A Look Back at 2013

This year was one of something I haven't felt in a while... stability. Throughout the year I have done so much, but I was only reminded of that recently when a family member said to me, "Wow, Erica, what a year."

January

The beginning of 2013 looked promising. I was interning with the Pacers who were making a terrific run through the regular season. David was working at a drug lab and was really enjoying his work. I started my second semester of graduate school and was eagerly anticipating the upcoming months and what post-graduation life would bring. Oh, and I made it into my first sports gif.

February

My birthday month was a busy one. The Pacers played the majority of their games at home meaning more time at work. It was fun! I was starting to get the hang of things around Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and was beginning to feel more comfortable in an NBA locker room. David took me to Chicago for my 25th birthday and Valentine's Day. We froze our butts off! But we had a blast. We went to the top of the Sears Tower, looked around Soldier Field, window shopped, rode the ferris wheel on the Navy Pier, and ate a mouth-watering meal at Ditka's Restaurant.

March

March Madness hit home for me after learning I would be able to cover the NCAA Men's Midwest Regional in Indianapolis. I attended and covered both the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, and was in the building the day Kevin Ware suffered a brutal leg injury. (Something I'll never forget). David got a promotion at his job and quickly moved through the ranks to become the regional manager at the drug lab he was working for.

April

At the start of April, my other internship with VYPE High School Sports Magazine sent me to Chicago to cover the McDonald's All American Games. I was impressed at the level of talent at such a young age. April also saw the start of the NBA Playoffs and I was able to cover the first round matchup between the Hawks and Pacers. My second semester of graduate school finished up in late April complete with late nights and long papers. But I made it through. I also started freelancing for the NCAA - incredible - and have been able to write about a dozen stories for them throughout the course of the year.

May

May was a turning point in 2013. I started looking for jobs while David left his. He learned that sometimes you have to give up what you are doing today to plan for a better tomorrow. I started my final session of graduate school and left my internship with VYPE. I quickly learned that the opportunities you may think have little value actually come out on top. I appreciate everything Rich and Phil at VYPE have done, and continue to do for me.

June

The start of summer saw the end of graduate school. I was no longer a student. The Pacers lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals and my days of working for an NBA team were up. I loved every minute of that internship and I would do it all again if I could. David started working at another job that made him much happier. I lost a classmate from high school in a weightlifting accident. He was an amazing man and I think about him often. Toward the end of June, Dave and I were both able to take some time to visit family. He went home to Charlottesville for a week while I went home to Rochester for Emily's bridal shower.

July

Emily had a second bridal shower, this time in Indianapolis. I was able to show my grandma and mom around the city and spend some quality time with my sisters. There was a fatal car accident in my hometown that claimed the life of three young people and severely injured two more. I watched from afar as my small town came together to grieve. My job hunt was in full force and I finally heard back from a high school soccer coaching job at a nearby school. I started waking up early to coach teenage girls in the hottest month of the year. It was my dream. I was finally around soccer again.

August

August saw more job hunting and an opportunity finally presented itself. I was a finalist for a sports reporter position in Evansville, IN. I made the three hour trip, but didn't get the job. It ended up being for the best. I interviewed for a job at a small newspaper just north of Indy. I started working there for several days, but something didn't feel right. I followed my gut and risked waiting for another job to come my way. It was the right decision. David turned 26 in August and we celebrated with a new grill and cabobs. This was also the month that a dog attacked Juneau in front of our apartment, and after days of arguing with the complex, the other dog and owner were removed. Phew. Soccer season started and I loved it. It kept my mind occupied from my ferocious job search and I made some new friends!

September

All the waiting finally came to an end. I was offered an assistant editor position at The Saturday Evening Post magazine in downtown Indy. I started on September 16th. There was so much relief. Soccer season was going full force and my girls were winning... a lot.

October

David and I celebrated our three year anniversary on October 7th. We have worked hard to become the people we are, and we have never been in a better place. The Fishers girls soccer team made history in October by winning their first game in sectional play. They defeated Noblesville in penalty kicks. In round two, they defeated arch rivals Hamilton Southeastern by a 1-0 overtime score. The girls went on to face Pendleton Heights in the sectional finals, the night of Emily's rehearsal dinner. The night before, Emily celebrated her last night as a single woman with friends and family from all over the world. We went on a brewery tour of Indianapolis, and I don't remember much after that. Saturday morning, after some ibuprofen and lots of water, Emily, Sarah and I were able to sneak away for some sister bonding time over biscuits and gravy at a nearby diner. We then sweated through the wedding rehearsal and were able to sit down to get our nails done. We enjoy some genuine German cuisine at the rehearsal dinner, and after a glass of wine to calm my nerves, I was able to help coach the Fishers Tigers to a 6-0 win and the first sectional title in school history. The girls would go on to win regionals and semi-state in championship fashion. I stood next to my sister as she married Shane and partied all night long with my amazing family. My dad and I Texas-two-stepped and Sarah was kicked off the dance floor due to dropping one too many glasses. Such a great month!

