Go Chasin' Waterfalls

I know I've got you humming that tune now. . . "Don't go chasin' waterfalls, please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to. . ." sorry 'bout that. It may be stuck there in your mind all day.  Its just one of those songs. ;)

Well, this Memorial Day Weekend, I didn't exactly follow TLC's advice. Ok, ok, I "get" that the song is metaphorical, ya'll. But I did chase some waterfalls. Real ones.

The hubby and I packed up the fam and headed to the Carolinas (my birthplace. . . I am indeed a true southern girl). We did encounter lots of rain. Boo. But we found the sunshine too. And the sun was shining for us the most on our trip to the falls. Nature is amazing, isn't it? No matter where you chase its' wonders, there is always more to behold.

And I just want to say Thank You, too, on this Memorial Day. Thank you to all the veterans and those who still serve to keep our country free. Thank You, Grandpa - our heroic Admiral McKean of the U.S. Navy. We love you!

Summer

Glitter in the Air

When I was a freshman in college, one of my best friends coined the nickname "Glitter" for me. . . for both "good" and "bad" reasons.

"Good" because I was perpetually looking on the bright side of things, full of faith and ideals, bubbly personality, could win the heart of almost anyone I wanted, always ready for a laugh, inherently trusting of others,  spontaneously ready to party at a moment's notice, smiling all the time (ok, so its kind of hard to hide my big teeth anyway . . .) Passionate. Inspired. Charismatic. Treated like a princess everywhere I went.

"Bad" because I was at times fickle - in love one day, breaking up the next. Ambitiously running so fast in one direction without thinking enough about where I actually wanted my destination to be, or who I might hurt along the way. Arrogantly believing in my own very limited world view. Stubborn. Trusting. Too trusting. Maybe gullible is a better word. Maybe even naive. Well, ok, definitely naive.

You get the idea. Glitter.

Living in and experiencing life in NYC for almost eight years definitely wore off the naivety. I am anything but gullible now. And trusting? Trusting is something I have to force myself to do nowadays - I question everything: from people's motives, to the way the media reports the news, to the ingredients listed on the back of my kids' Mac 'n Cheese box . .  and all things in between. And some of that is good, I think.

But I question whether I want the "good" side of the Glitter phenomenon to get worn off by maturity and experience. I'm pretty sure that Someone Important said that Love always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres . . .

Loving and Hoping. Not as easy as my younger Glitter self would have assumed. But also, in my experience, letting go and loving extravagantly has also been the most rewarding. There is nothing in the whole wide world like knowing that someone loves you completely. Really sees you. Loves you with all your flaws hanging out all over the place first thing in the morning. And still wants to be with you.

I was driving through crazy traffic in midtown today. The radio was on, blaring out a slew of over-played pop song selections that just added to the background noise of a busy day. And then. You know how some songs just really touch you, and everything else seems to fade away? This was one of those songs, for me, anyway.

Don't get me wrong - I like some of Pink's music, but I'm not, like, a Pink groupie.

But this song was different, and I love the soulfulness in her voice.

Enjoy the song, its beautiful.

And don't be afraid to get yourself some Glitter in your life.

                                            ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

http://www.metrolyrics.com/glitter-in-the-air-lyrics-pink.html       (click on Listen Now)


"Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
Close your eyes and trust it, just trust it
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever looked fear in the face
And said I just don't care?

It's only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn
The thunder before lightning, the breath before the phrase
Have you ever felt this way?

Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
Your whole life waiting on the ring to prove you're not alone
Have you ever been touched so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever invited a stranger to come inside?

It's only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table, the walk before the run
The breath before the kiss and the fear before the flames
Have you ever felt this way?

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee, calling me sugar
You called me sugar

Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself
Will it ever get better than tonight? Tonight"

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.

It finally dawned on me today what kind of a week I am having. It has been hard to define, but somewhere between the ecstasy of Mother's Day and the doom of the pediatrician's waiting room from (well, you know, that place that gets really really hot and rhymes with "bell")  it hit me; I am having a Dr. Seuss week.

And its not just because my house is five different colors right now.
Although it is.
And I'm pretty sure now that renovation projects are not for the faint of heart! (don't worry, it'll turn out beautifully. . .when its all done. . .I hope. . .)

And its not just because I was the surprise reader at my son's kindergarten class this week, and got to read "Horton Hears a Who" - funny accents and all. ;)

And its not just because I was in that doctor's waiting room from "bell" for an hour with a screaming baby and a 6 year old who was literally starting to dismantle the furniture . . . although that is when Dr. Seuss' "The Waiting Place" came to mind.

I think its because, well, I gotta admit - its the little things that inspire me. The "small things", if you will . . .

"And that Yopp . . .

That one small, extra Yopp put it over!

Finally, at last! From that speck on that clover

Their voices were heard! They rang out clear and clean.

And the elephant smiled. 'Do you see what I mean? . . .

They've proved they ARE persons, no matter how small.

And their whole world was saved by the Smallest of All!' "

-Horton Hears a Who

And don't hate. I know I'm a small-ish person myself. This is not a "praise be to the smallish people of the world" post. But . . . it . .  kind of is ;)

Reading Dr. Seuss books with my kids is not only fun and silly and memorable and tongue-twistingly delightful. Dr. Seuss reminds me to enjoy the everyday wonders.  His books remind me not to live in a Waiting Place,  but to relish the moments. Not waiting for the "next" thing - the next day, the next purchase, the next. . . house? ;)

"You can get so confused

that you'll start in to race

down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace

and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,

headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place . . .

for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go 

or a bus to come, or a plan to go

or the mail to come, or the rain to go

or a phone to ring, or the snow to snow

or waiting around for a Yes or a No

or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting  for the fish to bite

or waiting for wind to fly a kite

or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake

or a pot to boil, or a Better Break

or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants

or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting."

- Oh the Places You'll Go

I want to live in the moment, and enjoy the chaos of life. Motherhood can teach you that. ;) I feel like my kids get bigger every time I blink. Eden is speaking now, and Ethan is reading now! Its amazing, and I don't want to miss a thing.

"Step with great care and great tact

And remember that Life's 

a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left."

-Oh the Places You'll Go

 I want to make time to stop and smell the roses, or even . . . a very small clover.

You never know what wonders you might find. ;)

"So gently, and using the greatest of care,

The elephant stretched his great trunk through the air,

And he lifted the dust speck and carried it over

And placed it down, safe, on a very soft clover."

-Horton Hears a Who