January 22, 2020

Riding Around Comes Full Circle


Years ago, as teenagers in a small town, my friends and I would spend our weekends "riding around".  We would pile into my parent's car and later my own little Plymouth Sundance, turn on the music, and ride from one end of town to another. My dad used to say we could ride from bridge to bridge, as each end of Main Street had a bridge leading out of town. 

Those were fun times. No responsibilities, no worries...except when we were going to finish our Chemistry homework or how much money we had for gas! We didn't have satellite radio or even a strong FM station, but we did have some awesome cassette tapes like Whitney Houston, Madonna, ANd Huey Lweis and the News.

Time passed. And my little Sundance was replaced with several minivans complete with an ever-growing number of car and booster seats. The riding around town was replaced with trips to the grocery store and swimming lessons. Those 80's cassette tapes became Sesame Street and Disney ones. And those were wonderful times.

Suddenly, in what seems like a blink of an eye, the minivan is gone, the booster seats hang in the garage. Our driveway now holds cars that teenagers ride around in, listening to satellite radio and Taylor Swift and Post Malone CDs. And you know what? These are wonderful times.

I found myself alone in my Jeep last week when I was on my way to a hair appointment. I turned up my music, Post Malone in fact, which is not for young people...fair warning...and I thought about how things come full circle. How years ago I rode around town, listening to music without a care in the world. And now my kids do the same. And that, my friends, is wonderful.

Have a great day!
Thanks for visiting.




January 3, 2020

Time To Breathe



January. No matter how much I love September, October, November, and December, I am always happy to see this new month arrive. Not because I want to start fresh and new. Not because I am ready to jump into a new year with all kinds of resolutions and promises. It is actually the opposite. I love this month for all of the things I don't have to do. 

For me, January is quiet and calm. It is the peace that follows the excitement of months of fun, planning, celebrating, and excess. I love all of that, don't get me wrong. Yet, when it is over, I welcome the quiet, consistent, cozy days of routine and calm. I return to more consistent meal planning with healthier meals and yummy desserts. We snuggle in to watch our favorite shows while drinking cocoa and tea. I pack away all the decorations except for a few snowmen and relish the bare, clean look of our winter home. 

Before long we will be exchanging Valentines, hunting for Easter eggs, and watching fireworks. And by then, I will be ready for all things pumpkin spice! But for now, I welcome quiet, cozy January with my jammies, coffee, throw blanket, and books. How about you, my friends?