Things That Are Bad

* Having a severe case of the giggles.

Things that are really bad

* Having said case of giggles in A&P class this night.

As I watched the professor flit back and forth between her notes, the book, the whiteboard, and the projector, a thought popped into my mind...

She is like a spastic octopus.

And no one can have a thought that profound, without having some sort of laughage.

Especially not me.

One Symbol and One Signal

Yesterday as I was traveling down the highway, I came behind a car that had a little fish on the back.

"How nice," I thought, feeling instant solidarity with the driver.

I was in the left hand lane, so was beginning to pass him when he put his blinker on.

Being already half way past him, I didn't let him into my lane, as this would have entailed me braking quite heavily.

As I completed passing him, I looked over to see him... flipping me off!

And I did not like this.

Not one bit.

Tiara Envy

So, last evening Amy & I went out… and as we were leaving she said, “I dare you to wear that tiara.”

We’ve been friends for a very long time. She should have known better.

I wore it to dinner

To the Home Depot

To the movies

And to Barnes & Noble

There were many stares.

I can only imagine that it’s because the people of Manchester were jealous.

Because everyone secretly wants to wear a tiara.

True story.

Is Chivalry Dead?

Or am I just becoming too self-sufficient to accept it?

I haven't lived at home for over 10 years... and I've had my own place for over five years.

If my toilet stops working, I fix it.
When my headlight goes out, I change it.
The mornings my car wont start, I jump it.
I lose something down the sink, I retrieve it.
Arms full and need a door opened, I use my feet.

And sometimes when I'm out and a guy doesn't hold the door, or cuts me off, or is just plain rude, I wonder if chivalry is dead...

But then I think maybe they would have treated me differently, given half a chance, but I was too focused on doing it myself.

There are still the guys who reach for the door, and our hands collide in mid-air. As I pull my hand back, I'm grateful... and a little ashamed... and I chalk one up for them on the side of chivalry lives on.

Chloe's Artwork

I took Chloe to work with me for a little while today, and she drew this masterpiece on the whiteboard in my classroom.

Basking In The Glow of Thankfulness

My heart is full of thanks, on this my favorite holiday!

The opportunity to write down all the things that make life worth living is a tradition that I cherish.

My life = so rich!

Memories From a Nine Year Old... and Beyond

Dad reading the Bible to Mom as she did her hair each morning, then the quiet discussions of what that passage meant to them

Mom and Dad, kissing as they pass each other in the kitchen

Each night, having Dad come in and either sitting on the end of the bed, or kneeling by my bed, praying for me

Being nine was twenty years ago, and since I've been home this weekend, I've seen all of these played out. Time hasn't changed any of them.

I slept better last night than I have in months. My spirit knows that it can relax... that all is right with the world... that it is home.

Things...

... I learned this week

* That I have amazing friends who care about what's going on in my life.
(I knew this already!)

* That I should have written a proviso along with my last post. Yes, life is life, but I wrote that bit a little while ago and thought it a beautiful piece that I wanted to share. Didn't realize that it would release the firestorm of care that it did... I've had emails and phone calls coming in all day from people concerned for my well-being. Thanks, my friends! God is good. All the time.

... I laughed at this week

When I was leaving the hospital on Monday night, I stopped in the playroom to say goodbye to Luke. I walked in and he said, "Don't come in here! I'm already on a date with someone else!"

"Aunt Lulu just came in to say goodbye and I love you," I said.

(long sigh) "Love you, too."

... I laughed at this day

As I was walking to my car tonight after work, a call came into my cell from a number that I didn't recognize. I answered, and the caller identified himself as an

ARMY RECRUITER!

He stated that they were calling all the students who were currently registered at NH Tech.

"Did you have plans for after you graduate," he wondered.

I informed him that I am almost 29 and work full time. (I left out the part about at the rate things are going with my schooling, I'll be 83 by the time I graduate!)

"Oh," said he. "Well, have you ever considered the military?"

"Yes," I replied... "and then I crossed it off my list of things to do."

True story!

Thoughts

You've wanted this your whole life. You've begged, prayed, cried, and dreamed.

And on the horizon, you see the answer.

You run to it... spirit soaring... heart recognizing it's own dream.

As you reach to embrace it, you see amidst the hundreds of similarities, a core difference. And with horror you realize, this is not the long-awaited answer to your dream.

Your heart - a dichotomy.

One half, picking up it's shattered pieces - telling itself that in finding an answer so close to what it's dream was, there must be another one out there that fits perfectly.

The other half, willing and ready to give up - telling itself to focus on the similarities, and ignore the core difference. Mold your dream into a new one... one that melds with this answer, because life is short.

And you know, that even though you want the part of your heart that is ready to give up to win, true happiness would not be found with a core difference.

So, you continue on... begging, praying, crying and dreaming.