Friday, April 17, 2009

"She'll have a perfect day"

Ever have a really, truly, awesome day in the midst of a lousy week?

Easter Sunday was great! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the time spent with family and friends. By the time Monday came around...well, certain things happened that - let's just say - pretty much ruined my future, to put it lightly. And no, I don't exaggerate. The things that happened on Monday made me very much stressed, depressed, nervous, worried: I've lost a lot of sleep and haven't exactly been the healthiest eater on the planet. Every morning I wake up from a lousy night and wonder if life could get any worse. Then I try to remind myself that there's no point in living in the past and that I might as well look forward to what mystery and surprises life has to offer. Every day I force myself to laugh at stupid jokes, to try and help friends who are also going through a rough time...it doesn't necessarily make my own pain less difficult to bear, but it is somewhat comforting to have these little distractions to help me forget it for a bit.

All of yesterday (Thursday) I was so exhausted and groggy and tired that I started to get worried: this lack of sleep has got to be dangerous. By evening my headache had turned into a living nightmare, and at 8pm I was in bed with the hopes of falling asleep quickly. I did, for a good 20 minutes. Then I was wide awake until past midnight, when my brain finally shut down. Last night was no different from any others this past week, but for some reason I woke up this morning with a hint of a smile on my face. The sun was out! I could faintly hear birds chirping in the air. Mom and Lynda were gone for the day, leaving just me and my brother to "man the house". If that makes sense. AAAND I had set up an appointment for a haircut this afternoon!

Well, that settled it then and there. I immediately hid away all the sad, depressing music I had and played every song I could think of which gave me a happy memory: mostly Collective Soul, Natalie MacMaster, or Leahy. (Yes, I know Josh is great, I too am in love with him, but I really needed something differentish and nostalgic today). I bought a professional flat iron, and my hair is now short, bouncy, cute, and everyone loves it. Tonight I went to the prayers for a family friend who passed away Monday night, and in that one hour alone I received 8 or 9 compliments about my new look - NOT counting all the nice stuff people said on facebook! :) That alone put such a huge smile on my face! After the prayers, I went to our town's annual Trade Fair and entered all the draws I could find (hey, you never know! I just might win that free make-up sample stuff or a cordless drill! I'm sure Dad could always use a cordless drill....right?). And, as if THAT wasn't enough, as my family and I were driving home - lo and behold, we saw FIREWORKS from a nearby farm! So we stopped at the side of the road and watched a magnificent show of bright colours lighting up the sky.

So, yeah. My most sincerest apologies to Collective Soul, whose song I've played over and over and over again and I'm sure they're tired of me quoting ("Perfect Day"). It's just one of my "yay! life's awesome!" songs.

And yes. Life IS awesome. Even though I might not sleep again tonight, or I'll wake up to cloudy skies, or my future life issues may never be resolved....life is short, life is beautiful, and I intend to enjoy every bit of it.

*bows*

Sunday, April 12, 2009

It's Easter it's Easter it's Easter!!!!!!!

Wow, I am so excited right now. I mean I was excited all night during the Easter Vigil but now I'm literally shaking I'm so excited and hyper and HAPPY! Easter is such a holy and joyous time.
And sorry if I get "religious" for those of you who aren't - but this is my faith, and I can't express my joy without telling you WHY.
"Christ the Lord is risen today - Alleluiah
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!"
( http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh302.sht )
I find it quite ridiculous how commercialized Easter has become. Many people only look forward to it for the candy and chocolate bunnies -and YES, those ARE a huge part of Easter! 40 days of fasting leads to great love of everything sweet! But many seem to stop there, never looking into the true reasons for rejoicing. The most holy and beautiful season for all Christians has somehow become as commercialized and depreciated ones of all time. People look more forward to Christmas than they do to Easter, yet the only reason Christ was born was so that He may die and rise again for US!!
The Easter Triduum are the three holiest days of the year - beginning on Holy Thursday and extending until Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. It really saddens me that on Good Friday - the most mournful day of all - THE GROCERY STORES WERE OPEN. Seriously. Who needs to shop for toilet paper on that particular day? As if peoples' groceries can't wait till the day after. Does nobody care? Don't they know how that day changed the world forever?! How can you celebrate the Resurrection without first acknowledging His death? It's not even logical.
Anyway. Just my two cents worth. I'm going to go eat my chocolate bunny now.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

I need to start writing again

I was going through my old notebooks when I found an entry I wrote a couple years ago:

"One of my most cherished memories happened a long time ago, when I played in a music recital at our local nursing home. When I was finished my piece, I moved away from the upright piano and saw a lady in the back beckoning me to her. After walking to her and sitting beside her, a remarkable thing happened. She told me a story.
She started by telling me how much she and her late husband loved music. How all her kids could play the piano. How each morning she and her husband would wake up and start dancing and singing.
That, unfortunately, is all I can remember of her story. But those words have meant more to me than any others I have heard, because of the simplicity and honesty with which the lady spoke.
I especially relish the thought of someday waking up singing and dancing with my own future husband. Of teaching all my children the beauty and power music holds.
After a few years went by I went back to the nursing home in hopes of finding that lady, but she was nowhere to be seen. I didn't even know her name. It saddened me, because I longed to see her just to say, "Thank you. Thank you for choose me, out of all those other musicians, to tell your story to. I'll never forget it."
I'll always hold a special love and reverence for our seniors who grew up in the 30's and 40's. They are the ones who built our communities, who upheld the freedom of our countries, who gave their very lives for the ones they loved.
So many people have asked me why I love the 1930's and 40's era so much - why I don't just live in the present, like a "normal" teenager. Well, I'll tell you why:
Our generation is a baby generation. Think about it. Those living in the 30's and 40's went through a series of hardships and disaster. They had to deal with bankruptcy, drought and famine, and war. They had to learn to fight for money, for food, for life. When I see those seniors walk into the coffee shop, usually missing a finger or two, I just wish so hard I weren't so shy, so I could go up to them and say, "Thank you".
Our generation is a baby generation. Most of us didn't have to work -- hard -- until we were out of highschool. Not many know what it's like to go to bed, worrying about where your next week's meals will come from. What little we have seen of war is but a shadow of what war really is. Instead of fighting for our rights, we have become content with crying for them. Let's face it kids: we're a spoiled society.
Firefighters. Military. Paramedics. Police. Seniors.
Thank you. "