November

The weather quickly turned cold shortly after the wedding. I went from coaching in a t-shirt and shorts to long johns and a winter coat. The first weekend in November was the state finals. My girls fought hard and lost a heartbreaker to Avon in overtime. The final score, 1-0, really could have gone either way. It was a great match. Dave and I attended the banquet and I was given a beautiful framed photo of the team. Certainly a season I'll never forget. Dave and I had our first solo Thanksgiving. I cooked some of our favorites from home and we enjoyed some 'us' time.

December

I was able to go home and watch one of my best friends, Michelle Bub, marry her longtime love, Jody. It was a beautiful ceremony on a slightly snowy afternoon. I was also able to catchup with some of my good friends from college, enjoy too much wine, and see my family. I saw Sarah's new apartment in downtown Rochester and spent some couch time with Mom in front of the fireplace. The next weekend, two of my oldest friends from high school were married in Caledonia, although I was unable to make the trip. VYPE asked me to cover a Colts game and after 25 years, I finally attended an NFL game. (It was the last of any pro or college sport that I could check off my list as having attended.) Emily and Shane came to Indy with their dog, Belle, and I spent some time looking through wedding photos. Dave and I will spend our first solo Christmas together and plan on having a very mellow New Years.

Indy has been good to us thus far, and although it is nice to feel stable in one place for longer than a year, we miss our families. Our goal for 2014 is to get back to the East Coast. There are some exciting adventures on the horizon. David has decided to go back to school to earn his Bachelor's in Criminal Justice with a focus on Homeland Security. He's the best. He has been 100% supportive of everything I have been able to do this year and I couldn't ask for a better man. I have been able to take on more responsibility at work including tons of social media strategy and because of that, have seen some potential opportunities pop up. Juneau is growing up, but not slowing down. He has the best personality. I have made some wonderful new friends, and lost touch with some along the way. I've learned to surround myself with positive, upbeat, soul-searching people, and it is amazing to see how much that pays off in your external life.

Cheers to 2013 for being a great year. Here's to a happy, healthy and adventurous 2014!

Why I write....

I had a revelation today.

I'm one of those people who find it hard to be in the moment. I get bored easily hence moving and living in four different cities since I graduated college. I constantly find myself longing for a moment of time I have already lived in or find myself wishing for one that may happen in time.

I am a writer by nature. I always thought that being a writer meant that I had to be a reader, too. But I'm not a reader. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good book every now and then. I've learned somewhere along the way that my way of doing things is usually agains the norm. Therefore, I'm not a reader, but I am a writer at heart.

This past week I've had three freelance assignments that have taken the back burner to my personal blog. I'll get that work done, and I'll get it done well, but my mind has been going a million miles a minute. As I sit here to write this, I have my television playing, but on mute. I have Pandora blasting country music. I have dinner cooking. I have my phone blinking with text messages sitting on the couch next to me. I'm a mess...

Writing puts me in the moment. I will never understand the heartache and the pain that has been felt this week. Some people will hear the news, cry for a moment, and push through their day. Other people will hear the news and make sure to spend some extra quality time with friends and family. Still others will channel their pain by organizing a fundraiser or benefit.

I will write.

My revelation came as I was walking up the stairs after seeing a movie with David. The movie was good, it was funny, it distracted me for a period of time. But as I was coming home to my computer, I needed to write.

I'm the middle child and as such, I inherently have an identity crisis. Emily, the older sister, is brilliant and ambitious. She is well-spoken, stubborn in her beliefs and dedicates her life to teaching others. Sarah, the younger sister, is hilarious. She is outspoken, creative, and has become a hard-working, driven young woman.

I always wanted to be smart and funny. And I think I am. Those are qualities that are easily noticed. `

Today, though, I realized I am the thinker. I am the independent, dramatic, emotional one. I find a story line in mundane events. I get lost in thought, and to the dislike of those I love the most, I enjoy my alone time with my computer as much as I enjoy going out with friends.

