Home Again

"They" say you can never go home again, which isn't really true. I go home every Christmas, and sometimes for Thanksgiving, and occasionally during the summer...but I get the idea. It is true, I can't go back to the way it was, the way I felt in high school, the girl I was, the boys I liked, the friends and jokes we thought were hilarious...and that is a very good thing. We move on, grow to become more of the women we are, fall deeply in love with men, make new friends and often laugh about the same jokes with the old ones. However, I can go home again. And the glory is in the fact that we both change, home and me. I saw my town with new eyes, for the beauty that had become common when I was growing up there. Spending time with a good friend in a place I love, experiencing each other, our friendship, our town in new ways with the comfort of the past holding us close...no it is not going home again, it is better. I found a new home, a deeper home, in the safety of the familiar and the excitement in the changes of life.

4/642

Straight Dos

I got my hair cut today. I realized that it had been 5 months since my last hair cut (see August 5th). I remember after my last cut I felt so excited that my curls had new life breathed into them. This time after my trim, my stylist (that's right, a stylist) asked if I wanted my hair straightened. I almost always say no, but she convinced me...and I was enjoying the conversation as one art history major to another. I am not one for stylists, make-up...even lotion gives me the creeps, needless to say I am what you would call a "low maintenance" gal (at least in this department), but as I left the salon with a new "do", my christmas coat and places to be, I was reminded that pleasures often come, for me, from the simple parts of life. Completing a task, having goal, meeting a friend unexpectedly for a brisk walk...but today I would have to say my greatest pleasure, albiet a bit sinister, was having numerous friends not recognize me at first. Who knew losing the curls would be such a good disguise. I wonder what contacts, or lipstick would do?!...ohhh of the posibilites for deceit.

642 tries for Discipline

Discipline and routine, neither one of which are my favorite things to do. Call it my impatience, laziness...or how about we say it is that I am excitingly impulsive/to creative to stay on one thing for too long...either way I suck at follow through. Something that has gotten me in trouble one to many times, in one to many ways. So in spite of my distain for resolutions I found a creative outlet for my need for self discipline. I found this book while browsing one of my favorite stores in Harvard Square, Black Ink, where I always seem to leave with something tucked in the bag for myself no matter who I go to shop for. I am hoping with this small act of ritual once a day, drawing 1 out of the 642 prompts, I will begin to learn and like the importance of routine. And if it doesn't work...i get 642 creative experiences trapped in one book. Now don't worry, I am not going to share every pencil lined masterpiece, but I wanted to warn...well I am not sure who reads this, but anyway who stumbles upon this one day and catches a childlike (I never admitted to being being Artsy...just -ish) drawing of New Jersey, a lollipop, shadow, or a whisper. So stay tuned...

2011 Resolves

Ok, it has only been 2011 for a few days and already the realities of life have hit hard with various news that one does not want to hear, both abroad, in my city, in my home. A good friend told me that sometimes we have to go into the pain, let it engulf us, touch us, and transform us before we can start to heal. Someone else said to love each moment and be grateful for what we have. There are so many ways to mourn, it seems we each have to do it in our own way. As this new year begins, births and deaths will happen, joy and sadness are inevitable. I have never been one for new year resolutions, but this year, in light of recent events I resolve to be present, to be aware when someone needs me, to make decisions and follow through, and as wise professor said, to just show up.

This year will bring more bad news, but it is my firm believe that joyous good news will always be more prevalent if we keep ourselves open to hearing it, seeing it, and showing up for it.