Memories Archives - Page 4 of 6

31 Days Challenge, Day 15 – Barcelona of My Soul

October 15, 2014Ana Maria Popa Leave a Comment

Last year in September I went to Barcelona. I wrote about that here. And I loved it that much, that I came back in November also.

To me, Barcelona is the perfect place to be, regardless the reason or moment. I found there anything I wanted – fun, beach, beautiful people, sun, handsome men and nice girls, open-mindedness, peace, recreation, entertainment, ice-cream, shopping and sales, etcetera etcetera. Weird people also, but that’s not what I looked for, it’s another story.

When I was there in September, I witnessed their celebration of Catalonia – Diada Nacional de Catalunya, on the 11th of September. Me and my cousin went out that day and they were having a big fiesta, walking on the street and dancing and shouting and being happy and wearing flags or having their faces painted, even their bodies. I couldn’t help but join them. So I entered the first store and got the first Catalonia flag and that was it, I was part of them.

It was that simple.

31 Days Challenge, Day 14 – Angel

October 14, 2014Ana Maria Popa Leave a Comment

This is my angel. I received it as a present from a dear friend at Christmas time, a few years ago. About him – I wrote here. Regarding this memory, nothing else to add. It’s just somehting I love and I still feel it inside.

Him, the guy who gave me this angel? He was my highschool sweetheart and my deskmate for the last three years of that time.

During the first year I didn’t even talk to him, he was just this weird but funny guy, a buffoon. And then, one day I wanted someone to keep me company on my way home. And he was available. So we started talking and getting to know eachother. Not after long, I moved at the same desk as him. We were both kids and liked eachother, but really shy.

One day, there was this rainy day and we wanted to spend time with eachother, but none of us had money to go to a coffeehouse or somewhere out, so we started ‘traveling’ by bus. We would take the bus from one point to the end and act just like teenagers inlove do. But we wouldn’t kiss, because we were too nervous.

In the evening, he brought me home. The day was over and it was the conclusive moment. We would go like before as friends or we would kiss and be girlfriend and boyfriend… We stayed in front of my building, not knowing what to do… It was kind of like this:

‘Me: Okay, I guess this is it…

Him: Yeah, it seems like it…

Me: Okay then, goodnight – as I turned to go into the building.

Him: Ana… – he whispered softly.

Me: Yes? – I was answering hopeful.

Him: You know, when it started raining I gave you my headphones so they don’t get wet…

Me: Oh yeah.’

I felt really-really stupid and started looking for his headphones in my purse. That’s when he came closer to me and kissed me.

What followed was amazing, 4 years of love and memories and experiences and growing together… 🙂

31 Days Challenge, Day 13 – Happy as A Child

October 13, 2014Ana Maria Popa Leave a Comment

This is the only time I got pulled over by the police for alcohol testing. And that is my item from the memory box.

Last winter I had made a friend, a special friend if you want it. The type of unusual and exceptional person you meet once in a lifetime. We knew eachother for a few years already before we got closer and started spending time together. What brought us together was our passion for driving and cars.

He owned this convertible with the right-side wheel and since I’m really curious, I started asking questions. A lot of questions. Maybe that’s the reason he already gave me the keys and asked me if I want to go for a ride and try it out, from the first day. Maybe he just wanted to stop that avalanche of words.

So we started hanging out a lot more and often. That included having fun and driving.

One winter night, at 2 degrees Celsius, we went for a ride with no specific destination. We got the roof down and I entered my happy mood. It’s amazing how wonderful it was to ride a converted car in wintertime, when it was freezing cold outside but in the inside everything was so nice.

We got out of the town and after not long, the police pulled us over. I was driving. The policeman went on the left side, where the wheel would normally be, but he had a little surprise. He actually said – ‘Okay, I’m gonna talk on the other side then’. I was literally laughing out loud. The policeman started looking confused at me and asked if it wasn’t a little cold for riding with the rooftop down. I started laughing even louder and answered that it’s pure joy. The policeman handed me the alcohol test and asked for ID and registration. When he saw that I hadn’t drink anything, he asked subtle if I was on anything else…

I laughed because he really couldn’t believe how happy a simple ride in the night with the rooftop down could make me. I was like a child. But since everything was okay, he let me go.

