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7.13.2011

after school. (after juilliard).

love these ladies

black shudders

little miss

pizza, pizza

pappa love

flower boxes

red door, green house

at eastern market

green leaves

the unit

different things around our necks

levain

bwhite3

i remember at the age of nineteen sitting on the weathered red chairs in the lobby of juilliard when a dear friend in his fourth and final year took a breath, appraised the chair, appraised me and said: it's going to be strange not coming here every day. i'm not sure how i'll do it.


no one tells you how hard the time just after college is. no one prepares you for it.

for the countless hours you traverse the city taking more classes, meeting more people, working never-ending jobs to pay the never-ending bills, all the while wondering what possessed you to get a bachelor of fine arts in the first place? for those nights you find yourself on the bathroom floor because really that red wine did not go down well or really that guy was so-not-the-one, but this feeling, well--goodness, it sure does feel like a broken heart.

(or the nights, like tonight, you find yourself sitting propped against the toilet because the bathroom is the only place you can connect to the internet).

but then again, no one prepares you for how it's better than all that's come before. how it's richer and fuller.

for that first phone call from a girlfriend to tell you she's pregnant--for how much fun it is to watch these people you love marry and grow families. and how you get to choose--yes, choose!--who you surround yourself with. who you love. who you laugh with. who you call in the middle of the night--from the bathroom floor--when that old sadness creeps in.

and no one says how there's nothing so much like love in this life. love of a child. of a friend. love of all those small things that amount to a life.

and lord help me, if there's anything i've learned from naomi over the years, it's how to love the small things.

the thing is, watching as she and josh parent eleanor--as they give selflessly of themselves, i have a feeling that in the coming years i'm going to get a good schooling on the big things, as well.



dear naomi, josh, and little miss e: thank you for a wonderful weekend, your wonderful friendship, and the love you so freely give.




(plus, it's so fun to hang out with people that lug their camera everywhere and take just as many photos as i do {most people don't get it}).

52 comments:

Abi said...

i think you are just amazing!

nancy said...

this post sent multiple waves of goosebumps over me... and I'm not completely sure why.
I love the way you give these moments - the small, giddy moments of happiness along with the dizzingly sorrowful, hardest moments - their own spotlight. one sort is not more important than the other, and I respect your ability to delve into each.

how do you overcome these people that just don't get the camera thing?! I'm a novice in the photo-taking world; my nearest and dearest are not yet used to having a camera in the room!

Mrs MacKenzie said...

that is so funny! i was just thinking today how i feel a greater appreciation for the small things in life since i have started blogging. naomi's blog especially makes me feel that way!

Unknown said...

you're so chic...seriously.

i have to get over the camera thing. i'm usually okay with it but i really need to be okay with having my picture taken.

jackie said...

gah it all sounds so scary, the life after graduation thing. but you're right; i'll get to choose my life, chose my friends, choose my love. i'm already doing that now, but i suppose it'll get even better. i'm watching friend #1 get married at the end of august and i guess that's gonna get the ball rolling on us all growing up. it'll be so exciting to see my friends grow

Autumn @ Autumn All Along said...

Life after graduation is scary. I felt so empty the day that I graduated and had no idea how different being an adult would be. I'm in grad school now, but still came a full-time job as well uncertainty of what lies ahead.

Sheila... said...

makes me think when I was first brought to you by naomi's blog, when they were wee tiny and now you guys are both super stars. Thanks for blogging, you enlighten my day.

Brittany said...

as always, beautifully said. your pictures are just incredible! also, i love your navy outfit. that sweater and skirt look so great on you! i also really love your long gold necklace. i've been looking for one for ages!

Unknown said...

awe, this is really sweet :) ...and their baby is adorable.

Malin said...

Meg, yet another one of those beautifully written post... Always looking forward to reading what you're writing :)

Anonymous said...

Well said, as ever.
Its so true, those little moments that are special, because of the people you choose to surround yourself with.

Taylor said...

Keep lugging your camera around for you take such beautiful pictures for us all to swoon over.

I've never been to DC. I want to go to there!

Sal {Daniel and I} said...

Life after study is always an interesting limbo land! We've both been through it and seen family and friends create new lives for themselves :-).

Your friends are gorgeous!

Sal x

http://danielandi.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I just found your blog through Naomi's blog. Your post had me in tears. What a beautiful thing to write. I'm so happy I found another great blog to follow!

Jasmine said...

I'm happy I found your blog. Your words are so true it almost made me cry..

cocopot said...

that baby is such a cutie!

Is that a Canon ?
what lens are you using?!

Jenni Austria Germany said...

that gave me chills!

ps i looove your outfit.

Lo said...

so beautifully written...it has been a year since I graduated...but it does not feel like a year and it is tough for sure...thanks so much for this post it has made me feel a lot less alone :) -Lo

Unknown said...

really loved this meg. so sweet how you and naomi both wrote about each other today -- you can tell how much you two truly adore and admire each other. xx

Celeste said...

the best. post college really does feel like a broken heart sometimes. <3

Emily said...

I just want to squeeze those little baby cheeks! lol

Emily http://www.mywordsinterestslife.blogspot.com

Danielle said...

your photos are just stunning! you look so happy to be surrounded by your friends! i'm so glad i found your blog via naomi - it's lovely!

Jessica Holly said...

AH! Cute baby! You are wonderful :)

Wendy said...

