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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

{ME, Turning 20 on December 3!}

Yes, I am turning 20 on December 3! As a United States Citizen, that is... 
After all, it is not bad to get a second chance in life for starting over and being young again!
It does perk you up.
On Friday, December 3, 1993 we got up at 4:15 AM for driving to Atlanta for the Naturalization Ceremony at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building. At 8:30 it started for 257 people from 60 nations and it lasted only till 9:55 AM.
So we raced back to Dublin; still in time for Rotary lunch. Husband Pieter proudly introduced me as his NEW American wife... 
Twenty (20) years old...
Haha my sweater is 25 years old; got it at the Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware on Saturday, August 27 of 1988.
I fell in love with the leaf pattern and also because it is cropped.
Nah, that's NOT a new car... It's just an old LOVE!
We got this Infiniti FX35 in Brilliant Silver on August 12, 2005 for Mom & Dad's arrival.
Mom just got a knee replacement and we wanted her to get in and out of a car comfortably so we got this one.
But do you like my new boots? 
Dolce Vita Hayla Suede Ankle boots in black from Last Call by Neiman Marcus with 40% off. 
Black legwarmers are from our local TJ Maxx...
Pantyhose are French Dim that I purchased at Sogo, Japanese department store in Jakarta, Indonesia. 
Jeans skirt is from Escada.

Related link:
{Today I turned 17!} | previous post by me
{My Hat Attack NYC GAVROCHE} | previous post by me, wearing the same Escada skirt
{Dutch American Heritage Day 2005 with Mom & Dad} | previous post by me about Mom & Dad's final visit to the USA...

52 comments:

  1. happy 20th 'new' birthday to you! :)

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  2. Dearest Mariette you look great!! and your boots are perfect! You and Pieter are so thoughtful - I'm certain your mother really appreciated all you did for her visit. Hugs and blessings, C. (HHL)

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    1. Dearest Celia,
      Thank you! Oh, Mom said she could ride in this car for the entire day. That made us very happy of course!
      Hugs and blessings to you.
      Mariette

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  3. 20 years young and looking GORGEOUS!!!!!!!
    Congratulations, my dear Mariette! Hugs!

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    1. Dearest Anna,
      Yeah, thank you for the compliment; even though this number is not in my passport. But it did give us a great boost for starting to count anew!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  4. Riesci sempre a stupirmi cara Mariette! Ammiro la tua vitalitá che di sicuro non é inferiore a quella che avevi vent'anni fa'......
    Sei bellissima in rosso! Un bellissimo punto foglia. Sai che pensavo l'avessi fatto tu?
    Una fantastica giornata da ricordare : felice anniversario a te e Pieter.
    Hugs and love
    mimma

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    1. Cara Mimma,
      Sei molto gentile, e in realtà sono tre volte quell'età americano... Oh, con le istruzioni per questo maglione nel modello di foglia avrebbe potuto fare anch'io una. Ma questo era uno di quei ritrovamenti sorprendente al centro commerciale e già ho tenutola per un quarto di secolo! Perché no?
      Abbraci,
      Mariette

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  5. Well hon, you might be looking 20 years old for 20 years!!! I love your 20 yer. old sweater as well, it's lovely in red, just in the knick of time for C'mas too! Big hugs and lots of blessings.
    FABBY

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    1. Dearest Fabby,
      Nah, I don't think I can look the part for being 20 years old... but this is a nice way of celebrating it! That sweater is really lovely for the holiday season.
      Hugs to you dear lady.
      Mariette

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  6. Dear Mariette,

    Lovely that you can have two birthdays - enjoy your special day on the 3rd.
    You look fabulous - love the boots and the jersey will be perfect for Christmas.
    happy week
    hugs
    Carolyn

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    1. Dearest Carolyn,
      Thank you and you bet I will enjoy this special day!
      The good thing is that we often can walk outside in a sweater, only a few days we need a jacket when it is windy and cold.
      Enjoy your Advent week.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  7. Dearest Mariette,
    wonderful pictures, enjoy your tspecial day! :O)
    Happy week to you,
    Love and hugs
    Claudia

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Claudia,
      Thank you very much! Fond memories of this day 20 years ago.
      Happy 1st Advent week to you!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  8. Liebe Mariette,

    hab ganz lieben Dank für deinen
    so lieben Kommentar bei mir.
    Darüber habe ich mich unglaublich gefreut ,
    auch das jemand in der Bloggerwelt liest ohne
    oberflächlich zu sein, das hast du mir gezeigt,
    ich fand es wundervoll.
    Jetzt schaue ich mich ersteinmal neo dir um.

