Feelin' like a teenager!

Last night I had one of those evenings that brought back feelings of being a teenager or in college again. My friend Teresa got tickets to the KT Tunstall concert at the Bluebird. I haven't seen Teresa in a while so I was looking forward to catching up and hanging out with her. Plus, I love KT's music and couldn't wait to see her perform in person. Teresa picked me up and we talked non-stop until we found a parking space. We went in to the theatre and all those memories came flooding back...of concerts from the past when I was young, and didn't care that the venue had no seats or was a smokey environment or getting home after midnight. We crowded in with all the other people and drank out of plastic cups. We danced, we sang, we sweated, we swayed, we jumped up and down, we hugged, and we both felt oblivious to how hot it was, or crowded, or loud. I fell asleep after midnight with a smile on my face.

There were two small incidences that happened that reminded me I wasn't as young and carefree as I was feeling. First, we were asked to be quiet during the second singer-the first band was fun and energetic, but the second guy played a ton of slow songs. So, Teresa and I kept on chatting and catching up...I guess too loudly hence being asked to shush. I don't think that would happen in a crowd of 18 or 21 year olds...but would happen in a crowd of 30 or 40 somethings, where this may be the one outing this week due to getting child care, or having work obligations, or something grown up like that. The second incident occurred every time each of us would take turns to go to the bathroom or get a drink. We had to make our way back through annoyed people who acted like we were cheating them out of their space, even though we got there first.

Despite these minor incidences that reminded me things aren't always perfectly care free, I left the Bluebird almost giddy. It was a night that made me feel so happy to my core and I hope I can re-create these moments more often.

Life is good

I found this image on the internet and it matches how I feel! I have been really been enjoying life lately and am anticipating even more enjoyment this summer. I think a lot of it has to do with the spring season-this is my favorite time of the year. I love watching the grass green up, the flowering trees, bulbs exploding with color, the weather perfect. I also think I am uber happy because my work schedule is back to 4 hours a day, which gives me so much more time every day to enjoy the spring. I am feeling motivated, too. Jessica and I have been running every Saturday about 3.3 miles-last week we ran 4 miles. I have two 5k runs in May and she is running one of them with me. She and Jason also came over and helped me knock out a bunch of house projects. I am making a list for other things that need done, too, and I am actually looking forward to tackling these projects. I think I am so excited about the next few months because I had experienced time off last year, and I know how delicious time off is. I do remember feeling overwhelmed by what I "should" be doing with my time, but this year I know exactly how I want to spend my time! And I will enjoy every second of it.

Love stories worth a Lifetime movie special

Okay, I admit it. Occasionally I will put on the Lifetime channel while I am puttering around the house and watch whatever dramatic movie that will cover a 2 hour timespan. Recently, during this puttering and watching, I saw the trailer for "William and Kate" which will be a Lifetime movie about the young prince and his bride-to-be. The buzz around the prince and his girl got me to thinking...don't we all have that love story? The love story that is Lifetime movie worthy?

We do. At some point in all of our lives, whether it is with your current life love or a boyfriend/girlfriend from the past, we all have that swirling, twirling, wonderful, passionate love that is, indeed, worth a Lifetime movie slot. Look into your past and see the drama, the love, the passion, the disappointment, the redemption...all of which encompass loving another person.

I think about Mike and me and I do believe we would make a great made-for-TV movie. I remember our early love...there were no boundaries, nothing we couldn't face together. As our love matured, this concept did, too...but maybe more pragmatically. And,the climax to our love story...his facing a disease that would end his life and me facing life without him...I am on the edge of my couch waiting to see how this movie may end. (Oh, trivially speaking...I would be played by Emily Blunt and Mike would be played by Ryan Gosling-I have a friend who has stated that Mike and Ryan are dopplegangers).

What would your Lifetime movie love story be? Who would play you? What would the ending look like? I am hoping for "happily ever after" regardless of circumstance. At least, that is what I am striving for.

Anticipation

Friday afternoon. Spending time with friends and family. Playing in the garden. Mountain hikes. Reading on the front porch. Walking to dinner on Old South Pearl or Gaylord Streets. Backyard bbq's. Chester and Stan laying in the sun. Lavender, wine and beach in Oregon. A trip to Creede. Long walks at the park. Yoga again. Starting a new chapter with Graduate School of Social Work.

This is just a short list of everything I am anticipating, from this weekend to just after the summer. The trick is to
s-a-v-o-r e-v-e-r-y m-o-m-e-n-t.