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Bus Driver

Ok, I lied.

Remember Friday when I said I was going to do the daily “what I’m thankful for” thing during the month of November? Well. I guess that’s not happening.

Here we are – November 4th – and I have written a grand total of….ONE blog. Crap.

It’s not that I’m not thankful for things. I am. It’s just that I don’t like forcing myself to write. Telling myself to write every day makes it feel like a chore. And for me, writing cannot turn into a chore. It’s one of my only escapes from life’s many other chores as it is. And besides, I’ve been grumpy as crap over the past few days, so forcing myself to write about what I’m thankful for during my current mindset would have been about as productive as the time I tried to give my cat a bath.

Get my drift?

So, I skipped a few days. And I’m probably going to be skipping a few more if I’m going to just be quite honest with you. I’m just a tad too much of a cynic to come up with a cutesy thankful blog every single day, anyway. Again, it’s not that I’m not thankful for things. I just don’t feel like being forced to vomit sunshine and roses every day for a month. Because some days just aren’t conducive to that kind of…um…’product.’

But, even with that being said, I do, however, want to give a shout out to someone I noticed over the weekend.

My daughter’s school drama club had their annual drama competition on Saturday. It was in another town – about a two-hour drive – and the team was being transported by bus. Since they had performed their skit the night before at the school for parents, none of the parents were going along on the Saturday trip. Except me – the one parent who works in a separate state which kept her from getting to the Friday night performance on time. So, with the coach’s advance permission, I rode along on the bus with the kids.

Now, believe me when I tell you that there was not a dull moment on that bus ride. I like to think I’m a pretty young and hip momma, but shew! I was exhausted before we even got to the competition. They were great kids, don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean there was any trouble or anything like that – it was just loud. LOUD. And there was so much energy. Where do they get that from?? I sure do wish I could’ve siphoned some of it into a bottle to take with me to my half marathon in a few days. Good grief!

Well, we got to the competition, and they all performed their little hearts out. But, sadly, when the results were tallied, not only did they not win, but they actually came in last place. 😦 Talk about a bunch of sad kiddos. That energy that I mentioned before? Yeah, it had turned down quite a few notches by the time they all piled back on the bus for the trip home. While they truly did have a great attitude about the whole thing, the disappointment was evident in all of their faces and body language. They just couldn’t hide it.

So, we start the much quieter trip home, and someone (in hopes of lifting everyone’s spirits) gets the idea to ask the bus driver if they could play one of their CDs on his stereo system on the bus. From my safe little seat near the front of the bus (my, how things have changed from when I was a teen myself…), I could see what I expected to be a stern “No, now sit back down and let me drive” from the bus driver. But, to my surprise, he not only allowed it, but asked them if they wanted him to crank it. Ha! What a pointless question – this was a bus full of teenagers. So, crank it, he did. Now, we all know the healing power of music, and this was no exception. As the decibel rose, so did those kids’ spirits. Before long, there was laughter, singing, and even some “dancing” (at least I think that’s what you call that these days…). Just like that, the teens’ disappointment was all but forgotten and the bus trip returned to its original state from earlier in the day. A bus full of happy kids with nothing to worry about except hoping their parents were there at the school to pick them up upon their return.

So, we got back safe and sound (well, maybe our ears were a little worse for wear, but other than that…). As we were all piling off the bus, myself lagging near the end, I stopped and put my hand on the bus driver’s shoulder and said, “you have the most patience of anyone I’ve ever known.” His response? “Nah. I didn’t mind at all. They only get to be young once.”

Wow. Did you hear that?

“They only get to be young once.”

What a guy. What a philosophy. What a reminder.

Because of this one man’s positive attitude and flexibility, a potentially depressing bus ride home for a bunch of devastated teenagers turned into the happy, fun-filled trip that it should have been all along. I wonder if he realizes that? I wonder if this man knows how contagious his one little attitude ended up being for a busload of kids…and one somewhat grumpy momma?

I hope so.

So, even though I have failed miserably at doing my daily duty of documenting the things I’m thankful for each day, I would still like to add Mr. Bus Driver to the list anyway. I am thankful for people like him. People who think of the wellbeing of others before himself. People who sacrifice a full day of their time to transport a bunch of kids to some event hours away, and then sacrifices his own comfort to be sure they had the best time they possibly could’ve had. I’d like to think I’d have been the same way if I were him, but I honestly don’t know. I probably would have been tired. And grumpy. And ready to go home. And not willing to listen to the laughter and loud music while I drove all that way after spending an entire day with teenagers. But see, that’s why I’m not a bus driver. And that’s why he is.

So, welcome to my small thankful list, bus driver dude. You made an impact on more people than you probably realized, including myself. Thank you for being in the right place at the right time.

This blog’s for you.

***

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
– Winston Churchill

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: acting, attitude, blog, blogging, competition, daughter, drama, inspiration, inspirational, kids, love, motivation, motivational, passion, performance, photos, problems, Quotes, school trip, teenagers, theatre, writing. 2 Comments

Nov. ’13

November 1

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”
– Eckhart Tolle

Ok. I think I’m gonna do it this year.

So, I know you’ve all seen the November challenge on Facebook, right? No, not the no-shave November thing. (My boyfriend would probably not be too thrilled if I participated in that. And besides, I’d have to buy larger shirts to fit my arms in if I didn’t shave for 30 days. That pit hair is comparable to a Chia Pet when it gets out of control. Seriously. Ok, TMI, moving on….)

And no, not the “write a novel in a month” November thing (NaNoWriMo). Ha! Like that’s going to happen. I haven’t written a novel in 35 years so far, so I doubt it’s going to happen in the month of November.

No, what I’m talking about is the 30 Days of Gratitude. Each day, your status is supposed to be about whatever you’re thankful for that day. Every November, I see it roll around, and every November, I just read everyone else’s status messages and go about my business without participating. Well, today, I asked myself a question. “Self,” I said, (that’s what I like to call myself)…

“What the heck is wrong with you??”

Come on, chick. You have a bajillion patrillion things to be thankful for. Why not dedicate a month of blogs to them?

So, here I am.

Now, I’m going to do my best to not make them generic. No “today I’m thankful for my family” crap. No, that’s too easy. These things are going to be specific. Not just “family,” but which member of the family? And why? You know, stuff like that.

So, there’s no time like today to put my money where my mouth is.

Today, November 1, would have been my grandfather, Greene Halsey’s, 86th birthday.

