Rites Of Passage

As we age in life there are many milestones we pass that make us feel older. When we are young there are significant things to look forward to.  At 16 we can get our drivers license.  Or, coincidentally the year I turn 16 they changed the driving program and we could only get our G2.  So that left looking forward to G1 at 17 and then G shortly thereafter. (Unless you're Matt K and you wait until you are 28 to do this...) Anyway, at 18 you can legally vote and at 19 you can drink.  Then you turn 21 and you can drink across the river....an added bonus when you live on a border town.   At 25 car insurance goes down (so they say, but mine never did). 

I went through all of these stages and also took on a mortgage and got into mutual funds - you can't get more grown up than that.  But somehow, none of these things made me feel like an adult.  To quote Miss Britney Spears; "I'm not a girl; not yet a woman".  LOL

Until last week.   Thanksgiving - 2008.  I became a grown up.  In my mind at least. 

How, you might ask?  My sister and my mom both asked me what I was going to bring to Thanksgiving dinner.  What? Suddenly I am responsible for contributing to a family meal? No more are the days I can just show up and eat. I am now part of the process.  Very weird to me. My mom and my sister were blessed with talents in the kitchen.  It's no secret that cooking is not my forte.  But I am learning and I am trying.  So the fact that they would WANT me to contribute is pretty big.  

So my mom calls, before Thanksgiving, to ask what I was going to bring.  I told her I didn't know but that I wanted to make either a salad or vegetable dish (I have to keep things basic here).  My mom says "Oh, remember in the summer when you made that strawberry/spinach salad?"  I told her I did and got excited thinking I could make that again, until she says "Yah - don't make that"  HA - Something only a mother could say.  

You know what else?  Food is not cheap.  Making a big meal for a big family is a lot of money. It's not something I would take on myself.  I am quite content at this point to bring a little side dish.  Kudos to my mom for the many, many amazing dinners she has cooked for all of us.  I have to give a little shout out to my sister too, as she often does this and her food is always amazing.  (Way to steal those genes you little sneak) 

Last Christmas was the first time I did contribute to a meal, but I think with the frenzy of Christmas I never really thought about it.  

So, as of last week, I am officially a grown up.  Green Beans with sesame seeds and bacon was all it took for me to figure that out.  

 

Priceless

Dress $1000.00

Shoes $50.00

Hair $40.00

________________

Picture of a bride dancing with a pumpkin on her head????

PRICELESS

This is reason #1433 why I love Emmilia.

Last Saturday I was honoured to stand beside Emmilia on her wedding day. Looking back it's been 14 years of friendship and 14 years of fun. The first day I met her, I thought she was crazy. In retrospect, I am sure that is why we are still friends. Anyway, it was during the winter of grade 8. Erin and I heard a new girl moved in down the road. We were excited to meet her and make a new friend. We were going tobogganning that day and thought we'd go to her house to introduce ourselves and invite her along. She said she wanted to come with us. As Erin and I stood there in our big snow suits and boots (for those who remember, yes, mine were the big purple Sorels - that I still have to this day) We waited while Emmilia went to get her snow stuff. Out she comes in jeans and duck boots!! Jeans and Duck Boots? Who was this girl?? Does she not know what playing in the snow entails? I am sure Erin and I exchanged skeptical glances and I was pretty confident this "friendship" just wasn't meant to be.

It's funny how when you're 13 you think Duck Boots are tell-tale indicators of the future.

Little did I know.

Throughout the next five years of highschool we had countless fits of laughter and adventures together. I have fond memories of riding around town in her gigantic old suburban, fishing trips with her dad, semi-formals, leadership conferences and so much more. In University we went separate ways, but we always stayed close. Road trips to her dorm, and all the other places she lived were always great times.

But really, it never mattered and still doesn't matter what city we are in or what we are doing. Even when we are sitting around doing nothing, Emmilia can always make me laugh. And that is what I love about her.

So, It's no surprise that 14 years after she wore jeans in the snow, I laughed right along side her while she danced with pumpkin on her head. I wouldn't have it any other way.

C'mon! You didn't think I wasn't going to do it too, did you?

Her brother did it too......And one of the groomsmen, but I didn't get a picture of him.

A letter of Thanks

Dear Person who lives near me,

I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your internet with me. I've calculated that you've saved me over $300.00. If I knew who you were, or where you were, I'd properly thank you. I might even bake you some cookies or something.

If there is anything I can do for you, like share my cable, let me know. I'm "nice" like that too.

Sincerely,

Sara

Ode to Doogie

Remember how at the end of every episode of Doogie Howser he would turn on his computer and write this insightful one-liner summarizing his day and the life lesson learned?  

