Short story, long....

IF you found yourself here with an interest in the process of literal Grieving - you're still in a great place for it, however Grieve is also my last name! If you stick around, you'll see glimpses of grief within my stories alongside the long road of healing - I hope you read something that feels like home or relates to you regardless of how you landed here :)

 

Personally.... how much time do you have? This blog will fill in some blanks but for now I will say that most of my life, I have been that friend who checks in once a quarter and tells you about a complete 180, out of pocket life change like it's a causal Monday. These changes have spanned from Ohio to North Carolina, to a year in a Camper, moving to and dating my way through Denver, a pandemic move back to Cleveland and now a dream life in Illinois. My experience has not been short of new career ventures, mental health struggles, a first marriage to the NICEST man anyone could ever divorce and the eventual finding of my literal soulmate of a husband. There are few things I have shied away from trying in this life so far and looking back, I'm often unsure how I've made it here, or honestly how I was not the star victim in a True Crime Netflix doc. I will have a few deep dives in my posting to explore these topics and adventures with a fresh perspective and I look forward to getting to know myself better as you get to know me as well :) 

 

Professionally, I've had a handful of wild left turns including: Art Teacher (K-12, Bachelors Degree), Walmart Photo Studio Photographer (AS bad as it sounds), Nursing Assistant (LOVED this job, never renewed license after relocation) Hospitality (the most fun), Travel Agent (a hustle), Customer Service for a Canvas printing company (I made the best friends and spent wayyyyy too long on every call, loved hearing stories behind the prints), A scheduler for Speech/Audiology at Duke Hospital (when I thought I wanted to become a Speech Therapist), a Real Estate Agent (SO fun for a minute but can be a hustle and often not the most convenient kind) -  throughout every twist and turn I was always "working" as an International Wedding and Portrait Photographer, I say that in quotes because as my amazing, late father would say, it was equivalent to working in the Toy Department of Life :) Much like his career as a Sports Broadcaster. I have been extremely lucky to have been a photographer as long as I have and for those here who are curious, I am not currently taking on any weddings or sessions unless we've already discussed it, contracted it, or you come to me in Illinois - though now that we live here, there may be some photo related gatherings eventually! 

 

Speaking of living in Illinois, after decades of back burner manifesting, my family has relocated to The Inn at Irish Hollow in Galena, IL - a Luxury Inn and Cottages. My dime-piece husband is the Innkeeper & Chef (dreammmmmy combo - he wears flannel and an apron, like... YES CHEF) and I have recently joined the crew to refresh marketing, social media and website revamp as they celebrate their 35th year in business! This place is just... everything to us already and hopefully our place in the world for decades to come. Here we live on 500 acres of farmland with horses, chickens, cows, gardens filled with flowers and food, rivers, hiking trails and plenty of space to raise our kids and pups (in their golden years.) It is AS wonderful as it sounds, if not better, and though I spent the first few months here depressed out of my MIND, waiting for the other shoe to drop (thank you anxiety and past experiences), I'd like to thank my husband, Lexapro, long distance friends and the surrounding community for showing me the literal light - it's been a springtime of renewal in every sense and I am looking forward to riding the elevator up for the foreseeable. I’ve worked hard, lost more than I thought I could survive, started over (more than once) and somehow ended up exactly where I was meant to be.