this made me happy

ok,  I've been making way too big a deal about how to blog or what to say so I'm breaking the spell by sharing this fun clip I found.  It made me happy.  Hope it makes you happy too:  


EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment from Eepybird on Vimeo.

enjoy!

I am a city girl.

I love the hustle and the noise...  I love being along in a crowd...  I love the diversity -- and am even comfortable with it's disparity.  

I love knowing that I can find varied ingredients at the grocery store...  that I don't have to walk far to find an espresso or corner bodega.  I love the fumes and even the heat off the concrete -- sad, I know, but I really do!

But most of all, I love the various opportunities...  concerts, gallery openings, small boutiques, great food, museums, public transportation...  Ah, heaven! Especially for someone who for the last fifteen years has lived in a county with less than five thousand people.  A city girl in the country without the Green Acres drama... hum...  Sadly, I can't say that there has been no murmuring from the backside of the wilderness.

However, without living in such a remote area I would not have had the chance to learn things about myself.  I didn't know prior to moving to VA that I was a "Type A" personality run  amuck.   I shudder to think what would have happened to our children if we hadn't moved.  Suddenly there were no evening meetings sandwiched between church or school events vying for equal attention at the expense of family time.  I had to grapple with my urge to "pick up ____ on my way to ____" which inevitably led to buying more than was on my list.  When "real" shopping is over 1 1/2 hours from home you quickly learn to discern "need" from "want."

The best part of the last fifteen years (and really God's mercy) is that our evenings became our own.  We established rituals and family patterns that I will always treasure.  Wednesday evening "West Wing" nights... making Tapa's together... playing board games...  lingering over dinner discussing current events...  reading the Redwall series out loud...  the work day truly ending with dinner... becoming friends with your teenagers.  

We were lucky because our work allowed us the freedom to travel often and thus I could get my "city fix" and not feel so hemmed in.  I even began to look forward to the drive up the mountain to our expansive view and the night stars.  If I'd gotten my wish and lived in a city I'm not sure who I'd be today.   I don't think I would have made a good mother that's for sure.  This last season has taught me to breathe deeply and accomplish more with less strain and effort.  I've become more balanced, less driven and strangely whole.  Not a bad price to pay!

We are entering a new season.  Our children have been successfully launched into adulthood.  My "work" is evolving and expanding.  And, there is a release to move...  hallelujah!  I cannot express fully the joy that arises in me as I contemplate our move.  I realize that some would find me strange.  I yearn to move into the heart of a city, and they yearn to escape to the country.  

The decision has been made to rent an apartment vs buying a condo in order to locate "our neighborhood" without pressure to commit to owning property.  it's been fun to tour different buildings to get a feel for what's available.  Wow! the possibilities and amenities are endless.  We've even determined that we don't need to own a car.  now that is true freedom.  I find it incredible that I live in such an amazing time in history.  Public transportation and Zip cars and of course my own two feet make owning a car obsolete.  When we need to go further afield we can rent a car for the time we need.  How fun is that?!

Moving to Washington, DC (the District, not the 'burbs) is perfect.  Not living in the city has prepared me to not take this move for granted.  We have both the means to enjoy the best of city living and time to sustain new and old relationships.  It doesn't get better than this!

My hat is in the ring

My family has been encouraging me to throw my hat into the ring and begin to blog.  Blog..  me?!  Frankly, I didn't see the point.  I thought of blogging as one big journal entry.  Ugh!  If this is a journal, them I'm doomed to fail.

I've had a pattern of buying lovely journals that feel amazing in my hand.  The weight of the paper is right, the texture feels amazing... so one would think that I'd be all set and I'd look forward to journaling.  Sadly, that's not been the case - as my section of half-started journals on my bookshelf can attest to.  My kids kept telling me that unlike a journal (which is a private internal dialogue), a blog invites others into the dialogue.  

Well the penny finally dropped when I read this quote by Eric Hoffer:  "In times of great change learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists."  Wow... so true.  This gave me focus and inspired to begin the process because one of my core values is to be a life-longer learner.  That's what this blog will be about -- sharing what I'm learning and struggling to understand.

I just threw my hat in...  So Justin, can you take my name off of the list of those who "should be blogging" wall of shame?