I visited my hometown, Tallahassee, last year for the first time in many years. I was visiting for an old friend from high school’s baby shower. While I was there I took photos of another friend and her new baby.

It was an odd and beautiful trip. Its odd to revisit the place you grew up. In so many ways places stay the same. You can’t drive the streets without being flooded with memories. But they aren’t your places anymore. The house I grew up in was painted a different color! My grandpa wasn’t there to greet me when I walked into Publix.

And the people. As I sat around dinner with my 2 close friends from high school, we were are old selves.

But we weren’t. Rough edges had softened. Dreams had altered. Naiveté was slowly being traded for Wisdom.

When you’re a child, you’ve got very clear, well celebrated milestones. You are constantly reminded you’re changing and learning and growing. ⁠
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You learn how to ride a bike. You learn to read. You become a middle schooler. You go to prom. You get your first job. You graduate college. Then you’re an adult. ⁠
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You’re “grown- up.” As if there isn’t anymore changing and learning and growing after that. As if the transitions are done and you can just coast. ⁠

But that’s not true. When I looked around the table at my friends, we had all been profoundly changed since the last time we sat together. We had each become a mother.

When I met my friend, Morgan, and her new son, Truett, at Miccosukee Greenway, I meet a new human. A Beautiful little boy who is changing so fast. But I also meet a new mom. Everyone just changed. Everyone’s learning. Everyone’s growing up. Not just the baby. And that is worth celebrating. ⁠