So, today, I’m thankful for him. Thankful that he existed. Thankful for the family name that he passed down. Thankful for the red hair that my kids got because of him. Thankful for the quiet, honorable man that he was. Thankful for his insistence that my shoes remain spotless (oh, the memories of seeing him endlessly shining all of our shoes until they practically sparkled). Thankful for the funny things that he would say on the random times that he did decide to speak up. Thankful for the money he’d always slip me when he thought no one was looking…and thankful for watching him do the same thing with my kids as they got older. Thankful for the lesson that you don’t have to be loud and obnoxious to make your mark on the world. This quiet man managed to leave behind a legacy with very few words, only actions. The many non-dramatic, sometimes non-noticed, small tokens of the love that he didn’t quite know how to verbalize remain in all of our memories.

He left this world in February of 2012, but in the ways that matter, he still remains.

So, for my November month of gratitude, I hereby officially nominate Greene Halsey as the first addition to the list. Welcome, Pa-paw.

And thank you.

And to the rest of you – here’s my challenge to you. This year, why don’t you join me? There’s no reason not to. If you don’t want to write it, don’t. No status is needed. No blog entry is required. Just force yourself, every day for this one little month in your life, to dedicate each and every day to one specific thing for which you’re thankful. By the end of this month, I’m betting that you’ll be surprised at just how blessed you really are. And maybe, just maybe, you won’t stop on November 30.

See you tomorrow.

***

“In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.”
– Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray Love

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: blog, blogging, family, grandpa, gratitude, inspiration, inspirational, love, memories, motivation, motivational, November, photos, Quotes, thankful, writing. 2 Comments

Oct. ’13

Compliments

“Like most girls, Emily can’t take a compliment. Around here, if you don’t show outward signs of hating yourself by the 5th grade, everyone calls you conceited.”
– Brian Strause, from the novel Maybe a Miracle

Ok, so am I the only chick on the planet that absolutely can NOT take a compliment?

I saw the above quote in a novel I was reading a while back and it was like a spotlight shown around the sentence with big flashing neon arrows pointing to it saying, “This! This! This!” One little seemingly innocent sentence tucked away in the middle of a paragraph hidden deep inside a novel seemed to be the answer to this conundrum that had plagued me all my life. Maybe that’s why I can’t take a compliment? Maybe it’s just that it has been ingrained in me from an early age not to because I might appear conceited?

Hmmm. Something to think about.

Are you like me? Do you get all weird when someone says you look nice? Do you “pssssssh” it away like I do? I’d be willing to bet you do. Well, let me tell ya a story.

This past weekend, I ran a 10K race early Saturday morning. And, if you don’t mind my saying so, I did pretty darn awesome. (Heh…no worries about sounding conceited about that one, huh?) I didn’t get any medals or place in the coveted top 3 of any of the categories, mind you (in fact, I was dead last in my age group if I’m going to be honest), but ask me if I care? Go on, ask me. What’s that? Do I care? NOPE! Because you know why? The only person I was there to beat was myself. And not only did I beat myself (not now, secret 12-year-old-boy alter-ego-self, this is not the time to make your childish jokes…let me finish my story…), but I blew my old record away. I generally run at an 11-12 minute pace (yes, I know, I’m slow), but my average pace for this race was 10:10, with the first 3 miles all being in the 9 minute range. Dude, I was booking it! And you know what? I was pretty darn proud of myself.

So, fast forward a little later in the day.

My boyfriend’s kids were in a play at the local theatre, so I had rushed home after the race, showered, straightened my hair (that’s what I consider “getting dressed up”), and hit the road again to go watch the two back-to-back performances. Now, as most of you know from my previous blogs, the theatre is my home away from home. I know so many people there, and most of their kids were going to be in this production. So, walking into this little mini-reunion, I started running into people I hadn’t seen in a while – at least not since our last production a few months ago. And, in those past few months, I have been training my hind end off this upcoming half marathon next weekend.

I was immediately greeted with compliments.

“Wow, that running is look great on you!” “You look fantastic!” “Oh, Melissa, you’re just glowing!” “Look how toned you’ve gotten.”

It was like a compliment smorgasbord.

And, oddly enough, instead of blushing in embarrassment like I normally would, I just graciously accepted their compliments. I genuinely thanked them (no ‘psssssssh’es allowed) and let the compliments do their intended job – make me feel good. Later, I thought about that, and wondered why I didn’t have my normal response. Why was I able to accept compliments this time with such ease and gratitude? Before long, it finally dawned on me.

I accepted their compliments….because I believed them.

That was the difference. I have been working hard for the past few months. I have felt my pants getting a little loose and saw the number on the scale dropping slightly. Although those things are not at all the purpose for my running, they have been a nice bonus. And, this particular day, I had put forth a little effort on my hair and makeup, and was probably still riding on the high from my race accomplishment earlier in the day, which probably showed on my face. I was feeling pretty darn good about myself that day and accepted those compliments with open arms.

Boy, wouldn’t it be nice if every day was like that?

Hey, I have an idea.

Let’s make sure they are.

Let’s all make a silent little promise to ourselves to try to make every single day a day in which you are proud of yourself. Let’s make every day a day that you believe the compliments that are tossed your way. Seriously. Let’s do it, people. It may not be all that easy at first, but with practice, it may start eventually coming natural to you. Just like my running. I didn’t start out with the ability to crank out a 10-minute pace 10K. It took lots of time and effort and, most importantly, belief in myself. That’s all we need, right?

Easy peasy.

So, get out there in this big ol’ world and strut your stuff today, why don’t ya? I mean, you’re looking all good and whatnot, so you might as well, right? Come on, beautiful people. We’ve got some work to do!

***

“For once, you believed in yourself. you believed you were beautiful and so did the rest of the world.”
– Sarah Dessen, Keeping the Moon

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings, Running. Tags: 10k, belief, blog, blogging, change, changed, compliments, friendship, half marathon, health, inspiration, inspirational, motivation, motivational, passion, performance, photos, Quotes, race, runner, running, self image, self-esteem, writing. 3 Comments

Oct. ’13

Braggin’ on the Hun

“Love is, above all, the gift of oneself.”
~ Jean Anouilh

Ok, I need to brag on my honey. [I know, I never do that, right??]

Here he is. Ain’t he purdy?

*sigh*

Ok. This blog is not just about how cute the little booger is, so I’ll get to the point.