I've been emotional this week. No, I don't know those involved on a personal level. Does that really matter? My emotion is fueled by the broken hearts and broken families that will never be the same. It is fueled by the girls who have a long recovery ahead of them. It is fueled by the outpouring of love and support that I have seen on Facebook and Twitter. It is fueled by the fact that I am eight hours away from home and I miss my family.

Small Town Soccer Girl

The game of soccer was my first love. My childhood memories and most of my friends were made on the soccer field. My dad coached, my sisters played with me and my mom was at every single game no matter what. I recall the first year I was given the Cal-Mum Varsity soccer jersey to wear. I had long wanted to trade in the ratty, hand-me-downs I wore as a JV player to wear the fresh maroon and white of the Varsity team.

We played for a small town. None of us would go Division I, we weren't very technical, and if we had tried out for a Class A team, the majority of us would be cut.

But we had two things that were undeniable: we were tough as nails, and we had heart.

I had the skill to play at the collegiate level, so I set out to find the right school. I ended up playing at a small school in Ohio, about six hours away from home. The girls were great, the coaches were alright, and the soccer was fast. Sadly, though, I lost the love for the game.

I don't think there was a 'right school' for me. What I loved most about soccer was the people and the place I played for. I longed for the maroon and white. I longed for my small town.

I made the decision to finish my education closer to home. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I know I could have played all four years in college, but I would be doing it for the wrong reasons.

Being close to home allowed me to watch my little sister play every game in her final season as a Red Raider. I was able to watch my younger teammates develop into beautiful and tough young women. I was able to watch Sarah lead her team to the state championship game.

Fortunately, I have re-found my love for the game and will be coaching at a class 4A high school in Indiana. The girls are very talented, technical and strong. They play year-round and the majority of them will probably play in college.

I think back to my team in high school, and I know we could've beaten them. Why? Because we were tough as nails... and we had heart.

Sports to me have always been about more than the talent and the numbers. I wanted to become a sports journalist because I wanted to tell the stories of the athletes; I wanted to tell about the trials and tribulations of those who dedicate their lives to sports. I have never been and never will be able to tell you the batting averages of the best hitters in the league or how many passing yards Peyton Manning had last season. To me that is just scratching the surface of what sports are all about.

I believe I have such a soft spot for these stories because of the Cal-Mum community. In a world full of powerhouse sports teams, we were the underdog, no matter if we had the better record or not. We weren't playing in club leagues all year round and we weren't coached by professionals. We succeeded because we had hard-nosed, hard-working, small-town people behind us.

The town of Caledonia is a typical small town where life revolves around sports. Some may view this as a bad thing. I don't. I think it tells a bigger story. The leading goal scorer on the soccer team is also a girl scout. While cheering on the football team you are also cheering on this years' lead in the musical. The quarterback is also the first baseman on the baseball team. The cheerleader on the top of the pyramid is also the president of the National Honor Society.

Sports tell wonderful stories, whether they end in tragedy or triumph. Caledonia is resilient. No matter the amount of grief and heartache, the entire town will still be out to watch the Raiders play Leroy on Friday night. They will be there when the seniors on the volleyball team play their final home game. They will be waiting at the monument as the softball team brings home that sectional trophy.

KACM. I'm thinking of you.

Caledonia-Mumford Red Raiders

I'm feeling rather nostalgic today after hearing the news of the horrendous crash that killed two and injured three Cal-Mum alum. For me Cal-Mum is home and although I've traveled to new places and met plenty of new people, those who I share my hometown memories with will always have a special place in my heart. It's hard to describe the connection and love that a small town like Caledonia has unless you grew up in one. At times the small size may irritate you and drive you crazy, but looking back I don't think I'd have it any other way. Because of the size of the school I was able to play multiple sports, be involved in music and art and, most importantly, get to know every person that I went to school with whether they graduated five years before me or five years after. I knew who they were and who their parents were and what they did for a living... in short, it is a wonderful place.

I am constantly reminded, sadly, that this accident wasn't the first loss in our small community. Just a month ago we lost one of the best guys I've ever known to a weight lifting accident. In the past year there has been so much loss and grief it seems that just when the black cloud finally lifts, it starts to rain again.

In times like these I wish I could go back in time when we were invincible and the most important thing was making the soccer team or being named lead in the musical. I spent some time looking through scrapbooks and photo albums today in order to bring back those feelings. So many great memories in Caledonia. I love you all and you're in my thoughts!

