Adventure #10: Marriage

"Love makes you crazy!" -Brittany Homer

Have you heard of the song "Marry Me" by Train? It is a sweet song; one that eventually grew on me. But not before I unintentionally insulted it while talking to one of my friends who was considering using it as a wedding song.

We'd been sitting in the car waiting for Kami to get back from one errand or another. "Marry Me" came on the radio. "I hate this song!" I had said and quickly changed the station. I don't remember if Brittany said anything about my reaction, maybe something sarcastic like, "Good to know how you feel about it!" or something to make me chuckle. Before the song had ended, Kami got back in the car.
"Are you still thinking of using this song as your wedding song?" she asked Britt.
And, man, did I feel ridiculous!

Needless to say, Brittany is married now. She walked down the aisle to "I Do" by Colbie Caillat. "Marry Me" was played at some point during the reception and I enjoyed all three minutes and 25 seconds of the song.

I've brought this story up because as the song "Marry Me" grew on me so did the idea of marriage or vice versa...I'm not entirely sure which. But in celebrating Brittany's marriage with her, I realized the full turn around I've made in attitude toward the institution. I'm so happy for her and Remington and grateful that I had the opportunity to share in their joy!

Adventure #9: Influence

“We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere.”

 

 I'm writing today to recognize that I have been influenced.... That is greatly influenced by the people around me. Also, I want to acknowledge those who go with me everywhere because of their influence. For the friend who loved books so much, I've always wanted to write something worthy of you. One of you out there is responsible for my love of swinging in the moonlight and midnight cheeseburgers...not to mention being my superhero partner! Another of you introduced me to Cream of Wheat and opened the door for a practical obsession with Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. And how about the person who lead me to my favorite band, National Product? My life will forever be different because of you who turned on Sherlock and later asked me to help garden when I didn't have a clue. And because of you who is trying to make my wall of kindness into a fence, life is enriched with those decadent moments of hilarity! But this list is not extensive...many more of you out there are always with me.

Of course, one can't speak of influence without including genetics...I love organizing things and science experiments, making and keeping friends, and have a wall of kindness because of how two wonderful people raised me. I can appreciate a great joke and can stand a messy room because of the two other people those wonderful people raised.

 

But the whole reason I brought up this range of influence was because of how I spent my weekend. I've volunteered for Special Olympics events several times in the last year. Now, there's one of you out there that is entirely responsible for this! You are the same one who's responsible for introducing me to Zumba and you are the reason that I own (and regularly use) a tongue scrubber. Those points aside, because of you, I have been affected and made better through these experiences. I was surrounded by the most content and most enthusiastic people I've ever encountered. They lived simply and loved every moment! This is how I want to learn to be.

My point is this...I am grateful for the influence of beautiful, awe-inspiring people. And thank you all for being those people!

Adventure #8: Last Night (or really four nights ago) I Had the Strangest Dream

Dreams are answers to questions we haven't yet figured out how to ask.  ~X-Files

I may not have sailed away to China in a little row boat to find you nor did you have to have your laundry cleaned but my dream was just a revealing as to the nature of the state of my life.

The building was collapsing around me. The only way out was to jump. Even if it was only 10 or 15 feet, I was terrified. Scared to my core, there was no way I could just let go and jump. And then I saw the solution! Laying conveniently on the ground was a ladder! Now if only someone could hand it to me...wait, someone was there - it was Linsey!

"Hand me the ladder," I cried, from relief and exhaustion.

"No, just jump!" Linsey responded.

Aghast, I did not move. That was so mean!

Once more, she responded, "Just jump."

Waking up, I wondered, Was that just a dream?

Adventure #7: Official Stop and Smell the Roses Day

Don 't hurry. Don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So don't forget to stop and smell the roses.  ~Walter Hagen

I created a holiday when I was a sophomore in high school. Its intent was to get my best friend to take a break. He was quite uptight, especially when it came to school work. I was attempting to prove to him that there were a few things more important than straight A's; that it was acceptable to relax once in a while.

With that in mind, this year's Stop and Smell the Roses Day was an adventure to be sure but it didn't fit the exact essence of the day. I loved every minute of it. Even the: "We're just sitting here basking in the sun. Doesn't this count as Stop and Smell the Roses Day?" No, no it doesn't. We were in the midst of hosting 7-hour long moving sale that had started at 7 a.m.

When a person stops to smell a rose, what goes through his or her mind? I can tell you what it's not...it's not the thought of every item on a to-do list. It's not that the lawn needs to be mowed or the car needs an oil change or that the world might stop if I don't keep it moving.

None of that matters! In that aromatic instant, a simple beauty and an excellent fragrance is the whole world! The person holding that rose is appreciative of that uncomplicated moment.

So today, I spent what little time I had trying to be simple and grateful. And, that is the essence of Official Stop and Smell the Roses Day...it is not doing nothing, like I once tried to explain it. However, it is an attempt to bring beauty into an unfortunate world while living simply in complicated times. It's a push for slowing down, even stopping to at least smell a rose.

Adventure #6: Leaving

“You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, I told him, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again.”  ~ Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran

I was wrong to be sad about change but I was also right. Because I wanted you to know that you mean something to me, I tried to express that our time here is and was worth remembering. Yes, there will be more great times - together and apart - I hope and pray for that. I know our futures are bright! I just needed you to know that you'll always mean something to me.

I am sad...but you'll always be a part of who I've come to be. That's what I wanted you to know.

Adventure #5: If Life Were Simple...

When the solution is simple, God is answering.  ~Albert Einstein

If Life Were Simple
 
Where would the teddy bears go?
Their always friendly eyes,
Their hug-able-ness,
Their never shrinking warmth.

Who would drink hot chocolate?
It's creamy flow, 
It's frothy cocoa-ness,
It's power to ease a hurting heart.

Where would one put the glow-in-the-dark stars?
Their illuminating quality,
Their stick-able-ness,
Their ability to bring about memories.

Who would listen to the creek?
It's majesty to mold,
It's plainness to view,
It's soothing tones.

Most of all, where would the friend be?
The friend who danced with you in the rain,
who held your hand through the dark,
who made you soup when you were sick,
and from that first hug, never let go of the person you could be.

Where would they go, if life were simple? 

Adventure #4: The Sorting Hat

Harry: Not Slytherin. Not Slytherin.
Sorting Hat: Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It's all here in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, there's no doubt about that. No?

Choices...sometimes difficult to make, other times it's very clear what you want. However, some decisions lead to what I call The Sorting Hat Effect. Recently in our house it's been discussed that my roommate's favorite color isn't actually pink or green but is in fact red because of the coloring of clothing she picks and the cuteness level to her of most things red. If this were the case, then my favorite color would switch from green back to blue. I disagree that this is how favorite colors are discovered.

For Mr. Potter in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, once the Sorting Hat is placed on his head, it has the inclination to place him in Slytherin. Personally, I think the Hat was just messing with him to see his reaction. But Rowling is a genius in that she created that pivotal moment proving that "It's choice - not chance - that determines your destiny" (Jean Nidetch). This also connects later when Harry relates this story to reassure his son.

If you'll follow me just a bit longer, The Sorting Hat Effect is then applicable to many of our choices. It is not chance that determines my favorite color. Yes, it seems destined that if I always head for blue clothing then blue is my favorite color. However, I've chosen green and therein lies the destiny of my favorite color! It is my choice. So if the Sorting Hat were sitting on my head right now, it would declare for the world that my favorite color is in fact green!

Harry: Please, please. Anything but Slytherin, anything but Slytherin.
Sorting Hat: Well if you're sure, better be... GRYFFINDOR!