The Number Five

Every now and again, something happens in your life that makes you sit still & reflect. This past week has been one of those times for me. On Monday, one of my dearest friends said goodbye to her sweet Momma. This weekend I spent time with her family in saying their goodbyes.

The experience has been so unique, because of how unique their Mom was. Sadly, I did not have the chance to know here in this life, but, as so many of us have, I feel I have gotten to know her through her beautiful daughters. You see, their Mom raised them to know what love is. She raised them to share that love in all the best ways they can. She made them know, from the youngest age, that they were wanted, and that her love was unconditional. She loved everyone, even the “difficult” ones, and people were drawn to her because of it. She was light personified, and a wonderful example of womanhood.

I am grateful for her, and for the family she has raised so beautifully. I will take up with her challenge to release judgment, and give forgiveness. I will try harder to let people know that I love them. I will be grateful for the clear love of my own dear Mom, and all the other moms in my life. Because, as my dear friend reminded me, we are all in this together… and let’s face it, none of use should forge this world alone.

Happy 5-5 day y’all.

Today would have been my Grandma Larsen’s 100 birthday, and though she passed away six years ago, I thought today was a big enough milestone to note. She was the best kind of Grandma. The kind with glass bottled Cokes, and chocolate cake. She was a food pusher, and the best talker I’ve ever met. She was everyones friend. And her home, though small, was one of my favorites places to be.

I miss her.

Chatting with one of my best friends on the g-chat last night:

Me: i love music.
Her: why?

In all my years of telling people I love music, I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone turn it back on me and ask why. I sat paralyzed for a few minutes and tried to put some thoughts together. I’ve been thinking about it ever since. The simple answer? I just do.

I love beats, breaks, lyrics, tone. I love instrumentation. I love the tempo, voices, and harmonies. But all that is not why I love music. It’s all the stuff that I have never thought about, that makes my love so intense. It’s the emotion I feel during a great song. Its the way a song says what I can’t, or am struggling to. It’s the memory of hearing it with a good friend, or on a long drive. It’s the moment, before a big note where everything makes sense. The moments I want to pause and stay in forever. It’s the clarity I didn’t know I was missing. It’s the safety net of emotions I can actually let myself use. I love music because it helps me know that I’m not alone. And that it’s ok to feel, and that others do too. It’s because it helps me breathe, and know that I’m ok.

So, there you go…I think that’s my answer. Seems simple, right?

“…it will steal your innocence, it will not steal your substance.”

We made it to the future, y’all.  High-fives all around.

…and it’s not because I don’t care about your feelings.  Sometimes life comes at you at mach speed, and sometimes you’re not ready for it.  And other times, you realize that you can keep going, even when you didn’t know you could.

I’m learning to breathe in, breathe out, blink. I’m learning to stay present and feel.  (The feeling part is the hardest.)

And as Mr. Churchill has said,

This post is only to celebrate the date.  And give a small shout-out to one of (make that two of)the greatest television series of all time.

West Beverly has a piece of my heart.

Here are 5 things, in no particular order, that I would like to share tonight.

1. I miss Conan.  Leno is not my cup o’ tea.

2. I extremely dislike the taste of hyrdorgen peroxide.  Crest White strips are no exception.

3. I was on the news today.  I haven’t seen the story yet, but I’ve had 20+ people text and/or email me saying they did.  They were doing a story in my favorite doughnut shop, and I happened to show up during the taping.

4. I love using those blue drop-in tablets in my toilets.  Word to the wise: don’t touch the blue tablet with your bare hands.

5. I am officially addicted to “Las Vegas Jailhouse.”  It’s worth your time.

That’s all for now.