A Series of Moments
It's a cliche to say that life is a series of moments but sometimes it's true. Life comes at you in seconds and things can change in the space of a heartbeat-when you find out someone you love has died, or is pregnant or you find out out someone is in love with you (this can be good or bad, depending). But right now I'm thinking of the small moments that I think it's important to appreciate. I say this because on my way home I heard a girl singing while playing her guitar in Dupont Circle and it was beautiful. I have no singing at all, so I like to think I can appreciate someone who really can sing and she could. I thought it was a recording at first because it was so nice, but as I got closer I saw her and the group gathered around. I stopped for a few seconds to listen then made my way home-and heard the applause when she finished. Listening to her got me thinking of the times in my life that I loved, when that moment was so good that I had to tell myself to remember it because I would always WANT to remember it.
So, to quote Declare again...here's a list.
That time when I was riding my bike home when I was 11 or so and was at the top of the hill that lead down to my house-the sun broke through a square in the clouds and I could actually see the rays of light. It was late afternoon and the clouds were pink, purple and orange around it-it was beautiful.
That time when my mom and sister and I went Christmas shopping in Chicago just for the day. We left early, got back late and got lost returning. it was cold and close to Christmas, Chicago was lit up for the holiday and my sister and I sang Christmas carols on the way home in our terrible voices.
That time I went to CA to visit M &D and we went to Calistoga and then sat by the pool all afternoon drinking the claret I bought at the Coppola Vineyard and eating cheese. Every time D and I get together we talk about that afternoon and how magical it was-a beautiful day, warm weather and we chatted and ate and drank the afternoon away and then went to dinner.
That time when M&I went to Hershey Park a few weeks ago-we ate bad food and went most of the rides and had Italian food at a "piece of Hershey history" then drove back through Amish country-it was beautiful.
Visiting my parent in Florida a few years ago and walking along the beach. It was warm and was wearing a shirt and shorts and splashing in the water. I remember telling myself to enjoy this moment because it was so good.
The Monarch butterfly i saw outside my apartment building last week.
The first time I read Gone With the Wind-I hadn't known until that point that something I read could affect me that much. It was the start of a lifelong love affair.
The first time I read Neuromancer. I didn't know until then that sci-fi could be cool.
Neuromancer was cool-and it allowed me to finally say in public that I liked science fiction-I had kept it in the closet until then.
When my Mom brought Casey home. She was a little Shih-Tzu and so scared of everything but she was so sweet. We loved her with all our hearts-and it broke them when she died but I'm so grateful that we had her and that I knew her. As Shakespeare said-we give hostages to fortune when we love-and that's the risk.
Any meal I've had with D and all the fun times we've ever had-from graduation night with Champagne and kielbasa to that wonderful meal at Gary Danko where the bartender/server was the coolest guy ever and the meal was the best I've ever had (sorry, Ubuntu) and all the laughs, fun and heartbreak we've ever shared-I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
All the times with M-we've had our share (more than our share) of drama, angst and love (sometimes in public) but he's still one of the smartest, funniest, most charismatic people I've ever met and I'm so grateful he's in my life.
The first time I met Y-he teases me because I the first few times i met him, I could never remember his name, but he changed my life and allowed me to become more who I am and I will always be grateful for that. He never criticizes, just offers his thoughts and is never judgemental. He is truly a special person.
That time when my niece graduated from high school-my brother and sister-in-law rented a moon bounce and we played on all afternoon and had some good food then watched the Red Wings all night. The Wings were playing what turned out to be one the longest Stanley Cup games EVER and during every break, we would go out in the moon bounce in the middle of the night. At the end of the night (around 2:00), it was just my brother, sister and I (everyone else had gone to bed), the wings won the game AND the Cup. We celebrated and went out in the moon bounce one more time and then went to bed-it was fun.
That guy who played the guitar outside of the Starbucks north of Dupont Circle last summer. He was good-it was great to hear him every time I walked home.
The condo on Calvert St. That location had its drawbacks (noise, crazy people, lack of parking) but I loved that condo-it was beautiful.
The first time I saw the X-Files. I had mocked it when I saw the commercials (knowing it was something would probably like) but when I actually watched it...
It came along at a very difficult part of my life and it helped me through it. Thank you, David, Gillian and Chris. You have no idea how much you helped me though that time and I'll always love all of you for it. Plus, Chris Carter and Fox Mulder share my birthday! Bonus!
Finally (for now) my parents. They are crazy, my parents. Difficult and prickly, smart and sensitive. They have had their times of making my life difficult and there were times when I never understood them and I probably never will. But I have lived my life knowing that they would do anything in their power for me and that they love me whole-heartedly and without reservation. I tell me people that my Mom is like lion. She's not the type who would stay home and make cookies and be touchy-feely. That's not her-although she would always be there if I needed her but she's not the kind who says "I love you" all the time. She IS the kind that if someone attacked someone she loved, she would rip them to shreds without hesitation. She's fierce and you do not want to cross her-but for those she loves, she would do anything. My Dad is not fierce-but he is kind and loving and smart. He's good at seeing all sides of an issue and seeing how other people feel-something Mom is almost incapable of. They continually baffle and amaze me and I'm grateful for them every day of my life (well, lately. Not so much when I was younger but it takes age to appreciate some things).