Let me just start this out with a simple little 100% true and accurate statement. I am NOT an easy person to love. Oh, it’s true. When I’m mad, I’m FURIOUS. When I’m upset, I’m DISTRAUGHT. When I’m a little irked, I’m FULLY ANNOYED. You get the picture, right? No little responses to anything – everything is temporarily grandiose. And, as you might guess, this little teeny tiny eensy weensy flaw sometimes leads to some turbulence in the relationship. Now, it’s not all me, mind you. My boyfriend Richard has a teeny tiny little flaw too. He despises conflict. (I know, right? *WEIRDO!*) And when said conflict arises, his fight or flight response is always…always…’flight.’ Well, for this ‘fighter’ that he’s in love with, that crap just don’t fly.

You can imagine how our disagreements go.

1. Something happens (Richard’s fault, of course).
2. I get IRATE.
3. I fling accusations and demand responses.
4. Richard runs.
5. I get MORE mad.
6. Richard stays quiet.
7. I get even more dramatic because of the lack of response.
8. He gets even more quiet because of my increased level of crazy.
9. Time passes.
10. I get tired and chill out.
11. He comes out of hiding and remembers that sometimes I’m not crazy.
12. We talk. We kiss. We make up.
13. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Get the picture? Here, let me give you a literal picture in case my words weren’t clear.

Yep. That’s us. Well, sometimes.

(And honestly, it’s really not all that often. And heck, while we’re being totally honest here, that dude and chick in the picture need to be switched….)

(Ok, one more parenthetical. If our relationship sounds a little too familiar to you, you may be in a turtle/hailstorm relationship too. What the heck did she just say? Here ya go. Read about it here. We’re a textbook case, and you may be too. Pretty fascinating stuff.)

Ok, let’s get back to the bragging I promised at the beginning of this story.

Nope, our relationship is not always sunshine and roses, that’s for sure. But then again, there are times like the past few days.

As some of you may have read in my last blog, my Alzheimer’s-ridden grandmother had a little mishap at the nursing home, and was found on the floor. What they thought to be a broken hip from an initial x-ray, ended up being an old injury from before (poor little lady) and she didn’t end up having to have surgery after all, thank goodness. But before we knew that for sure, we were just told that she was being transported to the medical center in Bristol, Tennessee, and was being prepped for surgery on her frail little 85-year-old hip. So, naturally, my mom dropped everything and traveled here to come be with her momma. And, also naturally, I dropped everything to go be with my momma. I worked it out to miss work on Tuesday, and I left Monday after work to go stay in a hotel with her, at least for the first night, so she wouldn’t have to be alone.

And what did Richard do?

He dropped everything to come be there for me.

He drove me there, stayed with us, drove us everywhere we needed to go while we were there (that’s one thing my mom and I definitely have in common – we hate driving in areas that are unfamiliar to us). He went and got drinks and coffee for the family as we waited, and sat right there with us as the hours drug on while we waited for news, and listened to my poor little grandma as she moaned in confusion and/or discomfort (it was hard to know which was which). Without technically being “blood” family, Richard played a role in this just like the rest of us did. He did everything he could to be there for the one that he loved. Me.

And boy, did I notice.

My little Richard sure can be hard on himself sometimes. Maybe it’s because he has a fiery redhead fussing at him all the time? Naaaah. Surely, that doesn’t have much to do with it…. But, seriously. I think it’s important to remind him every now and then how very much I notice and appreciate these little things that he does for me. The past few days would have been a whole different story if I, and my mom, hadn’t had Richard along for the ride. These “small” things will one day be the big things as we look back over these years we spent together. I hope that we will be one of the lucky couples that make it to the very end. And, if (when) we do, I hope we look back on our life and see the moments like yesterday. Not the fights, not the nights in the ‘doghouse…,’ but the moments like these. The ones where we sacrificed ourselves to each other during our times of need. Because that is what love is all about.

This is the “us” that I’ll remember most.

I sure am in love with a great guy. Thanks for letting me tell you about him.

***

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.”
– Benjamin Disraeli

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: blog, blogging, conflict, dating, family, fights, friendship, grandma, health, hospital, inspiration, inspirational, love, motivational, photos, problems, Quotes, relationships, turle/hailstorm, writing. 3 Comments

Oct. ’13

Maw-Maw’s Smile

”Those with dementia are still people and they still have stories and they still have character and they’re all individuals and they’re all unique. And they just need to be interacted with on a human level.”
– Carey Mulligan

My family has just been introduced to the world of Alzheimer’s/dementia for the first time. My sweet grandmother – a mother of nine and grandmother and great-grandmother to so many that we have lost count – has forgotten who she is.

But we haven’t.

My sister gave birth to twin baby girls earlier this year. The babies were premature and were very close to not surviving. But after months of intensive care at the hospital and even more intensive, above-par care from their mommy, they were able to come home. This past weekend, they made their first trip to see their Great- “Maw-Maw” in her new home in a nursing care facility.

And, let me tell you – it was nothing short of magic.

Some of us in the family had almost forgotten what it felt like to see Maw-Maw truly happy. Surrounded by new faces in a new environment, anyone would be a little confused at first. But poor little Maw-Maw can’t seem to break out of the confusion that is plaguing her. Every few minutes she again asks where she is and why she is there. She has witnessed many family tragedies in her life, including the most recent loss of her husband, and can’t seem to remember any of them. Watching her face as she re-learns the family’s sad news over and over again has been very hard on our family, to say the least. As she hears, yet again, about the losses we’ve suffered for what seems to her to be the ‘first’ time, we too feel the sting all over again. Her inability to remember translates to our inability to forget. This sweet little lady who has always managed to see the bright side of things, now seems to have fallen into a darkness that none of the rest of us can understand. Sadly, this is the truth to Alzheimer’s.

But.

Then, there are moments like this past weekend.

This weekend, the darkness cleared even if just for a few moments. As Maw-Maw took both of those beautiful twin miracles into her arms, her face lit up. And there before us was the infamous smile that we had all come to miss so much. For a few moments, she was yet again our mother. Our grandmother. And now, as evidenced by the love in her eyes as she stared down at the new additions to the family, our great-grandmother. She was back.

And it was beautiful.

I guess that’s the key to dealing with these situations. Yes, the family is suffering. Yes, we are going through a hard time and we feel like we’ve lost a loved one, even though she sits right there in front of us. And yes, most of the time, the circumstances are going to be sad ones. But there will be silver linings. There will. And those are the moments that you have to hold on to with all of your might. Take snapshots – literally and figuratively. Remember these moments and cherish the fact that the person you love is still there. They are still with you. And for a few brief, shining moments, they are still themselves. And those moments will be the ones that will serve to help heal you both.

