After two days of driving, eighteen hours of driving, and countless boxes both packed and unpacked, Bo and I made it safely to Jacksonville, FL on Saturday afternoon! Since then, we have:
- fully unpacked the house;
- hung every picture/painting;
- picked up Lola(!!!);
- started settling into our respective jobs; and
- begun to enjoy our new life in the Sunshine State.
You will hear a lot more about Lola and our new home (and job(s)) in the very near future, but today I would like to dedicate one final post to our time in Corpus Christi.
Last Wednesday, me and several of my dearest yoga students and friends gathered together for a "See Ya Next Time" dinner. We decided to meet at Vietnam - the same restaurant I visited for my 28th birthday - and it was just as delicious, if not more so, the second time around!
While we waited for everyone to arrive, we ordered an appetizer and snapped a few pictures. Here I am with Colbi and Diane. You might recognize Colbi from the birthday post since she was at that celebration as well!
Diane is also a yoga teacher and graciously offered to take over several of my 6:00 a.m. yoga classes...brave girl! I was so happy to have someone take over the early morning classes. As they say, the early bird gets the worm. :)
My dear friend, Marlene, also joined us. Doesn't she have a beautiful smile?! Her joyful spirit shines right through!
We decided to eat "family style." Everyone ordered something vegan, and we passed around all of the plates so that we could each get a spoonful (or two) of the yumminess! All in all, if memory serves me correctly, we ordered:
- yellow curried tofu and vegetables;
- lemongrass tofu;
- vegetable delight;
- red curried vegetables; and
- sweet and sour tofu.
Each dish included a large portion size, so after we were all stuffed there was still enough to take home for Bo and I's lunch the next day.
Everything was delicious, but I think my favorite dish was the sweet and sour tofu. However, I find that interesting, because I have never been a huge sweet and sour fan before. In the past, I think that it was the breading that I didn't like. Yet because the texture of tofu is much different than say, chicken, the breading in this dish was very light and delicate. This allowed the flavors of the vegetables and sauce to really shine! As I typically say of delicious food - YUMM-O!
Before we said our final goodbye's, we had someone take a group picture of us at the front of the restaurant. I couldn't decide which picture I like better, so I decided to share both of them with you!
When Bo and I moved to Corpus Christi I didn't really know what to expect in terms of yoga, friendships, and community. Maybe that was for the best, because the end result would have far surpassed any expectations that I might have had in the first place!
As my students, and my friends, I am certain that these women gave me more, and taught me more, than I could have ever given or taught them. I suppose that that is the greatest blessing of all. As a yoga teacher, I receive so much, and learn so much, from each of my students, colleagues, and employers. I feel so much gratitude that this life has given me the opportunity to serve anyone and everyone that I can. It is such a luxury to teach what I love...and it is my prayer and meditation that I never forget to express my appreciation for being given this role in life.
Corpus Christi, and all of its beautiful inhabitants, you will always be in my heart. Live beautifully!
Soon to come:
- two more posts about our cruise on the Carnival Magic; and
- a return to vegan cooking (I have really missed cooking!).
Question of the Day:
When you have moved in the past, what was the most difficult part of leaving your old home/community?
Blessings,
Ally and Bo
