Friday, August 28, 2009

I trust that you will treat her well...

Since I really don't have anything to write about this week I wanted to share something that I heard on the radio the other day for the first day of 'back to school week'. Though I will still probably yell and curse at the lines of yellow buses and minivans blocking my way to work, this essay took me out of the 'Corporate America' mentality for a brief second and put the frustrations of 'back to school week' in perspective. Hope you enjoy!



Dear World:

I bequeath to you today one little girl ... in a crispy dress ... with two blue eyes ... and a happy laugh that ripples all day long and a flash of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning ... and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine. Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Good Bye"... and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in line ... and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears to the sounds of school-bells ... and deadlines ... and she'll learn to giggle ... and gossip ... and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue at her.

And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in a sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew.

No, now she'll worry about important things.

Like grades ... and which dress to wear ... and who's best friend is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls.

And now she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and father and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ... which is only right. But, no longer will I be the smartest man in the whole world.

Today when that school bell rings for the first time ... she'll learn what it means to be a member of a group. With all it's privileges. And it's disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud. Or kiss dogs. Or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms. Or even watch ants scurry across cracks in the summer sidewalk.

Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to become a woman.

So, World. I bequeath to you today one little girl ... in a crispy dress ... with two blue eyes and a happy laugh that ripples all day long ... and a flash of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I trust you'll treat her well.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Best times with best friends!


I can't even begin to describe how much fun last week was! As many of you may know, I flew to the Philly last Wednesday night to spend a few days with my best friend Jen. We conquered New York City, fought the Jersey traffic, watched the Orioles lose after 14 innings, and had dinner in Delaware. It was the ultimate girls weekend and it could not have come at a better time! I have a handful of people who are such joys to spend my time with and Jen is defiantly one of them.

It's a humbling feeling to have genuine relationships that can withstand the time, distance, stress, and chaos our lives can create. From sharing a bottle of wine with old high school friends, to 'dining with divas' in Dallas, to exploring the streets of NYC with my best friend, I'm grateful for such humbling experiences and look forward to many, many more!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The band wagon...

I've jumped on the social band wagon and created a blog. What this blog will be about....who knows! I have no kids, no house, no husband or even crazy pet stories to laugh about. I do however have a horrible lease on a town home with a messy boyfriend living inside it who I can't help but fall in love with more and more everyday. I have some pretty 'dope' friends who are the encouragement that I need in my life. My family, as discombobulated as we may be, is my family and I couldn't have learned what I've learned without them. All of these people make my whole heart smile (minus the people who sold us our lease).

I like to think I have come a long from where I was not even just a few months ago. Things are changing, progressing and I'm beginning to find my place in this massive world. Juggling the everyday things of being an 'adult' can be somewhat amusing, entertaining, and hopefully worth your time reading. I will try to keep the rants to simmering raves, the cliches to one blog at a time, and sob stories short and sweet. I want to focus on the people, stories, and experiences that make my heart smile every single day.

With that said, let's blog!
-C