So grateful for one more glimpse of Maw-Maw’s smile.

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: Alzheimer's, blog, blogging, dementia, family, grandmother, health, inspiration, love, memory, mother, motivation, photos, Quotes, twins, writing. 4 Comments

Oct. ’13

Love Language

“The giving of love is an education in itself.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

So, I noticed something interesting about my daughter this week. I suppose I had noticed it before, but this week it seemed to really catch my attention more than usual.

Kelly experienced a pretty big disappointment a few days ago. I won’t get into the details (that’s her story to tell, not mine), but just know that it was a pretty tough blow for my super strong daughter. She handled it with grace, as she always does, but she couldn’t hide the fact that she was temporarily heartbroken.

So, I did what I always do. What comes natural to me when I see someone I love in pain. I reached out to hug her.

Whoooooa, Nelly.

Not cool.

See, I completely forgot who my daughter is. That hugging thing? Nuh uh. When she is upset, she wants to be left alone. She doesn’t mean to be cruel about it – she’s not trying to hurt anyone – she just needs to be left alone. A hug does not help. Not for her. She’d rather deal with it on her own. Now, talking – she’s fine with that. Saying I understand how she feels? I think that helped some. Showing her one of my old writings about disappointment to remind her that it’s not the end of the world and that her time to shine will come again soon? Yep. She appreciated that.

But a hug? No way. Not cool.

And see, I know that. I do. I just forget. She’s different than me. When I’m upset, I want to be hugged. I want you to wallow in the misery with me. “Come on over here and snuggle and feel my pain, people. FEEL IT!” But her? Nope. “I got this. I don’t want your sympathy, I’ll be fine.”

This little incident this week reminded me of a class I took once. Well, a class I was sent to through my job at the time.

I was having trouble getting along with one of the attorneys I worked for at a large law firm. She was only a year older than me and the two of us just seemed to butt heads non-stop. Although neither of us “told on” each other or anything, the fact that we didn’t get along was pretty well-known. Well, occasionally the firm would send the employees to various seminars here and there, and I was chosen by the human resources department to go to one entitled, “How to Get Along With Difficult People.” Ha! In your face, boss lady. See? Seeeeeee? Everyone knows how hard you are to deal with.

So, I took my smug self to the seminar and guess what I found out?

I was the difficult person.

Heh. Oops.

But no, seriously, this seminar was awesome. We were all paired into groups and did surveys to figure out what our personality types were, and which certain personality types were the most non-compatible. Lo and behold, my personality type and boss lady’s personality type? Exact opposites. And the great thing about the seminar is that it showed the pros and cons of every single personality type and the “whys” behind the head-butting with the certain types. As I listened, I heard so many examples of scenarios that my boss and I had been through and it became glaringly apparent why we weren’t getting along. We just didn’t know how to treat each other. What she needed was a foreign concept to me because it was nothing like what I needed. And vice versa.

And the solution?

Well, it was pretty simple actually. They bent the golden rule a little. (Please don’t tell my Grandma I just said that – she’ll disown me.) They said instead of the old standard, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” maybe it needs to be tweaked a little. Maybe that’s not what you need to do at all. Maybe you need to get to know that person’s personality, know how they operate and know what they prefer and what they don’t, and then…”Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.”

Make sense?

Yes, I like to be hugged when I’m upset, but Kelly doesn’t. I shouldn’t impose my personality onto her. It’s not what she needs.

I know I’m not saying anything new here. Most of you know about the “love languages” idea by Gary Chapman (read about it here if you don’t). This kind of thing has already been discussed in depth. You can answer a bunch of questions on the website (or in the book if you have a copy) and through a scoring guide based on your answers, you can find out exactly what “love language” you speak. What things make you feel the most loved.

And although I think it’s fascinating, and super cool, maybe…just maybe….it doesn’t have to be quite so complicated as that. No scoring system, no survey, no quiz. Maybe it’s as simple as what I just learned with my daughter. Don’t give them the kind of love that you know how to give. Learn who they are, what they need, and then give them the love they want to receive.

And hey, you know what? It’ll probably end up working both ways.

Take Kelly for instance. Although she’s not the huggy/kissy type, she knows that her mom is. And so, she’s been known to concede every now and then…

And that sure does make for a happy momma.

Learn how to love each other, people. It’s worth the time it takes, and makes everyone just a little happier. And isn’t that what we’re all here for?

***

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
– Mother Teresa

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: blog, comfort, daughter, disappointment, family, hug, inspiration, inspirational, love, love languages, mother, motivation, motivational, photos, Quotes, relationships, writing. 3 Comments

Sep. ’13

A Thousand Words

“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.”
– Eudora Welty

I have a friend who is a photographer. And a great one, too.

(Hey, wanna check out her stuff? Her name is Iman Woods. Click here for her new family photography Facebook page, and here for her pin-up photograph website. You can also click here to check out her blog. Her stuff kicks butt.)

So, yeah. Photography is her thing. And that’s awesome. She uses photos to capture a story. And each one does just that. And quite beautifully, I might add. After all, she’s an artist.

Me, on the other hand? While I love photos, and never hesitate to snap them whenever I can, my ‘art’ is a little different. We’re all artists, you know. All of us. We just have to find our medium. My medium? Words. Without the talent to capture photographs or to paint or to draw, etc. etc., I fall back on the art that I think I have discovered that I’m somewhat good at. And that is creating an image in people’s minds using the written word.

This weekend, however? This weekend was a different story.

This weekend I have discovered a new appreciation for Iman’s work. Because sometimes, it’s the picture that tells the story all by itself…and no words are able to do it justice. Sometimes you just have to show people what your words cannot seem to adequately express.

A few of you regular readers may remember a blog I posted a while back about my premature twin nieces entitled Week-Old Miracles. Well, this weekend, I got to spend a few days with those now six-month-old miracles. And while I’m no photographer by any means, please take a look with me at the mixture of humorous and touching moments that have touched my heart over the past few days with these little angels. And check out some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way as well.

Photo Lesson #1:

Watching this:

…turn to this:

is a very beautiful thing. Wow.

Photo Lesson #2

Not many things in this ol’ world will fill your heart with as much love as filling your arms with twin babies.

Photo Lesson #3

Watching a teenager bond with a baby makes your heart smile.

Photo Lesson #4

Ditto.

Photo Lesson #5

Sleeping with a baby in your arms is a very peaceful feeling. (And having your teenage daughter think to take a picture of it is a pretty sweet deal in and of itself.)

