and tried my best to get through one of the hardest years I have ever experienced. I eagerly welcomed 2012 with opened arms. Although there have been some obstacles, some sadness, and some loss, these past twelve months have been pretty great to me. I loved; I experienced new people and new places; I found courage within myself that had been pushed to the wayside; and most importantly, I had a blast and laughed a lot.

So, here’s to you 2012. Thank you for everything that you taught and showed me. Thank you for the people that stayed constant in my life and for those who walked out of it. Thank you for new relationships and the strengthening old ones. Thank you for the family time that I was abundantly given. Thank you for the laughter, the tears, and the memories.

And to 2013: I am so excited to see where this year takes me. New cities, new friends, new career opportunities, and possibly new love. I will cherish each and every day and live each one to the fullest. I will embrace challenges and keep an open mind to changes. Here we go… Welcome!

A reflection on the best of 2012:

NYE in Denver, CO with Cameron, Katie, Matt, Shawn, and Joseph

Easter weekend with J.R., Cam, Sheena, Chris, Tara, and Josh

Preds/ Avs Game in Denver with the MJ buddies

Garden of the God hikes

Red Rocks runs and hikes

First NBA game

Climbing Red Rocks with Seve, Drew, Matt, and Aaron

Girls’ Nights with Seve

Lessons from lost love relationships

Girl time in the city parks with Natalie

Spent the night in an airport by myself

Roadtrip home to Tennessee with my mom

Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw concert in Nashville

First visit to Chicago

Family reunion with the Mitchells in Avon, OH

Five new states: Oklahoma, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York

One new country: Canada

Niagara Falls and couchsurfing in Toronto with Telisa

New friends in Chattanooga & Nashville

Eric Church concert in Chattanooga

Week long fun with Aaron in Chattanooga, Nashville, and Atlanta

SEC Football games & tailgating in Knoxville, TN

Ten-year High School Reunion

Thanksgiving with the neighbors

Christmas with my family

 

 

The Ghosts of Christmases Past

It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Indeed, it is the busiest time of the year. With all of the parties, the shopping, and the traveling, life may be pushed to the way-side and momentarily forgotten about. Some of us do this intentionally because it’s easier and less stressful; others of us may do this unintentionally while every now and again getting a glimpse of the moment in which we are currently living. Whatever path one chooses, it is refreshing to be able to take a few minutes, or hours even, to reflect on life, the course of the past year, the outcomes of certain situations, etc.

For me today, I am choosing to reflect on those past Christmases that will always be so vivid and full of life in my memories. From the one I spent away from everything and everyone who was comfortable for me to the twenty-seven other years full of love, happiness, and joy that have been spent with the four people I love the most while adding several others along the way. Today, I want to cheers the memories, the laughter, the love, and the people that have made each and every holiday season special in its own way.

For the first eighteen Christmases of my young life, each was spent exactly like the previous one. Starting on the day after Thanksgiving and all the way up to the New Year, we embraced and rejoiced the traditions of our Ritter Family and our Christian beliefs. My parents, brother, sister, and I would constantly play Christmas music while spending time together baking Christmas cookies, fudge, and caramel corn, hanging Christmas lights, going to the Christmas Tree Farm to pick out “our tree” while sipping hot apple cider, decorating the tree with homemade ornaments, tinsel, and popcorn garland and the house with garland and an always-growing Christmas village on top of the entertainment center, attend church and watch the nativity candle be lit each Sunday while we prepare for the celebration of the Lord’s birth, and laugh and love each other with every ounce of our hearts in each second that passed. On Christmas Eve we would attend church as a family and then go home and wildly open the one present from my mom’s cousin, Carol, because the three of us pestered mom and dad until they finally gave in. From there, we’d enjoy a glass of eggnog in front of the wood-burning fire in our living room, and then head to bed and wait for Santa to arrive. And like clock-work every morning on December 25th, our little sister would awake earlier than the sun and make sure the rest of us did as well. We would all rush to the living room (some of us quicker than others because, even at a young age, I appreciated the meaning of “beauty rest” and was fully aware that the presents would not disappear if we slept in a little longer), admire the gifts under our beautiful tree, and begin opening our stockings (my favorite part!!). From there, we would take turns opening our gifts, appreciating everything we were blessed with and sharing those happy moments together as a family. After the gifts were opened, we would gather around the table for breakfast (always egg casserole, muffins, juice) while Christmas music serenaded us in the background. The rest of the day would be spent together, playing with our toys, putting together the pieces of whatever gifts needed assembling while enjoying great food and great company. The best day of the year without fail or competition. Always.

