"To Everything There Is a Season"

Autumn is upon us. And to be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about that. Although this is my favorite time of year – the time to wear sweatshirts, enjoy the fall foliage and crisp air, drink hot cider and cocoa, and start thinking about holiday travels – this season I’m feeling a bit nostalgic for years past.

Our five-year reunion at Butler is next weekend. David and I won’t be attending, although I’m not sure why. We just never discussed it really. I’m on campus twice a week now, and every night when I leave class, I can’t help but look around and remember the good times I had there. The late-night study sessions. Catching a movie in David’s room… on a weekday no less! The cold walks to Starbucks for hot chocolate, which I don’t think anyone else on campus ever ordered. Hanging out with my friends at the sorority house (or, more likely, the fraternity house!), eating junk food and just having a good ol’ time. In college, I thought my life was so complicated. Too many things to juggle; never enough time. And now I look back and think, gosh, life was simpler then. I guess it’s all relative.

Autumn also makes me think back to high school marching band and Friday night football games. Marching band season was the happiest time of the year for me. I got to spend a lot of time with my friends. We worked hard, but we loved doing it. And we shared many special moments and created a lot of good memories from those days.

Talk about a blast from the past!


Now I keep up with my old friends on Facebook, most of whom are married with children. It’s really bizarre to think of these people that I knew so well for so long as adults with little ankle-biters ruling the house. I miss them, and I miss the moments we all used to share together.

I suppose five years from now, when I have a little ankle-biter ruling my house, I’ll look back and think, gosh, 27 was a good age; things were so simple then. And when the tree leaves start to turn, and the air starts to chill, I’ll remember my 20s -- the Saturday nights at the bar, the cookouts, the NFL get-togethers, the weddings -- and all the good moments I shared with friends new and old.

Me and two of my good IFSA friends, Jeff and Becky, draw attention at a bar dressed for '80s prom.


I’ll look back, and I’ll be happy.

September Updates

Sorry for the delay, y'all! It's been busy around the Stelsel household. Good things to report though. We've had several good visits with family and friends. Dave and Connie and Aunt Sharon came down one weekend; my Dad came down one weekend; I went to visit my college roomate Emily and her little boys in Lafayette; and David, Chase and I went down to KY last weekend (Jamie, Shan and Braden were in town).

Jackson and Cooper help me pick out a Halloween costume.

So what's new in our world?

My oldest nephew Jackson (6) is playing football now. He's a lineman, and he has nicknamed himself "Crusher." I love it. His team isn't great, but he's pretty good at tackling those 1st and 2nd graders. I was a proud aunt sitting up in the stands cheering him on.



Braden is a big 1-year-old! We didn't see much of him or his parents because they got in the night before we headed back to Indy, but I can tell you he is a very happy boy. Full of smiles and laughter....just like his momma.



David has a new office. Valeo officially moved to a new building at the end of August. He likes the new digs, not only because it's brand new and bigger but also because a) his commute is shorter and b) there is a McAlister's Deli 2 floors directly below him.

Work and school are going well for me. I'm taking International Marketing and Legal and Ethics in Business. The marketing class is disappointing and not nearly as interesting as I was hoping. But the law class is very interesting (surprise surprise). So I'm keeping busy, but nothing too out of control at the moment.

Here's wishing all of you are well. I'll try to do better with the updating. Boy, I've really been slacking lately. Sorry!