Photo Lesson #6

Not many things in this world are as sweet or as enduring as a mommy’s love.

Six months ago:

Now:

Photo Lesson #7

Watching grandma dress a baby after a bath is so darn cute.

Photo Lesson #8

Babies haven’t quite yet learned to mask their facial expressions. When it’s the first time they’ve ever met someone, you’re gonna know it.

Photo Lesson #9

It sure doesn’t take a baby long to decide you’re pretty cool…

(And p.s.: Hearing your boyfriend refer to himself as “Uncle Richard” to your niece, gives you a feeling of “rightness” that words can’t begin to express.)

Photo Lesson #10

Duck face pictures are stupid. Unless they’re done with a 6-month-old. Then, they rock.

Photo Lesson #11

If you’re an adult, you should live your life in such a way that you’re caught in the background of a picture playing at a playground all by yourself.

(*giggle* That’s Richard back there. Bless him.)

Photo Lesson #12

It’s impossible to look at this and not smile.

See? Smiled, didn’t ya?

Photo Lesson #13

The smile on your face while holding a baby can’t possibly be faked.

Photo Lesson #14

Witnessing your Alzheimer’s-ridden grandmother meeting her twin great-granddaughters for the first time is a moment that makes your heart climb into your throat.

Photo Lesson #15

Seeing that grandmother with a smile on her face again, after what seems like forever since you’ve seen it, is a moment that makes you know that some things never change. My grandmother is beautiful.

My aunt Joyce commented on one of my photos on Facebook with, “Thanks for letting us live your day in pictures!” I hope this blog allowed you to do that – and hopefully helped you to see what I saw. To feel what I felt. Maybe it might even make you turn around and look at your own family, your own little miraculous works of art in your life. And maybe it will make you get down on your knees and thank your lucky stars that you’re alive. You’re alive. You know? Get out there and capture these moments. before they slip by.

After all, you only get one shot.

***

““The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness ”
– Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: babies, blog, family, inspiration, inspirational, motivation, motivational, photographer, photography, photos, pictures, Quotes, relationships, snapshots, teenagers, twins, words, writing. 5 Comments

Sep. ’13

Luck

“Any fool can have bad luck; the art consists in knowing how to exploit it.”
– Frank Wedekind

Luck.

Ok, so you know those people, right? The ones who seem to have everything going for them. Who seem to skate through life with no noteworthy negativity [How do you like that alliteration??]. Everything just seems to go their way without them even having to lift a finger. *sigh* Must be nice. As some of my graceful, elegant family members used to describe it, “They walk around like they have a horseshoe stuck up their butt.”

(Ok, maybe “butt” wasn’t exactly their choice of words…but I digress…)

Well, me? Yeah, I am NOT one of those people. Especially when it comes to vehicles. While those people get to have horseshoes stuck up there, I apparently have an albatross that climbs up mine every time I get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Now, maybe blaming it on luck isn’t exactly fair. I’m sure some of it may have to do with my own carelessness. Maybe. But seriously, a lot of it just really isn’t my fault. Really.

Let’s look at the past five months, shall we?

Some of my regular followers may remember that I had an accident back in April. I totaled my car. (Missed that blog? Want the gruesome details? Click here.)

[Ugh…ok, I’m lying. There aren’t any ‘gruesome’ details. That was just a shameless plug of an old blog to get you to read it. I’m a jerk…]

Anyhoozle…

So, I totaled my car. And that sucked. Yes, I guess you could say that was my ‘fault’ (at least my new insurance premium screams that loud and clear), but in my defense, a freak, unexpected winter storm hit us out of the blue while I was on the road. A new layer of snow on a curvy road doesn’t make for the most favorable road conditions. So, fault or no fault, I guess you could say a little bad luck was at play. That is, if you believe in that kind of thing. I call my boyfriend Richard and he comes and picks my car-less self up and takes me home to take care of me. (Awww.)

So, fast forward a few days. I finally feel able to drive again. (Now, nothing was all that wrong physically, mind you, other than my slight concussion – it was more of a mental barrier to wanting to drive again after flipping down a rocky bank…) That sweet, wonderful boyfriend of mine and his generous mom offer me a spare family vehicle to drive until I get the insurance stuff straightened out and get another car of my own, and I gratefully accept their offer.

So, here we go. Vehicle #2.

The *first* day I get behind the wheel of this borrowed car to drive to work, I’m about ten miles from home and out of nowhere comes a turkey. Yes, a turkey.

A TURKEY.

[**Note. This is not the actual turkey. But this is an accurate portrayal of the look that was on the little jerk’s face as he barreled towards me.]

He side swipes me and…rips off the driver’s side mirror.

Are you freakin kidding me??

Yep. A turkey just tore up my borrowed vehicle. So, of course I make what I feel like is the hardest call I’ve ever had to make to Richard and, through my tears, ‘fess up. And what does he do? Laughs. A lot. It’s not funny!! I borrow a vehicle and break it in the first ten minutes! How is that funny?? Still. He laughs.

Oh, he thinks that’s funny, huh? Let’s fast forward another two weeks. Really. Two tiny little weeks later, I’m driving along in the same borrowed car, now complete with a brand new driver’s side mirror, and what happens? I turn the wheel to the left going around a curve and…ready for this?…it FALLS OFF. I’m not exaggerating!! Ok, I’m exaggerating a little bit. It didn’t completely come off. But it fell over. Apparently this is known as a tie rod end breaking. Call it what you want, but I call it “Oh crap!” (And again, maybe crap wasn’t the actual word being used, but no point in digressing yet again…)

So, here comes call #3 to Richard. (If you’re keeping track, call #1 was totaling my own car. Call #2 was the turkey. And now call #3 is telling him his wheel fell off. And this is all within a matter of 2-3 weeks. *sigh*) He didn’t laugh as much this time. But he did have to come get me. Again.

Well, after some pretty hefty repair work and Richard driving me to work every day in the interim, I manage to drive his car for a few more weeks without anything else falling off. And eventually I am even finally able to get the insurance mess worked out and get a car of my very own. Yay! After the first few days of a random ‘check engine’ light malfunction (don’t EVEN tell me there’s no such thing as bad luck…), the dealership got everything taken care of and all was well. Smooth sailing with Vehicle #3…

Until today.

Trash pickup day.