Along the way, one of us would welcome another into our family’s traditions, never taking away from the five of us, only adding more laughter and cheer. My sister-in-law was welcomed at Christmas 1996 and has been there every year since. From Christmas 2002 to Christmas 2008, Michael was the part of the family that we never knew was missing but only added that much more to the already perfect celebration that existed in our lives. He and I would celebrate every Christmas Eve by going to church with MeeMa and Pappy and then continue the celebration with our Aunt, Uncle, and cousins in Bellevue. Those Christmases, although long and busy with all of the traveling between Mt. Juliet and Dickson (where we celebrated with my family and with his each and every year without fail) will always hold a special part in my heart. Others came and went throughout the years, including five precious children who will someday look back and appreciate all of these memories with our family as well, and then finally my brother-in-law was introduced to our family in 2007. Since then, if I am not mistaken, he has been able to spend two Christmases with us between his deployments, and we are blessed that he will be with us again this year.

Last year was by far the hardest Christmas for my family (or for me at least). I spent Christmas apart from the four people who have always been a constant on that day. While they were enjoying the day together with the children and in-laws, I was alone in my newly-found Colorado home. On Christmas Eve I worked for the first time ever. After work I went over to a friend’s family Christmas to watch their family traditions unfold. Although it was tough, it was better than being entirely alone. That night she stayed with me at my apartment, and we had a slumber party in the living room. I opened the gifts from my family (who did everything in their power to make sure I felt the love I always had on this day) that had been patiently waiting under my very own tree.  The next morning, I was invited to a friend of a friend’s family Christmas. The friend, Josh, and I had met only once. The night before Christmas, he found out from our friend that I was going to be spending the day alone. He called his mom, and they insisted on inviting me to spend the day with them in their church and their home. Although I had never met these people, spending the day with a family was nice. At moments the tears were uncontrollable, but for the most part I embraced the experience I was given and tried to enjoy the day as much as possible. It was nice to be welcomed into a loving home and experience the love and joy that I had always felt from my family’s traditions.  At his church the congregation welcomed me with open arms and hugged me when they knew I needed it the most. At his house, I was able to Skype with my family as they opened the gifts I had sent to them. Then we spent the day watching football and Christmas movies, playing games, and eating dinner before attending church again that night. It was exactly what I needed if I could not be home with my family, and for that I will forever be grateful to Josh and his family.

Now with Christmas only two weeks away, I am anxiously awaiting the reunion with my family. The only thing I have wanted to happen this year will finally happen on December 25^th. I will awake with a smile on my face for several reasons: the celebration of Jesus’s birth, the laughter from my sweet nephews and nieces as they open their gifts, the gathering of the people I love the most, and the good food and cheer that will be waiting for us. I will hug my family members tighter than ever before. I will cry; I will laugh; I will love. I am sure to appreciate this day more than I have ever before. I will be grateful for each and every second we have together without hesitation.

Here’s to making this the best Christmas EVER.

This Is My Grown-Up Christmas List

Dear Santa,

[Preface: Each and every year as a child I would write a letter, address it to you, and, as eagerly and excitedly as possible, I’d send it off to the North Pole. Since entering adulthood, I have not been as faithful. Last year was the first year I truly spent time thinking about what I really wanted for my life, so I grabbed a pen and a sheet of paper and composed my very first adult Christmas List to you, St. Nick. Of course my list last year was drastically different compared to that written by my five-year old self. Back then I wished for plastic dolls, Easy Bake ovens, dress up clothes and pretend makeup: you know… the silly things that to anyone other than a child seem ridiculous. Last year I remember asking you for a trip home to Tennessee so I wasn’t forced to spend the holidays alone. From there I asked for a handsome, kind man with whom to spend Christmas Day if all the departing flights out of Denver were booked and a trip home was impossible. I may or may not have even squeezed in a request for a tropical vacation, a life-long supply of toothpaste and floss, and possibly a new wardrobe and/or marriage proposal from Mr. Tim Tebow. But understandably, those were just minuscule details that I am sure went accidently overlooked. I’ve have found it in my heart to forgive, forget, and move on from the unanswered Christmas List of 2011. And, that is what brings me to this list: the Christmas List of 2012.]

