I wanted to photograph the apartments I've lived in (minus the one I live at now.) What time better than fall? Each place I lived started their lease around this time of year so it's appropriate. I cannot believe I've lived so many places, this is the first time in nearly eight (!!!) years that I haven't moved. Each place holds special memories for me, memories of happiness and hardship and also lessons learned along the way. Here are a few tidbits about each.
age 19
what I remember: how cold my bedroom was, the pretty fall leaves on walks to the bus stop, the pantry that had its own window, the narrow wood floors, joining aopi and how surreal it felt to live in an apartment with roommates after my first year of dorm living.
what I learned here: how to manage and navigate the large u of mn campus, how important good communication is, how unhealthy a co-dependent relationship can be.
age 20
what I remember: how sunny and warm my bedroom got during the day, how tall the bed was, going to a cool yoga class with roommate Erika one winter afternoon, making batch after batch of cornbread muffins, a first date where the boy asked me if he could kiss me after I'd shown him out the door, and the long, freezing walks to aopi or class.
what I learned here: that I really really love photography, my spiritual journey is independent of my past and family and that sorel boots are a really good idea.
age 20-22
what I remember: the terazzo floors, the wrought iron banisters, the nights spent in the basement watching movies and painting nails, leaving our doors open and people wandering in to visit (not the front door!), talking to chef Penny every morning before class, heading back home for lunch and finding Donovan or Nooch at the table to eat with us and laugh over inappropriate jokes (they were our sweethearts), Monday night dinners and ritual in the living room with the blinds shut on Sunday afternoons.
what I learned here: what healthy friendships should look like, how to challenge myself, how to be on time, how important community is, how to love people no matter what, not to believe my feelings 100% of the time and what kind of men to avoid dating.
age 22-23
what I remember: the shower that didn't drain right, waking up and walking downstairs to find people I didn't know sleeping in the living room, being on a different schedule from everyone because I'd already graduated, the quick 5-minute commute to work, making hilarious videos with Karen and lugging a giant vintage desk up three flights of stairs all to sell it just a few months later!
what I learned here: that sharing a fridge with four other adults is hard, everyone has a different definition of clean, how obsessed I am with being clean and organized and God is always at work even when it feels like things are crazy.
age 23-24
what I remember: how decorating and diy was suddenly so fun, the constant stream of men that Kate, Becky and I dated that fall, getting the new fridge and thinking my ship had come in, the cool color of blue my bedroom was painted, all the space in that sunny kitchen- dreamy!
what I learned here: that I was going to make it professionally, I can have a creative career, what an adult love actually looks like, how truly special my college girlfriends are and how much I truly enjoy putting together a home.
Each place has helped shaped me, seen me at my best and worst and taught me some valuable lessons. When I'm in the neighborhood and have a few minutes I often drive by because I am sentimental and I love revisiting such pivitol years. I never want to forget the places that have built me.