So, to quote Declare again...here's a list.
That time when I was riding my bike home when I was 11 or so and was at the top of the hill that lead down to my house-the sun broke through a square in the clouds and I could actually see the rays of light. It was late afternoon and the clouds were pink, purple and orange around it-it was beautiful.
That time when my mom and sister and I went Christmas shopping in Chicago just for the day. We left early, got back late and got lost returning. it was cold and close to Christmas, Chicago was lit up for the holiday and my sister and I sang Christmas carols on the way home in our terrible voices.
That time I went to CA to visit M &D and we went to Calistoga and then sat by the pool all afternoon drinking the claret I bought at the Coppola Vineyard and eating cheese. Every time D and I get together we talk about that afternoon and how magical it was-a beautiful day, warm weather and we chatted and ate and drank the afternoon away and then went to dinner.
That time when M&I went to Hershey Park a few weeks ago-we ate bad food and went most of the rides and had Italian food at a "piece of Hershey history" then drove back through Amish country-it was beautiful.
Visiting my parent in Florida a few years ago and walking along the beach. It was warm and was wearing a shirt and shorts and splashing in the water. I remember telling myself to enjoy this moment because it was so good.
The Monarch butterfly i saw outside my apartment building last week.
The first time I read Gone With the Wind-I hadn't known until that point that something I read could affect me that much. It was the start of a lifelong love affair.
The first time I read Neuromancer. I didn't know until then that sci-fi could be cool.
Neuromancer was cool-and it allowed me to finally say in public that I liked science fiction-I had kept it in the closet until then.
When my Mom brought Casey home. She was a little Shih-Tzu and so scared of everything but she was so sweet. We loved her with all our hearts-and it broke them when she died but I'm so grateful that we had her and that I knew her. As Shakespeare said-we give hostages to fortune when we love-and that's the risk.
Any meal I've had with D and all the fun times we've ever had-from graduation night with Champagne and kielbasa to that wonderful meal at Gary Danko where the bartender/server was the coolest guy ever and the meal was the best I've ever had (sorry, Ubuntu) and all the laughs, fun and heartbreak we've ever shared-I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
All the times with M-we've had our share (more than our share) of drama, angst and love (sometimes in public) but he's still one of the smartest, funniest, most charismatic people I've ever met and I'm so grateful he's in my life.
The first time I met Y-he teases me because I the first few times i met him, I could never remember his name, but he changed my life and allowed me to become more who I am and I will always be grateful for that. He never criticizes, just offers his thoughts and is never judgemental. He is truly a special person.
That time when my niece graduated from high school-my brother and sister-in-law rented a moon bounce and we played on all afternoon and had some good food then watched the Red Wings all night. The Wings were playing what turned out to be one the longest Stanley Cup games EVER and during every break, we would go out in the moon bounce in the middle of the night. At the end of the night (around 2:00), it was just my brother, sister and I (everyone else had gone to bed), the wings won the game AND the Cup. We celebrated and went out in the moon bounce one more time and then went to bed-it was fun.
That guy who played the guitar outside of the Starbucks north of Dupont Circle last summer. He was good-it was great to hear him every time I walked home.
The condo on Calvert St. That location had its drawbacks (noise, crazy people, lack of parking) but I loved that condo-it was beautiful.
The first time I saw the X-Files. I had mocked it when I saw the commercials (knowing it was something would probably like) but when I actually watched it...
It came along at a very difficult part of my life and it helped me through it. Thank you, David, Gillian and Chris. You have no idea how much you helped me though that time and I'll always love all of you for it. Plus, Chris Carter and Fox Mulder share my birthday! Bonus!
Finally (for now) my parents. They are crazy, my parents. Difficult and prickly, smart and sensitive. They have had their times of making my life difficult and there were times when I never understood them and I probably never will. But I have lived my life knowing that they would do anything in their power for me and that they love me whole-heartedly and without reservation. I tell me people that my Mom is like lion. She's not the type who would stay home and make cookies and be touchy-feely. That's not her-although she would always be there if I needed her but she's not the kind who says "I love you" all the time. She IS the kind that if someone attacked someone she loved, she would rip them to shreds without hesitation. She's fierce and you do not want to cross her-but for those she loves, she would do anything. My Dad is not fierce-but he is kind and loving and smart. He's good at seeing all sides of an issue and seeing how other people feel-something Mom is almost incapable of. They continually baffle and amaze me and I'm grateful for them every day of my life (well, lately. Not so much when I was younger but it takes age to appreciate some things).
posted by SHbookworm at 4:35 PM
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