My Christmas List:

1.        I wish for my entire family to be together on Christmas Day in Tennessee like we always were growing up: laughing till our faces hurt, eating till our bellies are full, and loving each other in the way only a family can.

2.        Again, I wish for a handsome, kind man who will love me and will forever receive all the love I have to give him. Put a big red bow on him, if you insist.

3.        I wish for an Airstream or VW Bus so I can easily take adventures whenever the nerve strikes me.

4.       I wish for two plane tickets to South Africa in June 2014. Along with that, I ask for a two-week all-inclusive resort stay, a paid Safari, all immunizations to get into and out of the continent, and a shield of safety from any and all diseases and wild animals.

5.        I wish that money wasn’t a problem for me, my family, my friends, and this world. So, if you could make it snow Benjamins, that would be spectacular.

6.        I wish for an unlimited shopping spree for eight hours through either Forever 21 or Rue 21. Your pick.

7.        I still wish for a life-long supply of free toothpaste, floss, Crest White Strips, and new toothbrushes (preferably pink in color).

8.        I wish that my face will be on a billboard. It doesn’t matter in what city, state, country, or continent. I just want a billboard. For anything. Anywhere.

9.         I wish that throughout this busy season, everyone chooses to live each day to the fullest and not forget that any day could be his or her last day on this earth. I wish that we don’t overlook what is right in front of us as we are preparing for a huge feast and a day of opening presents that won’t take place till weeks ahead.

10.     I wish for a real home in 2013. A place I don’t ever want to abandon. A place that feels like “home” when I come back to it after a trip or a long day at work. A place that is mine. Not a room that I am renting. Not a couch in a friend’s living room. Not a basement that is underneath three other people. I don’t need a big, fancy mansion. I just need a home. At this point I don’t even have a city preference. All I need is for it to feel like my home.

Thanks, Santa. Be safe out there and enjoy all of the spiked eggnog and cookies this Christmas Eve.

With all my love,

Erin Ritter

There's Always More Behind a Song

Life over the past month with a singer/songwriter/ rock musician has been interesting to say the least. Although I am not getting the doctor’s recommended eight hours of sleep like I should be, I can’t complain at all about my current situation. I get to hear fantastic music all the time; I am able to critique new lines and bridges of songs (in spite of the fact that I have no clue as to what a “bridge of a song” is); I get to attend invite-only car-sessions to hear the latest and greatest album before its release; and, hopefully, one day when Fight the Quiet makes it superstar huge, there will be a red-carpet affair and/or Grammy winner speech shout-out in my future. 
 

The best part about living with such a talented musician is the fact that no matter what mood he is in, he can create something magical through the strings on his guitar, the feelings within his heart, and the words that come out of his mouth.  He could be on Cloud Nine because a cute girl gave her number to him the night before at a bar. From this will come an optimistic song about the incredibly warm feelings on the inside that comes from that moment when one has a connection with someone for the very first time.  Or if it’s a really bad day and the pain from his newly divorced life is too much to handle, the energy that comes from his hands onto his guitar and from his feet as he stomps out a new, full of rage beat is electrifying. Despite the situation, the words are always real. There’s a story behind each and every lyric. The emotions, although they desperately want to stay hidden forever, come flowing out as if they are trying to run away from themselves. And, to watch all of this as it is unfolding is truly a blessing.

We’ve all been there. We’ve all had spectacular moments of extreme happiness without a care in the world. We’ve also all had the lowest of the low moments when for a slight second living seems unbearable and even foolish in a sense. No matter what the situation and/or outcomes are of the two extremes, we each have our own way of dealing with it. For my roommate, it is music. For me, it is writing. For the girl next door, it may be painting. Put all of these things together, and the world is blessed with beautiful art that is full of emotion and rich in life and life's hardest, yet most incredible experiences.  I am glad that I have finally allowed myself to open up my mind and look at things differently: being able to see the underlying meaning behind things that don't seem very deep on the surface is amazing.  Observing a painting, reading a poem, or listening to a song is magical. There's always more behind a work of art than what one merely sees on the surface. We just have to decide to make the concious effort to look deeper and appreciate everything- the good and the bad- that went into creating the masterpiece. Once we do that, the rewards are limitless.