Just a Spring Break
N°13 , May 25, 2025
Hello from an unplanned spring break. I had been so consistent about writing these and then poof. But that is okay. That does not make me bad or lazy or not committed. My priorities were just elsewhere. Look at that growth, people. No self hate or unreasonable self criticism! Anyway, so much has happened. Let's catch up.
I turned 29! So much of me feels like it is still being a twenty something. As I make my way through my last year of twentieshood I cannot help but feel a glow from this season of life that feels just Abbey. Well, not those first couple of years, but the rest has been. Jobs, moves, not eating meat, eating meat again, almost white hair, over darkened eyebrows. My twenties are mine. I got to celebrate in Paris with Bridget. We ate many a croissant, walked along the Seine, saw pretty things and sipped bubbly drinks. I felt so good and despite some hard moments in the in between, I still feel so good.
Bridget moved back to America. This one still stings and I cannot think about it too much. Just this week I went to look at tickets to visit Breda. I miss seeing our Find My Friends dots on the same continent. It has only been one week back for me and I miss my gal so much. We had truly the best of times and I know forever and ever we are changed. She does not read this so I will take one more moment to sing her praises. Bridget worked so hard over here to better herself. She built the best habits and I saw how much she was working to be the best B she could be. She became my safest place over here and always made me feel okay. Even when I felt farthest from it. I cannot imagine my days here without her. Now that is all because my eyes are full of tears. But happy tears. How lucky for this time.
Kathleen got married!! My big sis gave us Sattele sisters a brother. Kathleen and Christopher had the very best wedding. I could not be happier for them. The wedding itself was lovely of course, but it is the moments in the in between that I find myself coming back to. The shared meals squeezed in between all the errands, the car rides to and from events, and the many sister sleepovers. I will always remember the calmness Kat had. It should be studied, and like so many things, I wish I could replicate it.
I was home for three weeks! I enjoyed my time being home so much. I got to hug my people, hold a lot of babies and enjoy the comforts of home. I always say one of the hardest parts of living in Brussels is having to use my full brain all the time. When I was home I got to turn it off a bit and it was so refreshing. The goodbyes were hard especially because I have no set in stone dates to visit. That makes my throat have a lump BUT I do have some visitors coming over and that is what is keeping the spirits a bit raised.
Lots of other things happened in the in between but those are the big ones. It is nice to be back in Brussels with all my things. I am such a creature of habit now so it feels good to come back to the things that settle my mind.I am looking forward to enjoying a true European summer. Something I feel like I did not get to do last year due to a lot of things, one of which being trying desperately to set up a life in the land of a thousand red tapes.
On that note, a final thought. Earlier in May I hit one year of living in Brussels. I’ll be diving into that in next week's Just Abbey.
Wholeheartedly,
Abbey Elizabeth
Songs on Repeat:
Party 4 U" by Charli XCX – I am so late to this one, but I’ve been making up for lost time by streaming it nonstop.
Relationships" by HAIM – These sisters have crafted a song that hits every part of my brain in the best way. I cannot wait for the full album.
I Forgot That You Existed" by Taylor Swift – There really is a Taylor song for every season, and this one is speaking to mine right now.
Life Admin:
I have so many texts, DMs, WhatsApps, and maybe even carrier pigeons to respond to
I’m pretty sure I owe a water bill
I need to take all the glass to the recycling machines
Recent Searches:
How to avoid feeling like absolute hell in the morning thanks to jet lag?
The best beaches in the Netherlands?
Why did my Nespresso break exactly one week after the warranty expired? Coincidence??