Sunday, August 28, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
to hell with the red wine! pour me some moonshine.
I'm not gonna lay around and whine and moan
Cause somebody done done me wrong.
Don't think for a minute
that I'm gonna sit around and sing some old sad song.
I believe it's half-full, not a half-empty glass.
Every day I wake up knowing it could be my last.
I ain't here for a long time, I'm here for a good time.
So bring on the sunshine, to hell with the red wine!
Pour me some moonshine.
When I'm gone put it in stone: "she left nothin behind".
I ain't here for a long time, I'm here for a good time.
I decided this may become my life theme song.
Last night I had a much awaited chat with d.robe, a man who I appreciate, love and will miss as he steps into the next phase of his life. But d.robe will succeed at anything he attempts to do, because he's amazing. d.robe is one of those friends I can easily bounce back into our wonderful relationship with--we only see each other a few times a year now, but it seems like we were never apart. Conversation flows easily, we understand each other nearly perfectly, he challenges me to be a better me merely by his example, and encourages me more than I could ever thank him for.
When I told d.robe that I was getting ready to come back to Seattle to "settle down", he challenged me asking "but are you really ready to settle down? C.rich, are you actually ready to settle down?" I thought about it and realized: "HECK NO." As I thought about it more, I realized that though I do miss Seattle and I want to make it my home once again, I will never settle down...and when I say "never", I mean, not for a while at least. My heart is too wild, my imagination too vivid, and my passion for knowledge unquenchable. It's a blessing and a curse of my family. My twin brother is the same way...we are always seeking. I mean, c'mon, I read about sharks while I'm bored in class, just to learn whatever random knowledge I can.
So this conversation set my brain to a new path and lots of memories arose. My dad once told me that I am just like the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger. He said that I had potential but I "too often waited for others to punch the button to launch." Mr. Ian, one of the most influential teachers I've ever had, told me something similar: "you don't seize opportunities to lead, but you will step up to the plate if you sense you're needed." Well, in classic-Charlotte-fashion, I've been thinking about those comments quite a lot and for a few years.
I've realized that these comments challenged me to grow. I am a patient person, but I'm no longer the type of woman who will sit and wait for things to happen to me...I've started to seize every opportunity that comes. Example? Grad school. Moving across the country for two years. Road trip to CT to look at a book? Sure, why not?
Now, I understand that this may not be a big deal for most people....other people are probably more spontaneous than I am, and are used to this. But for me--this is a big change. I've made a lot of big changes in my life these past few years, and I love it. I do miss my friends and family and home in Washington State, but I love what I'm doing. I love exploring new states, new cities, places I've only heard and dreamed about. I feel free to dream. But unlike before, I don't want to just dream. I want to do. I want to go. So I will. And I am.
Cause somebody done done me wrong.
Don't think for a minute
that I'm gonna sit around and sing some old sad song.
I believe it's half-full, not a half-empty glass.
Every day I wake up knowing it could be my last.
I ain't here for a long time, I'm here for a good time.
So bring on the sunshine, to hell with the red wine!
Pour me some moonshine.
When I'm gone put it in stone: "she left nothin behind".
I ain't here for a long time, I'm here for a good time.
I decided this may become my life theme song.
Last night I had a much awaited chat with d.robe, a man who I appreciate, love and will miss as he steps into the next phase of his life. But d.robe will succeed at anything he attempts to do, because he's amazing. d.robe is one of those friends I can easily bounce back into our wonderful relationship with--we only see each other a few times a year now, but it seems like we were never apart. Conversation flows easily, we understand each other nearly perfectly, he challenges me to be a better me merely by his example, and encourages me more than I could ever thank him for.
When I told d.robe that I was getting ready to come back to Seattle to "settle down", he challenged me asking "but are you really ready to settle down? C.rich, are you actually ready to settle down?" I thought about it and realized: "HECK NO." As I thought about it more, I realized that though I do miss Seattle and I want to make it my home once again, I will never settle down...and when I say "never", I mean, not for a while at least. My heart is too wild, my imagination too vivid, and my passion for knowledge unquenchable. It's a blessing and a curse of my family. My twin brother is the same way...we are always seeking. I mean, c'mon, I read about sharks while I'm bored in class, just to learn whatever random knowledge I can.
So this conversation set my brain to a new path and lots of memories arose. My dad once told me that I am just like the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger. He said that I had potential but I "too often waited for others to punch the button to launch." Mr. Ian, one of the most influential teachers I've ever had, told me something similar: "you don't seize opportunities to lead, but you will step up to the plate if you sense you're needed." Well, in classic-Charlotte-fashion, I've been thinking about those comments quite a lot and for a few years.