I wish I was cool enough to do that.   

I also wish I had a little italian friend named Vinnie that would randomly climb through my window to visit me.   Just kidding. 

Ode To Maya

There are two famous women in life that I just absolutely love. Well, three...but everyone loves Oprah, so I am not including her here. Loving Oprah is just a given. Anyway, my thoughts here today are of Dr. Maya Angelou. I randomly came across a quote of hers today and it brought a smile to my face.

Anyone who watches Oprah knows her deep love for this woman. She speaks so highly of her and in great awe. I am not sure if it was Oprah that got me into her in the first place. It's quite possible. Either way, I too, am in awe of this woman. Her life story is beyond incredible and her work can leave you speechless. I can't begin to get into details here because I wouldn't do her justice.

So you can imagine my surprise and excitement when, two years ago, I found out that Maya was going to my old University. She was doing a talk at the school that evening. How I didn't find out about that sooner is beyond me but I was thankful to have learned of it in the first place. I called the school and found out there were only two tickets left. I bought one immediately and called as many people as I could that I thought would be available to go. Unfortunately (for them...suckers!) no one was available. Anyway, I went alone and loved every minute of it. I left there with a special feeling; like I had been touched by her presence.

Reading her work is one thing. But hearing her speak is another. Physically, I was surprised to see her. She is 6 feet tall with a deep, strong voice. She speaks like she is singing - with great flow. Actually, she did sing that night as well. She did not use paper or cue cards, yet did not miss a beat. It was powerful and beautiful. I still can't figure out how or why she ended up at a small town University in Northern Michigan. But she did and I am so thankful. (If you haven't gotten the message here...I'm trying to tell you to go and read her work.)

Today I came upon this quote she once said:

"If you only have one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go into the street and start grinning 'Good Morning' at total strangers"

I know this isn't the most profound poetic thing she's ever said. But it did get me thinking. I began to think about how often we take people in our life for granted. Not that I plan to go out and scowl at strangers from this point on - but I am really going to try to be conscious of where I direct my energy. As part of my job I am trained to be polite and use etiquette with customers. Do I go out of my way for strangers? Don't we all? Not that I think that's a bad quality to be polite and nice. I mean, I'm all about paying it forward and making the world a better place. But we may be quick to jump at those in our life. Take out our exhaustion or frustration on those closest to us. It's also important to remember that for people important in our life, something small and simple can make all the difference in their day. I know it can for me. A quick phone call to say hi, a short email that lets me know I was on someone's mind. Even a text message here and there is nice. I know a phone call home makes my mom so happy.

My lesson from Maya today is to treat those I love well and appreciate the good in my life. Live in the now with no regrets.

For anyone wondering, the other famous person I love is Bette Midler. I have no idea why. There is no good reason for it. I have just loved her for as long as I can remember. I know she's doing shows in Vegas right now and I would die to go to one.

An ultimate dream for me would be to drink wine and chat with Oprah, Bette and Maya. Like my own twisted episode of Sex and the City. We'd be friends for life.

Why it pays to be lazy...

More often than not, we need to learn to see the glass as half full. Which is why I am declaring that it pays to be lazy.  Tonight I found a pair of pants I forgot I own.  How cool is that??  New pants!  In a big pile of clothes on my laundry room floor, (a pile which I label, "not important - can wait until later" clothes),  I stumbled upon these pants.   And I literally did stumble on them.  I wasn't being proactive nor energetic enough to actually tackle the task of washing these clothes.  I truly did just trip over them, in a quest to find my baseball socks.  Yes, there are such things as baseball socks.  Though they are the same as my golf socks, they quite differ from my hockey socks.  Anyway, let's stay on topic here.   I equate finding my new pants as fun as finding something exciting in your old coat at the start of a new season.   How fun is it to put on last years winter coat and find money in the pocket.  I'm quite positive an organized individual does not experience this luxury - HA! I scoff at these individuals.  Look what you're missing out on!! Free money! Well, the money is about as free as the pants I found tonight are new - but humour me.   

And I don't even need to find money to get excited.  Bring on an old lip gloss and I'm elated.  

I remember years ago my family had a big garage sale.  My mom was selling all of my great uncles old clothes.   This guy buys a pair of pants for $0.50.  In an effort to, I don't know, admire the pants I guess, he held them up against him and walked around.  Wanted to make sure they fit, etc.  Well, in this charade he finds a $20.00 in the back pocket. It's too bad he did this right in front of us because he then felt obligated to give it back. Sucker.   Had he waited until he got home to just try them on, he would have profited $19.50.  Bringing me back to my main point - here is yet another example of how it would have paid to be lazy.  Literally.  

