There have been many things on my mind lately. Every time I
pick up a new book I am ambushed with new thoughts, feelings and motivations. I
suppose that backs up the mantra “what goes in is what comes out.”
I’ll start with this, a little news update for those of you
who don’t own a tv or believe in the powers of Google. Japan is giving away
10,000 free tickets a few months from now. They want individuals to travel their
beautiful and recently devastated country, and then write travel reviews and
blogs about it to spread the word that Japan is in fact a great place to go. I
want to be one of these people. Help me be one of these people. Thus, my
sporadic blogging may begin to pick up its own tempo. This once work travel blog is beginning to
take on a whole new life.
I recently went to Seattle for my mom’s 50th
Birthday. A girl’s weekend to the max.
We’re talking delicately made truffles, champagne, Bridesmaids (the
movie), shopping, extravagant and delicious meals, and flowers. Lots and lots
of flowers, thank you Pike Place Market. Within this weekend, one of my mom’s
closest friends asked her to list the top events that have taken place in the
last 50 years. A pretty simple question in the storefront, but it’s like asking
a blind person to find the marble in the top to bottom packed vintage
shop. My mom’s answer- that it hasn’t
been the big things that have impacted her life but the day to day happenings
that have made her happy. How true it is, if we can’t appreciate the beauty of
each day before us, how will we ever appreciate the “big” things in life. The marriages. The births. The deaths. The
graduations. The BIG things. These big events in life symbolize change, but
life is in the day and night of an individual, not the direction in which they
start traveling, because we know another big thing will change that direction
again but it will never change living in the day.
This answer didn’t seem to appease the group much, although
I liked it. Factual dates, with details, that is what people are thirsty for.
The obligatory births of her children, her marriage, some childhood memories with
her siblings and best friend-cousin made the list. But my favorite, my absolutely favorite one,
and perhaps because I think it is on my list of favorites was the last fragment
of a memory she mentioned. And yes, I’m going to tell you what it was.
This past summer my parents, sister and I went to California
to see our family. My Grandpa has been sick with cancer for a few years now and
it has been rapidly taking its toll on his health. After spending 8 long days
in Ventura, California catching up with cousins, grandparents, fathers, uncles
and brothers we jumped in the car and headed home. The week ahead was busy and
I think weighed on our minds, but not as heavily as the trip we just completed.
I believe I said something to the effect of “back on the road,” to which my dad
replied “it’s time.” He proceeded to turn on the CD player, and out comes the
brand new The Band Perry CD. The following weekend we were all going to their
concert and on the drive down had been talking about how we wanted the CD so we
could learn the songs prior to it. Such a small gesture but it was so powerful
and moving. The first song out was If I
Die Young, a fan favorite, but an emotional and heart wrenching song when
you’ve just finished visiting a loved one plagued with cancer. When in the last
few years you’ve watched your best friend die and the future you had built
together sipping ice tea and conspiring to arrange your children’s marriages to
officially become related. Or when you’re just plain tired, living on faith,
hope, and probably caffeine.
That is one of my favorite memories.
I pray to God a man finds me that takes care of his women as
well as my dad does.
