THE PAST FIVE MONTHS

Ho. Ly. Shit! 

So the past few months have been interesting - to say the least. What hasn't happened? I fell madly in love, turned 18, got my first tattoo and bought a car. All within 5 months. 

Okay, so falling in love... I thought I had been through that before. Turns out I hadn't - like at all!
I've decided that what I had been through was attachment to another human being, craving human attention so much that you jump at the chance for the first person who comes along to give it to you.

No, What I'm in now is love. From the raging butterflies that consume my stomach every time she looks at me to the constant need of physical contact - there is no other way to describe it but that four letter word.

Turning 18... THE most anti-climactic thing going. I have been "out on the town" TWICE. Its safe to say I'm a little disappointed at myself.

My first tattoo - not something I went crazy with but boy do I have plans for my next... 100! I got a small stick woman outline in black on my left thumb/back of my hand. I love it because the tattooist used the exact drawing I gave him (that I drew) so she has little quirks about her. Like having stubby arms and one leg shorter than the other. 

And finally my car. Miss Pepper "Chuggers" Chuggington is a Smooth Mint fiat 500 and I am utterly obsessed with her. Pepper gets her first name from a conversation I had with my dad, I was trying to explain the colour of the car and when he said "like peppermint?" I knew her name! "Chuggers" didn't come until the day I got her. I got her delivered to my work and the first place I drove her to was my girlfriends house. I picked her up and we went for a drive for me to "break in the car" as I was told to do by some many people and attempted a somewhat steep hill going 30 mph in 4th.  Without soundly like I'm exaggerating pepper almost came to a stop! I quickly had to drop to 2nd, floor the accelerator and pray out loud, When an exclamation from passenger finished off her name. "Come on Chuggers" So far I have only three "decorations" - A small multi-coloured/gay pride themed dream catcher, A small licence plate that has my name on it from LA and a green stuffed money companion called Salt (like Salt and Pepper, get it?!) Who's arms and legs wrap around the headrest on my seat.

What an eventful five months - I'm utterly exhausted.

Natasha

FAMILY

If you were to ask me "What in this world could you not do without?" I would answer "Family".

In my opinion, a family member does not have to be a blood relative, nor do you have to get along at first. I would consider anyone who excepts me as I am and who doesn't question my flaws as my family.

My family, and if I'm honest and more specific my mother, make me strive everyday to be a better person and show me how much a person can take on in life. They show me what can be achieved when effort is made and sometimes what can be lost when it is not. For this I am forever grateful and indebted, I can only hope that I can have as much influence on whatever future generations of my family come along.

My sister has shown me that independence and confidence are gained from fear and bravery. 

My brother has shown me that success in employment can be done on your own terms.

My brother's girlfriend has taught me that no matter what your size, she can lift more than you! And that with dedication and good motivation you can continue achieving.

My granddads have taught me that no matter what your age, you can make a teenager laugh and that sometimes 'my choice' isn't an option. 

My Grandmas have shown me that sometimes loneliness is ok and that happiness after loss is encouraged and oddly easy.

My Mum, my Mum has taught me that to have fear and to show fear are two completely different things. She has shown me what family means, it means sticking at things, working at relationships that you would never normally have and loving people for their flaws before loving them for their perfections.

From left to right - My sister, My brother's Girlfriend, My mum, My brother and Me

Natasha