It’s been way too long since I’ve updated the blog. We’re now more than halfway through 2022, and time is just flying by. Today is gray and gloomy and I’m writing this from the Massasoit Academic Resource Center Reception desk (we love being able to multitask at work;).
I’m not exactly sure where to begin, but I hope to look back on this blog someday and be happy I decided to keep up to date with these little life updates. Backing up to the very beginning of 2022, (another month full of COVID, but a bit more normalcy nonetheless):
january
I spent a week in Turks & Caicos where I met my best friend Sophie for a week of relaxation & SUN. Turks was the most beautiful country: bright white sand, perfect weather, crystal clear water, and the kindest people. We had so much fun, AND we didn’t get COVID — even leaving the US right after finding out my sister, and Sophie’s friend from home, tested positive.
Mid-January was spent doing all the things I love: went to a scrapbooking weekend with Nannie, Mom, and my sister, Liv in the city. We celebrated Nannie’s 70th and scrapbooked all night long, for two nights. Went to the theatre in Providence with mom and dad and saw an amazing show the following weekend. Submitted my enrollment deposit for graduate school (!!!!). We got a huge snowstorm at the end of the month — over 3 feet!!!! So we spent the remainder of January playing in the snow :)
february
In February I spent a lovely Valentine’s day in the city with Leo, did the ice bumper boats with Nannie and Papa and the fam in RI, celebrated mom’s 50th, AND we took the annual trip to NH with the entire Botelho Family and all the bfs and gfs (photos above!!!) We spent the weekend hiking, ice-fishing, playing games, and hanging out. All the boys brought water guns and spent the weekend shooting all of us :~) Other fun things in February included the Celtics game with dad, paint night in Foxboro, and the Museum of Science with the fam. We got so much snow in February, and enjoyed it all. March was a blur.
april
In April we saw the Script play in Boston with the Botelhos, we celebrated Easter late because mom and dad ditched us for Jamaica, and I met Sophie in Philadelphia for a girls weekend. We flew separately and met at the airport. We stayed at the cutest boutique hotel in the city with a rooftop deck and bar and had so much fun just being in a new place. We were across the street from the most amazing bagel place, that we of course frequented daily :) We somehow managed to also do a week of school (thanks to online learning:), and spent a couple of hours in a cute coffee shop getting homework done. We were within walking distance of all the coolest restaurants, shops, and bars — and spent so much time just walking! We went to a Phillies game, explored downtown, ate at fancy restaurants, and of course saw the Liberty Bell & the Rocky Steps. Definitely was a trip to remember. (And we made it home without COVID yet AGAIN, back home to both our moms who also tested positive right before we left:)
may
May was FULL of exciting things: I finished my yearlong internship with Manomet’s U360 Business Sustainability Program and competed as a finalist in the Annual Capstone Competition, where I presented my sustainable business plan to a panel of judges. I placed third runner-up in the competition and enjoyed every minute of it. At the same time, I said goodbye to the most amazing year-long experience interning for Manomet and set my sights on graduation. Mid-may, I received my honors cords at the most beautiful Graduating Honors Ceremony, where I presented my Capstone research, and met (in person!!!!) some of my favorite Professors. On May 21st, I graduated with my B.A. in Environmental Studies from Lesley University. My graduation was at the Leaderbank Pavillion in the Seaport. It was a HOT day and I knew absolutely no one (thanks COVID for a 2-yr college experience online) — but I did it and am so glad I did. I spent time afterward with my entire family, grandparents, and boyfriend :) I started spending more weekdays and weekends in Falmouth at the beach, soaking up the nice weather.
june
June was BUSY. Mostly all my free time was spent down the Cape. I saw Bon Iver in concert with my family at Bold Point Park in RI, The Lumineers and CAAMP in Mansfield with Dad and Liv, shopped with Liv and my mom for the Cape house (because renovations were finally done!!!!!!), and I went to visit a litter of puppies as I started to consider buying one of my own! We celebrated Ray’s high school graduation and my college graduation in June, and also Ray’s Eagle Scout award the same weekend :) He finished his Eagle project, and we celebrated him earning his Eagle rank with two other friends in his troop. The ceremony was amazing and we were all so proud of him! I started a 6-week beginner pottery class on my own and learned the basics of throwing, hand building, glazing, and more. I made my first wheel-thrown bowls, a hand-built mug, and some basic plates.
july
On the 1st of July Leo and I brought home our baby Koda! We bought an 8-week-old German Shepherd pup after only a few weeks of consideration:) She’s now 4 months old and we love her more than anything. Koda spent her first weekend with us at the Cape, celebrating the 4th of July. She didn’t mind the fireworks, the sand, or the crowds of people, and she adjusted so quickly to her new life with us. She’s now best friends with Star, our 4-yr old lab — and she definitely thinks she’s the queen of the house. She loves car rides, eating my socks and ICE, biting our toes, and playing with her SURPLUS of toys. The weekend following, Leo and I went on a trip with friends to Newport and explored Block Island for a day. I started graduate school and spent each week buckling down on making time for Accounting & Business Models homework. I finally got into a good groove with that. We spent the following weeks doing beach days, paddleboarding, selling mom’s soaps and honey at an Artisan Fair on the New Silver Beach tennis courts, seeing Keith Urban, playing with the new pup, and planning Grampa’s Surprise 80th birthday party. At the end of the month, we surprised Grampa with the best 80th birthday party. He had no clue, and the whole family came to celebrate him :)
august
This month I signed up for a second round of pottery, this time with Nannie and Mom. Joining independent studio allowed me to make my own creations, including more mugs, a dog bowl for Koda, and some trays. Sophie visited for a week at the beginning of the month, and we spent time exploring ALL over. We started in Falmouth and spent the following day in Provincetown, where we got matching tattoos, and explored downtown, the beaches, and the shops. The next day we drove to Olde Mystick, CT, and shopped, saw Mystic Pizza, visited a winery, and finally made the troupe back home. We took Koda to puppy kindergarten (her second week!), went to a Patriots pre-game, and spent the following days in Plymouth and the Cape. Finally, the dreaded Friday came, and I drove Sophie to the airport, where we said our “see you later’s,” knowing we’d plan some amazing trip soon enough :)
The rest of August has included taking Koda to puppy kindergarten each week with dad, working through the final weeks of my first semester of courses (one semester down a week from today!), soaking up the sun at the beach, a trip to Sandyneck (Koda’s first beach day!), riding the bike path through Falmouth, and finally — dropping Ray off for bootcamp orientation at Mass Maritime. He left this past weekend, and we won’t hear from him for 2 weeks! We’re already all looking forward to picking him up on the 2nd and enjoying Labor Day weekend on the Cape.
This year has been a blur and has already gone too fast. But, there are so many things to look forward to this fall!
I turn 22 next week and begin my new internship with a global consulting firm called Sustainserv on the 13th. The following week I leave for Germany for one week, with my dad, Liv, and Grampa — Oktoberfest for his 80th birthday! In October we’re walking 13.1 miles in the Jimmy Fund Walk, and I leave for Cancun with Leo for another week. I’ll continue on with 5 more accelerated MBA courses and somehow fit in all that homework while traveling :-) I’m feeling so lucky I have so many great things to look forward to with summer coming to a close. School is hard, owning a puppy is like a full-time job, and I’m so sad summer is winding down — but I can’t wait for what’s ahead.
xo
a