I've realized that these comments challenged me to grow. I am a patient person, but I'm no longer the type of woman who will sit and wait for things to happen to me...I've started to seize every opportunity that comes. Example? Grad school. Moving across the country for two years. Road trip to CT to look at a book? Sure, why not?
Now, I understand that this may not be a big deal for most people....other people are probably more spontaneous than I am, and are used to this. But for me--this is a big change. I've made a lot of big changes in my life these past few years, and I love it. I do miss my friends and family and home in Washington State, but I love what I'm doing. I love exploring new states, new cities, places I've only heard and dreamed about. I feel free to dream. But unlike before, I don't want to just dream. I want to do. I want to go. So I will. And I am.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
"But when I point my head, everyone can see where I'm looking!"
...brilliantly spoken, Angi, brilliant.
In the wake of a road trip to MT, I decided to buy a headlamp. All the boys had one, and I was sad because I didn't have one. Unfortunately, though, my trip to the flagship REI inspired an all-out extravaganza of purchasing or (mostly) wish-listing items that I don't really have the time/opportunity to use or the money to buy!
But it inspired me to make a list of things I want to do with my to-be-acquired REI items, which I owe in part to Christye's blog about things she wants to do before she's 25. Well, I just turned 25, so that one's out, but I definitely want to make a list of various things I want to do before I turn 30. It's a combination of things to do on the East Coast, in between, and when I return to the PNW next year.
1. Go on a kayaking-camping trip.
1a. Buy a kayak.
2. Backpack the Cascade Loop.
2a. Buy a new sleeping bag since people keep taking mine!
3. Climb Rainier.
4. Finish grad school.
5. Completely pay off my student loans.
6. Explore NYC with Janae.
7. Stay in a cabin and snowshoe in Vermont or New Hampshire.
8. Visit the hospital in Tanzania ZW told me about.
9. Volunteer at the Special Olympics.
10. Go to a Dolly Parton concert--don't judge me. I will always love her no matter how wrong people think it is.
11. Finish reading through the Bible (I'm about 1/3 of the way through, but it's taken me a while to get that far!)
12. Visit Ireland, Scotland, & go back to England. Or Egypt & Israel. Or Greece. Or all of the above.
13. Drive across the USA and stop at Yonkers, Philly, Pittsburgh, Gettysburg, Chicago, any Minnesota city, somewhere in Iowa, Mount Rushmore, Bozeman, Yellowstone, Bend.
14. Live alone in a cabin on a lake by myself with a kayak and a fishing pole. Maine would be rad. I'd accept Oregon as a close second.
15. Fly fish in a river...I'm thinking somewhere near Snoqualmie Falls.
In the wake of a road trip to MT, I decided to buy a headlamp. All the boys had one, and I was sad because I didn't have one. Unfortunately, though, my trip to the flagship REI inspired an all-out extravaganza of purchasing or (mostly) wish-listing items that I don't really have the time/opportunity to use or the money to buy!
But it inspired me to make a list of things I want to do with my to-be-acquired REI items, which I owe in part to Christye's blog about things she wants to do before she's 25. Well, I just turned 25, so that one's out, but I definitely want to make a list of various things I want to do before I turn 30. It's a combination of things to do on the East Coast, in between, and when I return to the PNW next year.
1. Go on a kayaking-camping trip.
1a. Buy a kayak.
2. Backpack the Cascade Loop.
2a. Buy a new sleeping bag since people keep taking mine!
3. Climb Rainier.
4. Finish grad school.
5. Completely pay off my student loans.
6. Explore NYC with Janae.
7. Stay in a cabin and snowshoe in Vermont or New Hampshire.
8. Visit the hospital in Tanzania ZW told me about.
9. Volunteer at the Special Olympics.
10. Go to a Dolly Parton concert--don't judge me. I will always love her no matter how wrong people think it is.
11. Finish reading through the Bible (I'm about 1/3 of the way through, but it's taken me a while to get that far!)
12. Visit Ireland, Scotland, & go back to England. Or Egypt & Israel. Or Greece. Or all of the above.
13. Drive across the USA and stop at Yonkers, Philly, Pittsburgh, Gettysburg, Chicago, any Minnesota city, somewhere in Iowa, Mount Rushmore, Bozeman, Yellowstone, Bend.
14. Live alone in a cabin on a lake by myself with a kayak and a fishing pole. Maine would be rad. I'd accept Oregon as a close second.
15. Fly fish in a river...I'm thinking somewhere near Snoqualmie Falls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)