My next car is going to be a convertible, there – I’ve said it. I look good in it, don’t I?

31 Days Challenge, Day 12 – Always a ‘Bridesmaid’

October 12, 2014Ana Maria Popa Leave a Comment

Know the ’27 Dresses’ movie? The ‘always a bridesmaid and never a bride’ thing?

Well, until 22 I got four proposals, so I was always engaged and never married. Which is kinda a good thing, if you think about it. I wouldn’t want to end up marrying the wrong person and have to file a divorce. So, I am thankful for the experiences that made me avoid such a situation.

The most serious one and the one that makes this story special is the fact that had the perfect man. Even now, I know he is the perfect man and I do wish there were more like him in this world.

On our first year anniversary, he kneeled in front of me and asked if I would like to spend the rest of my life with him. I loved him and loved the ring, so there was nothing to think about, I was sure.

Another 3 years had passed and sadly, we moved forward in different directions…

31 Days Challenge, Day 11 – My Thing

October 11, 2014Ana Maria Popa Leave a Comment

Everybody’s got a thing of theirs. I have many, I afford it.

And one of those things is collecting pens from my travels, pens from hotels where I stayed.

You know, usually hotels leave in every room a pen, a notebook, or stuff that has the hotels name written on them. Well, most of the people pick the shampoo bottles, but I like the pens. Until I figured out that I can collect them and keep them as memory, I used to use them and throw them out… So now my collection is pretty small but I plan for it to grow every year!

31 Days Challenge, Day 10 – Coincidence or Fate?

October 10, 2014Ana Maria Popa Leave a Comment

One day, me and a friend decided to go to the movies, and the cinema was located in a shopping mall. It was a Wednesday evening and the shopping mall was full and so was the underground parking. We were both by car so we searched for two parking spots that were kind of close to eachother.

At some point, I saw half a parking place near an empty one. The problem with the half parking spot was this: there was a car, a golden Mercedes occupying 2 parking spots and leaving half free on each side. Now I thought – ‘What an a-hole. I’ll show it to him’. So I squeezed my car into one half and left a note that said – ‘If you would please so kind and use the free space on the left to enter your car. Thank you in advance. Also, please don’t hurt my car, it’s my mothers’ and she’ll beat me if anything happens to it 🙂 Thank you again.’. My note was returned with the following answer – ‘If there’s any scratch, it’s not from me.’ And then a phone number written on the paper.

My car was intact, so I felt the need to thank the human that had that Mercedes. On that note, I messaged him to let him know that everything was ok – I thought the man was worried, when he parked the way he did. I did that, and afterwards we started talking.

Funny thing is that we discovered that we are born on the same day – the 16th of December, we both studied Psychology and we were both an only child. Yes, we got deep with the talking.

Do you believe in coincidences?

31 Days Challenge, Day 9 – Mood for Love

October 9, 2014Ana Maria Popa Leave a Comment

In the mood for love.

Personally, I am always in that mood, since to me it’s the most beautiful ever. Sometimes, I love the season (spring is my fav), other times I love shoes, and there were even times when I loved men. However, this story has nothing to do with all that.

I was 15 years old when I visited Rome with my mum. She had everything planned out and we were on a very tight schedule everyday of our holiday. Visiting museums and places, taking pictures, shopping for souvenirs, etc. So the fact that at some point I didn’t feel so good, wasn’t relevant.

It was the day for the Vatican, with the St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums, etc. I really wasn’t on my best day and all I wanted to do was go back to the hotel and just stay in bed. So, between the visiting and the being sick and all, wandering through the sites of the Vatican I found 5 euros on the pavement. I thought that that was really nice, like someone was making it easier for me to get through the day.

After not long, still wandering and taking pictures, I found another thing. Yeah, I tend to look down a lot and stop to whatever captures my attention. So this time, I found a badge that was saying – ‘In the Mood for Love’. I just smiled, felt happy and picked it up.

So now, both of those things belong to me, the badge is right there in my memories box, and the 5 euro bill is at the bottom of my moneybox, amongst all the money I found on the street.