Meg-

I have been a long time reader, but this is my first time commenting. I just wanted to echo so many of these comments-- that you look positively radiant in these photos, that you can tell just how much this couple and this child open up a very special place of your heart. There seems to be a noticeable shift in your expression-- you look like you're glowing in these photos! So whatever you are doing, keep it up girl! You look stunning.


-Wendy

Mel said...

What a beautiful post! I remember that first year after college, everything was hazy and strange and needed adjusting. You captured it perfectly!

- Mel

Annie said...

"but then again, no one prepares you for how it's better than all that's come before. how it's richer and fuller."

this, exactly. those first months after college are such a rude awakening, a slap in the face. and yet now? now, i couldn't be happier. and life is -- dare i say it? -- better. really, truly better. cheers to that.

Unknown said...

I hope I am as cool a Mummy as your friend naomi.

Love the words, as always they explain it all so beautifully.

xx

Anonymous said...

what a special friendship!! :)

Arianna said...

Beautiful, amazing.. all of you!

Jennifer Rod said...

im without words. totally love this post. and will share it. :)

Laura Marie said...

I love how happy all of you look--such pure and easy joy on your faces! Gorgeous, Miss Meg. Just gorgeous. (The words, the ideas, and--of course--you!)

Spratt said...

Great post! I wish I could write as well as you.
Is that pizza from Grimaldi's?
And are those cookies from Levain Bakery?
I got to go to both of those fine eateries during my recent trip to New York.
:)

Laurie said...

How fun and sweet! I wish I had a friendship like that.

And little miss e is adorable!

Alex Byer said...

Stunning. Thank you for summing up the post-grad life beautifully.

look a little closer said...

this was a great post and yes, yes, yes, i couldn't agree more. how i wish they told us about that limbo land. my first year after college, i did everything i could to stay involved in the "college scene" doing college radio, singing in the college choir, being in a college play! what was i thinking. it only hit me when i realized they finished the construction they started that i needed to leave and start my life. still, no regrets. just love, love, love. :)

http://lookalittlecloser.com/blog/2010/10/14/like-the-imu/

p.s. toting a big camera around is exactly what's for. :)

Jennifer M. said...

Yeah they really should give you a course on what to expect when you're not in school anymore after being there for the first 20 years of your life or so. I was totally unprepared for the "real world", for sure. It sounds like you are adjusting well though. :)

Also it's so lovely to see two of my favorite blog people hanging out together! I didn't realize you were friends in real life. That's so cool. :)

Alexa said...

I am in my first year out of college and find myself confronting these same thoughts regularly these days. Thanks for this!

Amal said...

i love your love of the small things. like shutters. and your appreciation the enormous things. like parenting. and for connecting the dots of it all, even from a manhattan toilet.

and why not.

Lindsay Beck Photography said...

adorable. not sure how i'm going to handle that graduation thing. here comes real human-dom.

kate said...

yep, i agree with some of the previous comments. i am glad that i was introduced to your blog a few years ago via naomi.

and really.. that baby is adorable. we're you not tempted to steal away into your handbag and run? i would be. :)

Alex said...

I love these photos.
Having these kinds of friendships is so important. I dare say that they keep me sane.

Alisha said...

Love having those special people in your life. When you choose to surround yourself with certain people, and you find those are the ones who have made an impact on your life, that's when you know you're living life. that's when you know you've made a great choice. that's when you know you are blessed.

Gorgeous pictures, Meg!

Ariel said...

Your blog is my very very favorite. You are a brilliant writer and this post hits home so hard for me right now. Keep hanging in there. You life is beautiful and I love that you share it with all of us. Those pictures and words. You are very talented and blessed.

mrs. f said...

loving this blog & post! you're such a great writer. Beautiful.

The Lewicutt's said...

I'm so with you on the camera thing. I'm up in Nashville for work for the week and brought my camera... and am afraid to take it out because I'm afraid all of the people whom I'm supposed to be acting composed and professional infront of will think I'm an absolute adolescent. :-( But, I can't help it... I love to photograph.

Tiffany said...

Love this! You are so right--no one tells you how hard those few months after college are when all you want to do is go back, and no one really tells you how much better life just keeps right on getting! Thanks for the reminder! :)

~Tiffany
http://tiffanyd22.blogspot.com

BrightEyedWashingtonian said...

"and no one says how there's nothing so much like love in this life. love of a child. of a friend. love of all those small things that amount to a life."

I almost started crying. Thank you.

~Melanie
buonafortunabella.blogspot.com

Newlymeds said...

Beautiful blog entry and beautiful photos! It is all about the smalls things.

marissa (stylebook) said...

i get it.

love your writing, love yours and naomi's ruffly white tops, love that baby's grin.

Erin said...

What camera and lens are you using?

Collections said...

This is such a wonderful post and so true. I've been graduated from college for a year now (went to Barnard in NYC) and I had a friend ask me how it is to be out (she graduated this year). I said it's nothing anyone can ever prepare you for it's something you just have to experience. In a way, like you said, it's nice to be able to choose who you spend time with and who you see etc. It's definitely a different lifestyle but something that is wonderful as well.


Fashionable Collections

P.S. I follow rockstar diaries and Eleanor is just the most adorable baby ever! She looks so cute in all these pictures per usual.

Lily said...

Oh my gosh this post is amazing.