Now, most of you know I am a runner. I just ran 8+ miles yesterday while working my way up to my second half marathon in November. You read that, right? I ran EIGHT miles yesterday. But you know what I apparently can’t do? Walk my trash down to the end of my driveway. Ugh. It’s sooooo far. (Read that with your internal whiny voice, because that’s exactly how I just said it.) Nope. That 100-foot walk to the end of my driveway is apparently too much for this chick. Instead, I feel the need to drive it down and drop it off as I leave for work. And, well, it’s a bag. Of trash. I don’t want to put that nasty thing in my cute little car. Gross. So, what do I do?

I leave my driver’s side door propped open and back down the driveway holding the bag of trash out of the car. You with me? You got the mental image? You see me backing down a slight declined driveway holding a bag of trash out of my door? Ok, now picture a huge mound of dirt that I forgot was there. And then picture my drivers side door catching on that mound of dirt. Picture me not noticing and continuing to back down the driveway…and picture my door bending BACKWARDS and practically breaking completely off.

Seriously?? SERIOUSLY?

Call #4. “Richard? Um. I just broke my door off of my car…”

*sigh*

Goodbye, Goldie Sue. (It’s a gold Subaru. Isn’t that name clever? Yeah, like that matters to this story…)

So, here we are again. Richard had to come and get me and take me to the same borrowed vehicle from before and once again save the day by giving me something to drive to work until I get mine repaired.

Story should end there, huh?

Oh no. Not for Melissa.

On the way home today, the passenger side mirror on the borrowed vehicle that had been just a tad loose all along, decided to go ahead and snap all the way off. Of course it happens while I’m driving it.

Call #5. “Um, Richard? You know that mirror that was loose? It just broke off. But it’s NOT MY FAULT….”

Wow.

I’m betting not many of you are going to want to ride with me after reading this blog, huh? Well, join the club.

Hey, at least I have one living creature that will still come along for the ride…

Bless her heart.

Well, there you have it. Confessions of a Bad Driver, Volume One. I’m sure there will be plenty more to come….

Hey, if you can’t laugh at yourself, what can you do? You know? Yes, I have some seriously bad luck when it comes to vehicles. That albatross has apparently found a nice comfy home.

But you know what? That bad luck only applies to vehicles. Because look at the rest of my life. Look at this story alone. I have a wonderful, patient man who is always there to help me pick up the crazy pieces of my chaotic life and calmly put them all back together. I walked away from a totaled car with barely a scratch, I have a cute little dog (ok, it’s the neighbor’s but she doesn’t realize that) who loves to go along on car rides with me, and I have wonderful readers who read this blog and come along on this crazy ride and laugh right along with the silly happenings of my never-a-dull-moment life.

Hmmm.

Maybe I’m actually a pretty lucky lady after all.

Well. That is, if you believe in that kind of thing…

***

“Not many people have had as much bad luck as I have, but not many people have had as much good luck, either.”
– Tig Notaro

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: accident, bad luck, blog, car, change, comedy, dog, flaws, friendship, good luck, humor, inspiration, love, luck, motivation, photos, problems, Quotes, relationships, runner, vehicles, wreck, writing. 6 Comments

Aug. ’13

Cool Story

“Nothing’s better than the wind to your back, the sun in front of you, and your friends beside you.”
– Aaron Douglas Trimble

So. Wanna hear a cool story?

Ok, see this pic?

That’s me on the left. And on the right is my friend Zoe. [Isn’t she gorgeous!?]

Ok, so it’s a picture. No big deal, right? Just a pic of two chicks who are friends. Both women, both in the same age range, (both, incidentally, feeling silly taking a ‘selfie’ pic…), both smiling and happy and healthy. I can hear you now – “Yeah? So what?”

Ok, so we’re both runners. Is that a tad more interesting? No? Ok, how about this….We’re both runners training for a half marathon. Slightly cooler, right?

Still nothing earth shattering?

Hmmm.. Alright, let’s try this – we’re training for a half marathon together. Now, is it cool story? Sure it is. Two friends training for a half marathon together. That’s intriguing, no?

Oh shoot. Silly me. I almost forgot the most important part. The part we writers like to call the twist. You ready?

Zoe lives in Australia.

I live in America.

Yep. You read that right.

With 14 time zones, an ocean or two (I sooo didn’t pay attention in Geography class…), and a boat load of cultural differences between us (people use kilometers? Really? I know about the 5K and the 10K, but you mean there are others??), Zoe and I are training partners for our half marathon on November 9.

So, how did this all come about?

Well, it’s pretty simple really. In early May, just a few short months after starting my blog, and just days before my first half marathon, I received my first comment on here that was not from someone I know personally. It said:

Good luck! From Melbourne, Australia!

I just wanted to let you know how much I’m enjoying your writing- I found you when I was searching running blogs as I’m a new runner myself and totally obsessed. You write so evocatively and thoughtfully, and I often find myself smiling or nodding along to your musings! Best of luck with your half, you’ll smash it!

Warm regards,
Zoë

I’ll never forget how thrilled I was to get that message. Not only did it make me realize that other people were reading this stuff (besides my ever-loyal friends and family in real life), but someone was actually reading it in Australia!? What?! How cool is that? This message was the first in what would become a banter between two women all the way across the world from each other over the next few months. And then, when I announced that I would be training for my second half marathon in November, Zoe suggested that we train together.

So, here we are.

We’re only in our first week of training, but I intend to post a few updates along the way to let you know how we’re doing.

Isn’t this great? Someone way over on the other side of the map is my buddy. My training partner. We’ve never laid eyes on each other in person, never heard each others’ undoubtedly cool accents (ok, her cool accent – my southern drawl is nothing much to brag about if you ask me…), and have never even shook hands. In many ways we’re still strangers, but in many other ways – the ways that matter – we’re friends.

We’re just truly never alone, are we? No matter how much we may feel like we are at times, something like this reminds us that we’re not. Somewhere out there, there is someone not only going through whatever you’re going through, but willing to go through it right beside you if you let them.

Yep. That’s good stuff.

Ok, so now is this a cool story? 😉

And guess what? It’s just going to get even cooler. So, stick around!

***

“In union there is strength.”
– Aesop

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings, Running. Tags: Australia, blog, friendship, friendships, half marathon, health, heart, inspiration, inspirational, marathon, motivation, motivational, passion, photos, Quotes, run, runner, running, running partner, training, training partner, world, writing. 4 Comments

Aug. ’13

34

“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.”
– Voltaire

Today, August 1, 2013, is the last day that I will ever be 34 years old.

As you get older, birthdays don’t seem to hold the same significance that they did when you were younger. Have you noticed that? You don’t really “look forward” to them anymore. In fact, at some point, they become something that you even somewhat dread. (Another year older!? Really??) But I have decided that, starting this year, I’m going to put a stop to that nonsense.

