I was looking through the pictures on my phone the other day. I came across one that Alyssa had sent me of Mom and Dad eating Taco Bell in the basement after their night class. I noticed the old and obnoxiously pink carpet that we have down there and thought about how much I love it. I know that my mom is going to cringe when she reads this, but our basement is so joyously tacky. I mean, who else has a basement with large cloth band posters covering the walls, plastic football helmets all over (the extra large one that I bought Dad for his birthday is a classy addition), and an extensive collection of board games in their bathroom? I love it.
Our entire house isn't this random though. I would say that the upstairs is pretty normal, besides the dining room table, which is used solely has a storing place for papers and other miscellaneous items. Although our house is definitely on the small size, it's cozy, welcoming, and low maintenance. I want a small, cozy, house of my own someday. Preferably with a fireplace and a front porch. Now if only the Schneider house would get that hammock that I've been contemplating buying for years.
This morning I had my iPod on shuffle and a Kesha song came on. I'm not gonna lie, it's a song of hers that I really like. There is a line in the song where she says "You held my hand and they made me cry while I swore to God it was the best night of my life." This "best night/day/time of my life" statement is questionable. I mean, can you really choose one best day ever? I'd have to argue for most people, not so much. I have 22 years and therefore 8,030 days to pick from here. I began to think about what I would consider the best day/time/memory/event of my life...
Here is what I came up with. However, I feel like this short list is slightly biased due to the fact that they are going to be semi-recent events. Since my childhood, middle school, and even now high school are years and years in the past, it's hard to remember the "best" times that occurred when I was young. I should start documenting these momentous events so that I can remember them.
- Cheesecake dates with Alyssa. There is nothing better than ordering expensive cheesecake, drinking coffee, and talking about life with your sister/best friend. The best was when we stopped at Taco Bell afterwards to get nachos. Or maybe the best was when I stole the bread basket and took some priceless pictures with it on the car ride home. Or there is the time we met Brittany at the Cheesecake factory. Hence my point, narrowing it down to the one best time is impossible.
- The week that mom and I spent together in Granada, Spain. We honestly had a somewhat surreal and wonderful time together. Every morning we ate breakfast on the Hotel Carlos V terrace, which overlooked the city. We also ate picnic lunches in the park and had adventurous Tapa explorations at night.
- High school cross country. I'm trying to pick an exact moment, but I just can't. I wanted to say the Sectional meet in 2008, which was my senior year. I remember feeling unstoppable that race, as I passed Mallory Abel and remember thinking, "hey, I have never beaten this girl before." Now that I'm looking at the results online, apparently I beat Amanda Fox, Ariel Michalek, and Tess Ehrhardt too. Who knew! But I don't think that I can say that my favorite memory is a race memory, because that wasn't the greatest aspect of BHS cross country. Team bonding events such as pasta parties and potlucks, Coach Emo, Hana belting out "Let's Get Down to Business" from Mulan on Fairfax Fridays, and Waffle Wednesdays at the Swiatlo's house after summer practices are all in the running (haha unintended cross country pun) for the best cross country memories. And now I'm off on a "I love cross country!" rant...
Ahh I am so excited that I found this on Google images. This is the actual hotel balcony from Granada. iQué maravilla!
I did cringe when you mentioned the pink carpet, especially because you said how obnoxious it was, as I was certain this was going to lead to you saying you did not like it. Thankfully, you led into the line about how it brings joy for what it represents, since this is the reason I can tolerate it.
ReplyDeleteThis entry is bringing me a sense of joy and satisfaction that I definitely need right at this moment. I am feeling anxiety-ridden about the large amount of work I need to get done for my class on Wed and my meetings next week. Compounded by this is the fact that there are interviews for teaching positions going on at my school, and dad hasn't been invited to one. But the worse is how this brings me into such a state of gloom, but not your dad. When I ask him if it affects him emotionally, he says no, because he knows they are looking for ones younger than him. Proof of how positive his outlook is that within 10 minutes, he is talking about how lucky we are that we have such a good life and two beautiful daughters that are both doing so well and how proud he is.
Perspective, attitude, and coping are so critical in life. Therefore, I recite "God give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference," and I challenge myself to live by these words.
Love you, Sweetie!
Mother,
ReplyDeleteIt is true that you and I tend to let anxiety get the best of us. I am so impressed by Dad and his ever present positive outlook on such a seemingly awful situation. Just take everything one day at a time. That's all you can do. That is a great prayer to live by. Here is a Buddhism one for you too =]
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
Thanks for the Buddha advice. I will definitely work hard to keep the mind flow positive at all times, as this is what I want to become. Well, to be more realistic, will strive to have positive thoughts most of the time.
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