Looking at this past two years, it's simultaneously amazing to me that two years ago was just two years ago. On the one hand, it's been incredibly fast, and it's hard to believe it's been two years, and on the other hand, two years ago seems like a lifetime ago. In a way, it was.
On the very day that the nation watched hurricane Katrina roll through the south, steamrolling New Orleans, Alissa and I were oblivious and would essentially remain so for another couple of days. We had no idea the destruction that took place, no idea about the devastation of lives that occured, and we were perfectly happy about that. Not maliciously so, understand. We were just a little preoccupied: at 2:53 pm on that day, we welcomed our little girl into the world.
So, when I say that two years ago feels like a lifetime ago, I mean it. They say life-changing events have a way of altering your perception, and I agree. There was the previous 32 years and six months, and now there's the last 24 months, and counting. I've lived two lives in one, and while one life afforded a certain amount of freedom, this new one, 24 months young, sacrifices that freedom for the kind of beautiful dependence a child has on her parents. And let me emphasize that those 24 months have been amazing and incredibly entertaining in ways I could never have expected. People warned us about what we'd be giving up, that we needed to get out and enjoy our freedom because it would be nearly two decades before we'd get it back - but that our sanity would likely never return. On that last point, I have to agree. Being a parent is as stressful as it is fun, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. It's good stress.
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