    Liebe Grüße
    Birgit

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    1. Liebe Birgit,
      Danke, es macht immer Freude um Seelenverwandten zu treffen!
      Eine schöne 1ste Adventswoche wünsche ich euch.
      Lieber Gruss,
      Mariette

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  9. Liebe Mariette,

    das ist eine wunderschöne Kleidung.
    Alles Liebe
    Elisabeth

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    1. Liebe Elisabeth,
      Danke und auch liebe Adventsgrüsse zurück!
      Mariette

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  10. Mariette sempre in forma!Lo sai che ne 1972 avevo anch'io una minigonna come la tua?Anche dello stesso colore.Mi piaceva tanto!Baci,Rosetta

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    Replies
    1. Cara Rosetta,
      Si vede che qualque 40 anni la moda ritorna... Nei anni 1972 avevo tutte le gonne mini. Questa gonna è nuova, ma sguarda più brevi con le mie gambe lunghe.
      Non è come il vero e proprio mini moda d'antan!
      Baci,
      Mariette

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  11. Well, I can see you feel twenty, that is a nice sweater, you keep them a long time with you. I want to change so now and than, to get some room in my closet, but I have some oldies left I made myself once
    Have a nice day.
    Marianne.

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Marianne,
      The difference with the minimized closet space in Dutch homes also plays a role. Aside from here not having to store real heavy winter clothes. Here all bedrooms do have a walk in closet. Besides, I never gained any weight so clothes do fit for decades...
      It pays for holding on to a favorite self made oldies!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  12. Dear Mariette,this is a special day for you!!!
    You look so preety with your red sweater and your boots!!!Like a teenager!!!
    I like the pattern!!!Have a wonderful day!!Enjoy!!Hugs!!!
    Dimi...

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    1. Dearest Dimi,
      This IS a very special day indeed and we both are very proud United States Citizens.
      Oh, that leaf pattern of my sweater will always remain a favorite!
      Happy week to you and lots of hugs.
      Mariette

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  13. Lieve Mariette,

    Kan me voorstellen dat je man Pieter de lachers op zijn hand kreeg met zo'n uitspraak;-)

    En dat model truien heb ik ook gedragen lang geleden,ik noemde dat mijn zittruien,erg onhandig met die wijde mouwen wanneer je ergens mee bezig was,of ik bleef er mee achter de deurklink hangen of in m'n bord eten......het was altijd wat.

    De kleur en patroon van jou trui zijn wel erg mooi!!

    Fijne dag en lieve groet!!
    Ger

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    1. Lieve Ger,
      Ja, die mouwen heb ik zowiezo normaal gesproken opgeschoven; een gewoonte zo van de handen uit de mouwen steken! Met poetsen e.d. moet je zoiets níet aan hebben. Maar wel heerlijk om mee buiten te lopen etc.
      Heel veel liefs en ook een gezellige Sinterklaasweek voor jullie.
      Mariette

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  14. Congratulations on your citizenship It must have been a special day.
    Hugs

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    1. Dearest Kay,
      That sure was a very special and moving experience!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  15. Congrats! My husband did his naturalization in 1992, so not long before you. How in the world do you remember all these dates and information? Amazing! Best wishes, Tammy

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    1. Dearest Tammy,
      Thank you, so your husband is 21 than... Funny for getting this second start.
      Oh, such a date one never forgets and it also is on the Birthday of our Goddaughter... that helps! Pieter's naturalization day was on my brother's Birthday. Guess that's the trick to it.
      Hugs to you,
      Mariette

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  16. Dearest Mariette,
    Congratulations! With all our faults I still think it's a great country. Now, if we could just give Washington a good wake-up shake!
    It got warm again here.....enjoy and celebrate!