 

Pieces of me

This whole blog thing is quite new to me. I just started it last week. I got to the "About Me" part of the page and hit a road block. How do I describe myself? Who am I? I started thinking about it, but it was hard to do. I started compiling thoughts in my head over a few days. Little bits of me. While it may not be that interesting to anyone else to read - it was actually a pretty interesting little project, even just for myself.

Here's what I came up with.....

I watch Young and the Restless every day - even though it's ridiculous.
I will never make a sandwich or a bed as well as my mother.
I wouldn't order Caesars if they didn't come with pickles.
I love my MAC. I've gone Mac and I'll never go back.
I have a good imagination.
I miss my grandma's cooking.
I carry floss everywhere I go.
I cherish pictures.
I hate beer, but I wish I didn't.
I love all kinds of music, but I'm a country girl at heart.
I don't like fish or seafood. But I love tuna. Explain that.
I have an addiction to chapstick/lip gloss. Burt's Bees & MAC Lip Glass especially.
I don't like when my food touches on my plate.
I miss my cat Steve. He was my buddy.
When I go home to my parents I still expect to see my dog on the steps. It's been 5 years since she died.
Sometimes I think I trust too easily.
I loved going to summer camp when I was a kid.
I love board games.
Bonfires in the summer make me happy.
I love cheese and jam sandwiches.
I try to remember to think before I speak. It's a work in progress.
I love reading. I forever want to learn.
I wish I could wear pajamas all the time.
I am easily amused. I like that.
I am annoyed by poor grammar.
My mind often wanders.
I love going to the movies. Especially with my sister.
I miss my good hockey days; with my hockey girls (they know who they are)
I could spend hours in Shoppers Drug Mart.
I am thankful my parents and siblings are all in the same city.
I am learning to stop worrying about things I can't control. I've come a long way.
I used to have issues with anxiety and I'm thankful everyday I beat that hurdle.
I lose everything and forget things every where I go. I am never surprised when it happens.
I like plucking my eyebrows.
I long to be more organized.
I have a mysterious allergy in my mouth that doctors can't explain.
I develop deep relationships with television shows.
Steven Tyler freaks me out. A lot.
I have intense, frequent dreams. That's both good AND bad.
I want to be better at golf. I haven't given up.
I'm embarrassed I don't know where a lot of countries are on a map.
I secretly still think if I had went away for University my life would have been like Felicity's.
I love road trips.
I can't drive standard. I want to.
I love ebay.
I love waking up on Sunday mornings and reading Post Secret.
I have good friends in my life. They make me laugh and I love that.
I very rarely get my mail and I know that's weird.
From past 90210 days to present 90210 days, I've always wanted Jennie Garth's hair.
I love all things Bath and Body Works.
I started getting gray hair when I was 21.
I love how all my nieces can make me laugh.
My most productive thinking happens in the shower.

A Magical Land called Victoria Secret

Would it be socially acceptable for a random stranger to walk up to you and comment on your boobs?  No, of course not.  And no one would.  BUT - you walk through the doorway of Victoria Secret and boom - your boobs are fair game.  

There is a magical essence in that store and I love it.  

As you roam through the store, fascinated by the walls and rows of bins, colours, textures and styles, you must become slightly mesmerized.  It suddenly becomes acceptable for one of the Victoria Secret girls to talk to you about your boobs.  And it's not even weird.  

They can look at & comment on your boobs.  How is that not weird?  But it isn't.  

My first experience in that store was in Grandville, a few years ago.  The girl in the store (shall I refer to her as a V.S Fairy?) told me my bra was just 'not working for me'.  Oh? I say humbly. But she was right and she proved it.  She buzzed around the store quickly and came back with a bra (that may or may not have had a halo hovering over it).  She had me stare at myself 'before', and then again 'after' she worked her magic.  Ten minutes later I don't even bat an eye spending $69.00US on ONE bra.  Something I would NEVER do in the real world.  *Side note: This was back when the American dollar was not what it is today*

And really - who is this girl?  Why do I trust her so much.  Does she have that much training? She could be anyone.  She could be the girl from the movies last night who kicked my chair all night and annoyed me.  But give her a black outfit and a measuring tape and I believe every word she says.  

You know what I am?  A corporate dream.  A statistic.  You advertise; I buy. 

I went back to the magical place two weeks ago.  My friend was looking for a new bra and I was along for the ride.  I watched one of the fairies walk up to her and measure her - disagreeing with the size bra she chose.  Calling her out on her mistake - right in the middle of the store! Again, not weird when its happening.   Minutes later, I watch her walk right into her change room, lift up her shirt and pull on the clasp at the back.  It was then I realized the power these fairies have.  I could never imagine a complete stranger doing that to me.  Anywhere else and you would have them arrested.  