As I prepare to turn the page to 35, I’m going to take a moment to look back over the year I was 34. The good, the bad – everything notable that took place during my time on this earth as a 34-year-old. Each year holds special moments that are gone in the blink of an eye – moments that we will never get back and can only be relived through memories. They should be cherished and appreciated and yes, even celebrated – the bad, along with the good. But most important of all, they should be noticed. For these are the moments that make us who we are – the moments that shape and mold us into the awesome, unique individuals that comprise humanity, and that give each of us our own story to tell.

So, here’s mine.

Please join me as I look back over the 34 most notable events of my 34th year (in no particular order):

1. I started a blog. I had toyed with the idea for years, but I finally got up the courage to do it this year. And it has been AMAZING! If you’re reading this, you’re one of the reasons why. I’m blown away by how many people read this thing and by all the responses I have gotten from it. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

2. I got my first writing award (and check!). I got up the nerve to enter a local writing contest and was shocked to get a letter in the mail saying that I had won first place in the essay category. Woohoo!

3. I got my first rejection letter. Yep. A real-life “your stuff isn’t what we’re looking for” letter. And you know what? I actually thought it was kind of cool. Really. You’re not a real writer until you get a rejection. Initiation complete.

4. I saw Niagara Falls. And it was AWESOME!

5. I saw my first marathon. A group of us traveled to New York for the Wineglass Marathon. Many in the group were running the marathon, some running the half marathon, and some, like myself, were just there to watch. There was NOTHING like it. One of my favorite running-related quotes of all time: “If you lose faith in humanity, go watch a marathon.” – Kathrine Switzer. There is so much truth to that. The feeling of camaraderie and “oneness” between the runners and spectators alike was something that I don’t even know how to put into words. This was definitely one of the highlights of my 34th year, hands down.

6. I ran a 5K in New York, and got my personal best time of 30:55. The day before the marathon, there was a 5k as part of the festivities surrounding the event. I decided to run it in, and ended up getting my best personal 5K time. My boyfriend captured this picture at the very moment that I looked up and saw the time clock at the finish line. I just love it. The picture says it all. It was nice to feel so proud of myself.

7. My son joined the cross country team at school. This was such great news to me. I was so proud of him, and felt like my running had made an influence on that decision. Since joining the team, he has gone on to race in a few races with me, and place in many of them (including a 3rd place overall finish for one of them!). I’m such a proud mom.

8. I ran my first 10k. Shortly after returning from the New York trip, I knew that I couldn’t stop at 5Ks. It was time to start training for longer distances. My first 10K was a trail run, and I ran it with my son. I wasn’t fast, but I was very proud. And it was the first time that the thought entered my mind that I might even be able to go further than that. Which brings me to #9..

9. I ran my first half-marathon. Wow. All of my hard work paid off and I crossed that finish line with possibly more pride in myself than I had ever felt before. Not too shabby for a 34-year-old, if I don’t say so myself.

(Here’s the blog entry about the half marathon if you’d like to read more: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/i-did-it/)

10. I watched my boyfriend Richard be inducted as the Master of the Ashe Masonic Lodge #594. This was actually very, very cool. I had never seen anything like this ceremony (I’m a chick – we’re not allowed, ya know), and I admit that I went into it thinking that the rituals and secrecy were somewhat silly. But I came away with a deeper understanding of how much this fellowship means to those men, and what good, kind, noble men each and every one of them are. I was so incredibly proud to be Richard’s girlfriend that day. I won’t forget it anytime soon.

11. I started attending a new church. My boyfriend and I, along with our kids, have started attending Bethany United Methodist Church. It has been nice to feel like a part of a church family again. I needed that.

12. I moved. I finally took the plunge and moved out of a place that I was unhappy at. It has made all the difference in the world. It’s such a great feeling to actually look forward to going home for a change. Definitely a noteworthy event from my 34th year.

13. We lost our pet, Chicago. Little Chicago was something else. While just a kitten, my daughter found him in an old trash can outside our home. He had been hurt badly (we still don’t know by what – or whom), and could not move his hind legs. Kelly carried him around like a baby for weeks, feeding him milk from a tiny measuring spoon and giving him little kitty pain pills that an animal-loving friend of ours had provided. I just knew the little guy wasn’t going to make it, but alas – he surprised us all. He was with us for four years. I pretended like I didn’t like the little guy (he had THE MOST annoying meow in the world), but I feel his loss more than I ever thought I would have. We miss you, annoying little Chicago. You were loved.

14. I saw my grandma turn 83. Such a spry, spunky little Grandma she is too.

15. I lost another grandparent. My grandpa, Paul Pridemore (who we all referred to as “Mr. P.”) passed away during my 34th year. Mr. P. lived a long, happy, healthy 96 years on this earth and will be missed by everyone who knew him. I’ll bet he wasn’t the type to dread another birthday. He served as a good example to live life to the fullest while we’re here. I hope I’ll live to make him proud.

16. I ran the path that my other grandpa, Greene Halsey, had walked to school. This is something that I had wanted to do for a long time, and finally did it during my 34th year. I’ll post the link to the blog if you’d like to read more about it. I was very proud to have finally done this. https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/uphill-both-ways/

17. I sang in public for the first time (sort of). Ok, so technically, I had done this before in musicals. And at karaoke. But getting up and singing with my boyfriend at one of his gigs was SO nerve-wracking. I couldn’t believe I had the courage to get up there. It was hard – and I was shaking like a leaf – but I did it. And have done it a few more times since. Definitely a noteworthy moment from age 34.

18. I lost Richard. Definitely not one of the happiest moments of age 34, but noteworthy nonetheless. Richard and I split up for 2 months. We both tried to move on, but we found our way back (thank God). I think we both grew up more during those 2 months than we had in a long time. Sometimes you just have to travel alone for a while (whether you want to or not) to find out what’s really important. And I definitely found out what was important. Him. I’m so glad he’s back.

19. I witnessed two little miracles. I saw the tiniest babies I had ever seen in my life – and they belonged to my sister. Her twins were born 10 weeks too early. Not many things have affected my life like seeing those tiny little healthy human beings. I’m so amazed at the technology that we have now that allowed for these two to survive.

Here they were then:

And here they are now:

(Again, if you’d like to check out the blog post about these little angels, here’s the link: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/week-old-miracles/)

If the 33-year-old Melissa didn’t believe in miracles, this 34-year-old Melissa sure as heck does.