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    1. Dearest Suzi,
      Thanks Suzi and you are so right; we cannot name a better country to live in. So much freedom and space; hope that will not change too soon!
      Enjoy your weather for as long as it lasts. Tomorrow it will be 75°F (24°C) here! Today it drizzles on and off...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  17. Liebe Mariette,
    das war ein ganz besonderer Tag für dich. Man darf wirklich gratulieren.
    Der Pulli hat ein wirklich tolles Musster.
    Geniesse den heutigen Tag und denk mit Freude zurück.
    Einen schönen Abend wünscht Dir
    Irmi

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    1. Liebe Irmi,
      Ja, wir beide können mit viel Freude zurück denken und wir sind sehr glücklich hier.
      Ein grauer Tag zum feiern aber trotzdem gut. Morgen wird es sogar 24°C und Freitag eben 25°C; ein tolles Adventswochengeschenk!
      Lieber Gruss,
      Mariette

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  18. You are just adorable Mariette. Congratulations!

    xo Dee

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  19. 20 years, I bet they went by in a flash

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    1. Dearest Jo-Anne,
      Oh, and I had several of such fast 'flashes' of 20-year installments. It goes way too fast...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  20. Happy 20th birthday to you,
    Happy 20th birthday to you,
    Happy birthday dearest Mariette,
    Happy new birthday to you :)

    Love and hugs :)

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    1. Dearest Pallavi,
      How sweet, I could almost hear you sing this to me!
      Hugs to you,
      Mariette

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  21. Dearest Mariette,
    I 'am very happy for your Fond memories of the 20 years age. congratulations on you both having the citizenship with your famileys and enjoyed your holiday season!
    We has another raining all days.
    Hugs to you always!
    Michiko

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    1. Dearest Michiko,
      Thank you and indeed those are fond memories.
      Oh, here it rains too, like yesterday... but very mild and tomorrow 24°C.
      Hugs to you,
      Mariette

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  22. Congratulations on your 20th 'birthday', Mariette! Something to celebrate! I love your clothing ensemble - and your little boots - you look so cute. I have a friend who has an Infinity just like that and it rides like a dream. You look nice and cozy in your pretty sweater. Hugs xo Karen

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    1. Dearest Karen,
      Thank you, we certainly had something to celebrate and we're very proud about it.
      Those boots were a find at Last Call; love them and they are so comfy.
      Our Infiniti rides still like a dream and we are therefore holding on to it as well!
      It is sweater weather here, no need for coats yet.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  23. ...then I am just a little over 1 year old...

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    1. Dearest Daniela,
      Congrats to you too! It is quite a touching ceremony and as a matter of fact, we do start anew as United States Citizens.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  24. Dearest Mariette;
    Oh, Happy 20th birthday in America, my dear friend♡♡♡  Your sweater looks great on you and lovely ordination.

    I wish I have time to visit friends this afternoon after I come back from monk's place(^^;)

    Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan to my dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

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    1. Dearest Miyako,
      Thank you dear friend!
      Another milestone reached, being a United States Citizen.
      Hugs to you and hope you will enjoy a peaceful weekend together after all the emotional events in your life.
      Mariette

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  25. oh wow!!!! Mariette:
    Congratulations!! Happy 20th birthday as an American citizen. You look so beautiful and very happy, you look gorgeous! Send you a big hug.
    Lots of love,
    Laura

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    1. Dearest Laura,
      Thank you dear! Yes, I am very happy and I love your big hug. Sending you a killer hug back your way.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  26. Dearest Mariette, I am very pleased to see you so fit and happy!
    My belated congratulations on your 20th new birthday!!!! I am sure you feel very proud!
    Have you also kept your dutch nationality? ( I am bi-national myself, french by birth/greek by marriage).
    Hugs to you!!!!

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    1. Dearest Marie-Anne,
      Thank you very much! That is indeed a very proud feeling.
      No, legally you only can have one nationality as you have to turn in your green card for your United States Citizen Document. Obtaining a new passport without green card is technically not possible since your residency is mentioned inside and that is the USA. But there will be people that never take the oath you pledged serious and find a way around it. We did both take it very serious. The birth rights you never will loose and always can go back to your birth country.
      Hugs to you,
      Mariette

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Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...