I was wearing uncomfortable shoes that day and my feet were really sore.  I jumped at the chance to sit on a chair in the store that was conveniently located between two change rooms.  I sat and listened to some funny conversations and watched some fairies work their magic.  I was pleasantly amused.  

I listened to one comment to a woman on her 'top heavy frame', to which she defensively announced that she had seven kids.  The fairy would sneak into her change room and comment on all the different bras she tried on.  As though the woman said; "Hey- I am going to take off my clothes, then you come in here and judge me"  I didn't see the 'before' and 'after' show - but I could tell this mother was quite pleased with her results.  Frankly, I think the fairy should have sprinkled her with a wand and given her a bra for free.  Simply for pumping out seven kids - but that's just my opinion. 

Anyway, we left the store, my friend with her new bra in hand,  walked back through the magical doorway and into to the real world; where the only stranger who talks to me about my boobs is wearing a white coat and a stethoscope.  

Gold Locks searching for their Goldilocks

Here’s what happens when you have two friends with two different reaction modes. One may tend to be a little over-reactive while the other may be a little under-reactive (hi, that's me).

Here's how it went down:

We are on a road trip. We are in Amy’s new car and she is driving. Suddenly a light appears on the dash. We don’t know what it means. My reaction? Oh well. A light is on now. I don’t even give it a second thought. I know I would get myself out of a lot of pickles in life if I learned to think ahead, rather than my usual “we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it” attitude. But that’s just me and I’ve accepted that.

Anyway, Amy starts to panic, knowing this light has appeared to indicate something is wrong. She is right. I look in the car manual and the book instructs us to “pull over when it is safe to do so” because there is a problem with a tire. We happen to be driving by a small town and pull in. We both are well aware that we are clueless when it comes to cars. I try to calm Amy down by assuring her we’ll change this tire if we need to. She rightfully mocked me by saying “Yah, WERE going to change a tire” and I laugh.

We decide we need to check the tire pressure. We roll through the town and Amy thinks out loud that she wonders “Where the Tire Pressure Store Is”. Tire Pressure Store - HA. We pull into the gas station and agree we need to find out if they have air. As we head into the store we hesitate as we don’t know what to say when we get in. We can’t just say “Hi - do you have air?”. Or, as Amy stated “So, do you sell pressure?” Granted, we may not have been thinking straight at this point. We are both smart people, I swear. I was over-tired and feeling giddy and she was in panic mode. Keep that in mind.

I don’t know how we phrased it but the gas attendant directed us to the air machine in the parking lot. We both pretended to see it - but later admitted we didn't see it. We were looking at the pay phone. He let us borrow the little gadget that checks the tire pressure. Amy knew how to check tire pressure (She’s from Goulais) Then she discovered a big nail in the tire that we ran over. We can hear the air coming out of the tire, so we knew it was bad. We decide we have to really fill the tire with air while we resolve this problem to prevent it from going completely flat. We keep pumping the air in - then checking the pressure. Which wasn’t changing. “Boy - this sure takes a long time” we both agree and take turns putting the air in.

It’s only then the gas guy comes over and tells us we haven’t actually turned the air machine on. Wow. That’s embarrassing. As it turns out - it doesn't take long to fill a tire.










We decided to go to the 24 hour Walmart and buy a tire repair kit. We were told by Amy’s dad that our best route would be to plug the hole. There is even a tire hole plugging kit. Who knew? I decide we should buy a flashlight too (That’s what us city kids think of). We proceed to the check out line to pay for our items. That's when the tears started. I won't say who it was, but well...it wasn't me.

Next problem - who is going to do this repair? We both crack up at my suggestion to simply open our hood. I’m confident someone will come and help us then. “Hi, We need help. Yes, our hood is up - but that was just a trick. Please fix our tire.” I volunteer to wander around to recruit people. I was standing in a different gas station when I looked out the window and see someone crying again. I won't say who it was, but again - not me.

Long story short - a very nice man did come and help us. Even with his children waiting patiently in the car. The man refused to take money from us. All he asked is that we pay it forward. I have no doubt we will.

It’s funny how life sometimes magnifies who we are as people. Amy and I are a good pair. While I am often too laid back, she may be a little tense (compared to me anyway). She is too far right and I am too far left. We meet in the middle. Not too hot, not too cold....we are all on the quest for what is ‘just right’. Just like Goldilocks.

P.S. Thinking about this today, I remember that this isn’t the first time Amy and I had a car adventure together. Eleven years ago she was with me when I drove into a Mike’s Mart. Yes, I said INTO a Mike’s Mart. But that’s another story for another day. Stay tuned.