Core 4 and our moms!

Sarah's High School Graduation... missed ya, Em!

Class of 2006!

Writing... and what it's supposed to mean

I was told I wasn't what my dream job was looking for. I felt down. I started watching Netflix, but still felt down. I went on a walk with Juneau, and still felt down.

Then I sat outside and thought... I just want to write.

Writing has been an outlet for me. Just looking at this blog and the emotions I feel after re-reading my posts from years ago... it's amazing.

But for the past year I have been writing for work, trying to find the right words at the right time. I have been trying to write. And that is not fun, nor is it a release of emotion. Sometimes there is no purpose to writing. Sometimes writing is the purpose.

Words are written instead of spoken because you can always return to them and be in the moment again. I have always been best with my words. I hate when words start to be hard to write.

While studying journalism, the warning remains 'watch what you put on the internet'. You never know who is watching. Sometimes, I wish my future employer finds this blog. This blog is me. My best writing is here. I am good at what I do, but when words become hard, I struggle, just like anyone.

I may be the most emotional person in the world. But words put me at peace. They boost my mood. Lyrics, quotes, the ramblings of a disappointed college grad. They all belong in the world for some reason or another.

we both carry baggage, we picked up along the way

so if you love me do it gently, and i will do the same

Spring Hope

Do you ever wonder who you are? Do you ever wonder where you are going to be?

In the last six months as a struggling, sometimes failing, graduate from college who had to settle for working for her father, I have driven myself crazy trying to find a solid answer to these questions. At I think I have finally come to peace with an answer... I have no fucking idea.

The recent past has been filled with lovers quarrels, sibling rivalries, debt, loss of a job, loss of an apartment, loss of my independence, rejection from my dream graduate school, depression, tears. I have thrown myself into new television shows and books just to hide myself from the real feelings of my daily life. I have felt happier, to say the least.

However, as the days get longer and the sun seems to be poking through the clouds a little more, I can see that I have come full circle. I am no longer at rock bottom, although I have my moments. My problem now is that I have felt every emotion I could encounter for every day the past several months, and I am ready to move on...

I have come to this point in my life before, where I realize that the path is not already drawn for us and sometimes taking a leap is just what you need to get yourself out of the darkness. It is a strange feeling thinking it may be easier to stay in a place where hiding from your true potential and all those emotions may be easier than taking a new adventure, a new risk. It's always easier to fall asleep at night than to wake up in the morning.

It's refreshing knowing that I am so young, so full of ideas, and I have the opportunity to fail or succeed. I am tired of excuses: the economy sucks, Bachelor's Degrees don't get you far anymore, you don't have enough experience, etc and fucking etc.

I think I have finally grasped the notion that this is MY LIFE. I don't care if my decisions piss you off, if I'm not doing what the plan was all along, if I fail down and have to ask for a little help to get back up again. I have always been told that life is a journey, not a destination. I think that may be the best advice anyone could ever give.

sometimes you just have to remember why you fell in love

try not to judge me, cause we've walked down different paths

Glass- Thomson Square

Ours

"the truth of the matter is happiness isn't a constant. you get fleeting glimpses of it. when the rest it you are fighting for those moments. but those moments are what make it all worth it."
                                                                           - taylor swift

Winston Churchill

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something in your life.

NEW SONG OBSESSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXXz8_equHQ

Revelations

I have been having some revelations as of late. I may owe this to Dave, after telling me one too many times that I do have a choice in my life.

I don't want to have a bad attitude anymore. I want happiness, hope, love, excitement, adventure... freedom. Freedom may seem deep, but this depression, this wave of not feeling good enough, it has a hold on me. I am making people around me sad, and I am staying sad.

I don't want to live this life wishing. I don't want to live this life to make someone else's easier. My life is mine for living. I see some changes on the horizon....

there's something in your eyes says we can beat this...

You know, I’ve got this theory; there are two kinds of people in the world. There are lyric people and music people. You know, the lyrics people tend to be analytical. You know, all about the meaning of the song. They’re the ones you see with the CD insert out like five minutes after buying it, pouring over the lyrics, interpreting the hell out of everything. Then there’s the music people…who could care less for the lyrics as long as it’s got, like, a good beat and you could dance to it. I don’t know, sometimes it might be easier to be a music girl and not a lyric girl. But since I’m not, let me just say this: sometimes things find you when you need them to find you. I believe that. And for me, it’s usually song lyrics.
-One Tree Hill