To the end of Summer...

I've noticed that it's difficult to appreciate summer until it's almost gone. My school's "August Days" (aka training and preparation days) are tomorrow and that means school officially starts the following week.

When I look back on my adventures over the past few months, it seems almost a blur. It would take thousands of words to describe it, so instead I think it best to use photos.

My summer was filled with:

Baseball.

Best friends.

Romantic dates with my honey.

Not one, but TWO trips to California (Disneyland and San Francisco).

Special time with the little ones in my life.

Good food.

A trip to the Oregon Coast.

And BINGO at the Greenwood Senior Center.














Now it's back to the daily grind, but not without a few moments of gratitude for the wonderful adventures I've had.

I am so appreciative for having the free time to enjoy life to its fullest.

To spring...

After a very long (and most likely still not quite over) winter, it's so wonderful to see a little ray of sunshine peeking through the gray clouds. It's days like these that I am so grateful for living in such a beautiful city.

I hear a lot of people complain about the seemingly endless gray skies and rain, but for some reason the weather doesn't bother me. Yes, I am excited when there is sunshine, but I also have days when I wish for rain. It reminds me of the yin and yang: how can you appreciate sunshine if you never have rain?

In Washington, we have a special way of judging the weather: Mt. Rainier. If you ever hear someone say, "she's out today!," you know it's a good day.

I am appreciative for our 4 separate and distinct Washington seasons!

To...?

I apologize that the last post was so cryptic. It's difficult when things happen in your personal life that are too complex to describe in a blog post or too, well, personal. In this case, my writing about it would be intruding on someone else's personal life. And that's just not fair of me, is it?

What I will say is something happened recently to a person I love dearly.

A miracle of sorts.

This person had been struggling for years with depression and anxiety and two weeks ago she found herself, as she put it, "healed."

Now, I'm not a very religious person. I was raised Catholic and attended a private Catholic high school, but I'm still not even sure I believe in a god. Any god.

However, what happened to this person is beyond logic and reason. In fact, it is so awesome I feel like I'm holding my breath just waiting for a (inevitable?) crash. Something this magnificent can't truly be real, can it?

How can someone wake up one day and quit smoking cold turkey, be open to trying new things when in the past they had been afraid, spend time in public spaces without feeling anxiety, be willing to do things on her own when previously she had needed almost constant companionship from a loved one?

How can she defy every reality she faced just a mere two weeks ago?

I don't have an answer.

All I can say is, thank you.

I don't know who or what I'm thanking, but THANK YOU!

A more precious gift could not exist than giving someone their life back.

To hope...

I'm thankful today for reasons I can't mention in a public blog. I just want it to be known that sometimes life brings wonderful, unexpected hope. And dare I even say the word... miracles?

Let's just hope it lasts!!

To a graduating sib...

At Sibshops today, you did something so brave. You stood up in front of all of your peers and performed a rap you had written for Sibshop Idol. At first you said, "I can't do this," but after much encouragement from the small audience, you took a deep breath and began.

"I know a place, yeah I know a place,
If you wanna talk, if you wanna have fun,
A snowball fight, scavenger hunts,
But don't lose the time cuz it's over at half to one.

Going around, talking about sibs and their needs,
Talking to Aunt Blabby, doing whatever she says
And at lunch, at 11:30 you can get some sugar
So be sure afterward you be takin yo meds.

If you don't believe me and you got a lot of time,
Come down 520 bridge, hook up with Montlake Boulevard.
I guarantee it's no joke, it's just a bunch of average kids,
This isn't no bologna, this ain't no bowl of llama's lard.

I was here in the third grade, I've been here ever since.
2011 is my last year to do all my hops,
But I be back in 3 years for some volunteering, but for now I'm at S.I.B.S.H.O.P. Sibshops!"

Thank you for your courage, compassion, and willingness to step out of your comfort zone. We'll miss you next year!

To our nation's current and past presidents...

Your job certainly isn't easy and often thankless (at least by 50% of the population), so thank you.

Also... much appreciation for the day off.

To CNY...

It's not often that a holiday reminds me of my regrets, but Chinese New Year happens to be one of them.

Why, you ask?

Because I still know far to little about my heritage.

I was born in a household that celebrated everything. Chinese New Year, Santa Lucia Day, St. Nicholas Day, Epiphany, Solistice... to name a few. We learned so much about so many different holidays, that I never took the time to really understand this important holiday of my ancestors.

Today marks the first day of the the Year of the Rabbit and I know this because one of my friends (himself Chinese) invited me to a Chinese New Year's Reunion Dinner last night and... Facebook headlines told me so. Yes, I learn much of my relevant news from Facebook links my family and friends post (call it cliff notes for the news).

As we sat around the food laden table, my friend regaled us with the traditions of Chinese New Year. I made sure to eat noodles (for longevity), fish (for prosperity), and all of the other important dishes he shared with us.

Now, partaking in a meal with a group of friends almost always brings me joy and last night was no exception. The only regrets that night were spurred from my disappointment of not being able to be the one to share these wonderful traditions with others.

However, though I'm disappointed in my own lack of knowledge, I am forever appreciative for my friend teaching and reminding me what Chinese New Year is all about.

After all, it's never too late to learn!

Thank you Marcus!