20. I was the subject of a blog. My boyfriend and I were interviewed for a very public blog that was read by tons of people. How cool is that?! Definitely the first time that has ever happened. I was famous for a day!

Links: (Here’s the link to the actual blog: http://www.8womendream.com/55851/improve-womens-self-esteem / And here’s the link to my own blog post about the blog: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/self-image-part-2/)

21. I was on TV. Yep. My first TV appearance. I was interviewed for an art segment of a local channel regarding the role I was playing in an upcoming production. Awesomeness. Another first occurring in year 34. (blog link: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/fear/)

22. I starred in my first lead female role with Ashe County Little Theatre. I was so proud to have been cast as Mother in the show Life With Father. It took me a long time to become a part of this theatre, and this was such a monumental moment for me. I will remember it always. (Plus, my boyfriend’s son Riley got to play as one of my sons. Added bonus.)

23. My daughter starred in her first lead role ever. I have been involved in theatre for pretty much my whole life, but I never knew the meaning of “nervous” until I felt what I felt just before the curtain rose on opening night of Annie. Watching my baby girl stepping on to the stage in the title role was beyond anything I’ve ever felt before. I was so incredibly proud of her. Not only for her ability, but for her poise and humility throughout the production. This kid is going to go places. Mark my word.

(Related blog post: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/tomorrow/)

24. Lost a friend. Although I don’t count this as one of the highlights of my 34th year, I had a falling out with a very close friend. Looking back, I’m not so sure the problem was worth ending a friendship over (is it ever?), but it happened nonetheless. And it should be noted in this list. Perhaps I can come back with an update in year 35 that this has been mended? Perhaps. Either way. Friendship lost – duly noted on the list – moving along…

25. Mended a friendship. While we’re on the topic, I might as well mention that I regained a friend in my 34th year. This is a story that I hope to tell in a future blog, but for now, I’ll just say that it’s nice to have found my old friend again. And to know all is well. Everything always works out ok in the end, right? Chris, I’m glad you’re back.

26. Ran my first obstacle race. The Warrior Dash. *sigh* I don’t even have the energy to talk about this one anymore. If you want to read about it, I’ll post the link. You probably don’t though. It was NOT the best experience. But good or bad, it made the “34” list, so I guess it was notable.

(Blog link: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/warrior-dash-or-as-i-like-to-call-it-hell/)

27. Richard and I introduced each other to the fam. That’s a big deal. We were each thrown into the big, loud, happy mix at each other’s family get-togethers over the holidays, and then in a few events (some sad, some happy) since then. Nothing makes you feel like a “real” couple more than getting included in the family (dis)functions. 😉

28. We took our first ‘family’ trip to the beach. Richard’s family has this super cool tradition that spans the years (starting even before he was born) of all getting together to go to Myrtle Beach once a year. It’s a glorified family reunion, if you will. And this year, my kids and I were included. And that’s awesome. It meant so much to me to be included in something so special, and is definitely noteworthy in my 34 list.

29. Made it through a cancer scare. I was a basket case during the fall of my 34th year. We found a lump on my son’s neck that wouldn’t go away. 17 years ago, the same thing had happened to me when I was just a few years older than he was. And I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After excruciating weeks of waiting and worrying, a surgery was finally scheduled to remove the lump from his neck and have it tested. And – thank God – it was benign. There is no worry like that of a mother for her child. I gained a new appreciation and understanding for my own mother through this ordeal, and I hope to never have to go through anything like it again.

30. Got a standing ovation – mid-show. Now, THAT was cool. Of course, I was playing Elvis (sort of). And I sang Heartbreak Hotel. And I looked like this:

But still. Standing ovations mid-show just don’t happen. That was definitely one for the 34 list. Hands down.

31. Went to an AWESOME wedding. Now, you know if a wedding made the list, it must have kicked butt. Well…it did. That was the most fun I have had in a while. It was theatre-themed and full of people I love – how could you go wrong? I even blogged about it. (https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/completion/)

Thanks Jim & Rebecca for giving us these memories to cherish.

32. Visited the house Richard lived in when he was born. We took a little detour on the way back while we were in New York for the marathon, and swung by to take a look at the house that Richard lived in for the first six months of his life. It was the first time he had seen it since. That was a pretty cool moment. Very sentimental. I was proud to be able to tag along for that moment. That was a good “age 34” memory.

33. 4-mile Abingdon race with my son. Now, why did this make my list? Sure, I’ve run plenty of races by now – and quite a few of them with my son. But there was just something about this one. Most notably, when my son finished the race (well ahead of me, of course), he turned around and came back on the track to find me, and finished with me. It would be pretty difficult to leave that moment off of the top 34 list. Have I mentioned that I’m a proud momma?? (Blog post: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/favorite-race-so-far/)

And finally. We’ve reached #34. I saved what I felt was the most notable event for last. (And incidentally, if you’ve made it this far – I’m impressed.)

34. I was in a car accident. In April of my 34th year, I was in a pretty bad car accident. I totaled my car but, miraculously, walked away with only a few scratches. You don’t come away from something like that without some sort of “indention” on your life. It leaves a mark. The only thing that remained intact from my accident, besides myself, was my drivers side mirror. I found the mirror at the accident site days later, and took it home as a reminder. True to my word (as I mentioned in a blog post shortly after – https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/reflection/), I keep this mirror beside my bed on my nightstand. I feel like it serves a reminder that I’m still here. I’m still here. Life didn’t stop at 34. And there’s probably a reason for that.

And I fully intend to spend the rest of my time here on earth figuring out exactly what that is.

So, thank you. Thank you, reader, for taking this trip down memory lane with me. You know – you would think that it would be hard to come up with 34 things over a year that were notable, wouldn’t you? But I actually found myself having to weed some out. Isn’t that crazy? It’s amazing how much you realize actually happens in your world when you sit down and take the time to pull each event out and shine a light of remembrance on it. We should do this more often, shouldn’t we?

Goodbye, 34. You were awesome.

Hello, 35. You ready? We’ve got a lot of work to do. Let’s get started.

***

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”
– Oprah Winfrey

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: 34, 35, age, birthday, blog, blogging, daughter, family, friendship, half marathon, heart, heartbreak, inspirational, memories, motivational, photos, Quotes, relationships, theatre, writing. 4 Comments

MissyRambles

"Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." – Mary Oliver

Tag Archives: photos

Bus Driver

November 1

Compliments

Braggin’ on the Hun

Maw-Maw’s Smile

Love Language

A Thousand Words

Luck

Cool Story

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