I love sitting at my parents' house in Ocean City surrounded by my beach-loving clan. Yesterday, as I drove with my cousin to pick up our carry-out dinner, I thought about how different our thoughts must be as we sit and sing the newest hit pop song that bellows from my mom's car radio.
She (an eighth grader) and me (an almost 30 year old woman) certainly have different thoughts running through our minds. But, surprisingly (or maybe not if you know me well) we utterly enjoyed each other's company as we build sandcastles on the beach and talk about life under sunbeams. We even came home and ended a glorious beach day with some abdominal work, stretching, laughing and more talking.
I don't feel that much older than an eighth grader some days, but then reality strikes hard. Reality hit hard this morning as I heard myself conversing with my uncles and father about "refinancing" and "interest rates". As this conversation took place I couldn't resist glancing at my eighth grade cousin to see what she was doing during that "adult" conversation. Not to my surprise, she was juggling a soccer ball in the grass as my dog stared at her longingly.
It is weird to be me these days, for large parts of me long to go back to juggling soccer balls in the grass. But, then again there is another large part of me that wants to hang with the "adult" conversation about money, real estate and love. I am stuck in the middle now, but know that reality won't let me turn back into an eighth grader. I will only get older and will only continue with those adult conversations...that is inevitable.
What I don't believe is inevitable is how I feel about reality. I can easily be a part of those adult conversations that take place on the deck as I juggle a soccer ball from the grass. And, I want to be that "girl" for many more years!
Showing posts with label giggles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giggles. Show all posts
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Perfect Timing
My friend Gwendolyn is a gorgeous dancer living in China. She sent me an e-mail today that hit the spot. Read on...
MAYA ANGELOU'S
BEST POEM EVER
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams
wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
one friend who always makes her laugh ... and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the widt h of h er hips, or the nature of her parents.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...
MAYA ANGELOU'S
BEST POEM EVER
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams
wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
one friend who always makes her laugh ... and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the widt h of h er hips, or the nature of her parents.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Montezuma y mi corazon
Entonces, possiblemente de idioma de ingles es mejor ahora...
I am in love with Montezuma and may not be returning home as planned. For the past week I have swam, ran, hiked and laid in the most impressive jungle beach in the world. I am feeling some strange connections here and just can't imagine leaving anytime soon. There are many reasons and stories to share, but know that right now I am staring at the Pacific Ocean watching beautiful Tico children leave school and I just know that there are many reasons for me to stay here a bit longer. I don't know what that means, but I just know that it is how I feel now.
Look up Montezuma and tell me what you think I should do with my life!
I am in love with Montezuma and may not be returning home as planned. For the past week I have swam, ran, hiked and laid in the most impressive jungle beach in the world. I am feeling some strange connections here and just can't imagine leaving anytime soon. There are many reasons and stories to share, but know that right now I am staring at the Pacific Ocean watching beautiful Tico children leave school and I just know that there are many reasons for me to stay here a bit longer. I don't know what that means, but I just know that it is how I feel now.
Look up Montezuma and tell me what you think I should do with my life!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
It's what?
Teacher Appreciation Week
The ever-present humongous knot in my back -- affectionately named different scholars at varied times of the day -- reminds me of how much I am appreciated. So does this article.
Yup...sure am feeling appreciated.
I am also not thoroughly exhausted and full of sarcasm, nope not one lil bit, totally sincere.
I keep telling myself, "Kerri, just remember, 'It is no secret that teaching is one of the hardest jobs in the world and, undoubtedly, one of the most important.'"
The ever-present humongous knot in my back -- affectionately named different scholars at varied times of the day -- reminds me of how much I am appreciated. So does this article.
Yup...sure am feeling appreciated.
I am also not thoroughly exhausted and full of sarcasm, nope not one lil bit, totally sincere.
I keep telling myself, "Kerri, just remember, 'It is no secret that teaching is one of the hardest jobs in the world and, undoubtedly, one of the most important.'"
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Strange & Fantastic Commuters
It really is the little things! Life has supplied a few unexpected curve balls lately, but in the midst of hardship came a wonderful surprise. As you may know, we commute daily on the MARC for our round-trip journey from Charm City to Chocolate City. You probably don't know, but for my birthday A. created a book of "coupons" for me to use over the course of this year. These coupons are colorfully illustrated and thoughtfully represent how well he knows me. Some coupon examples: Organic Homecooked Ethnic Meal; Day Hike with Keba; Explor-a-bike Day and so on...
These coupons tickled me so much that I pulled out my coupon collection recently on the train to ponder when and which one I would use first. As we made our way home, I decided to cash in my Day Hike coupon for that weekend. I reached into the depths of my backpack and...what...no way...WHERE ARE MY COUPONS?...no way, they have to be here, I just had them...NO!...(emptied bag onto floor) THEY ARE GONE.. NoooooOOOOO!
A. is so smart. These were nontransferable and couldn't be redeemed without the actual coupon. He smiled mischievously at my dismay as I tried to convince him to recreate, he denied me, and I sank my shoulders with self-disappointment. BOOHOO for me, right?
THEN, about two weeks later, our school secretary told me that I had a phone message in my mailslot. This is not uncommon, so I slowly made my way to my mailslot to see who I owed a return call. The message read, "Theresa called about those coupon."
Ummm, what? I don't know a Theresa, not sure what "those coupon" would/could be, so I disregarded this message by telling myself there must have been an error. (Not once did A.'s coupons cross my mind, but I do usually call people back.)THEN, last week, the same wonderful secretary informed me of a letter that recently arrived for me. This too was placed in my mailslot. I sauntered that way and began to open the letter. This envelope was handwritten and the return address was from Glen Burnie.
I opened this mystery package to find...MY COUPONS!!
Theresa Arney from Glen Burnie mailed my coupons back to me! This incredibly persistent woman sought me out to return what most would have considered trash. She jotted a short note about how she tried to contact me at work but I never returned her call, so she just mailed them to me. Well, jeeze, I sure felt awful for not calling her back, but my Thank You note to her was mailed today.
Oftentimes I find myself disgruntled by human misbehavior. I find people rude, brash and inappropriate (especially those from my Mid-Atlantic region). Sometimes I can shrug these feelings away by looking at the amazing people I surround myself with, for they fill me with reassurance and sanity, but sometimes those yucky people stick with me so deeply I can't sleep. This seemingly simple gesture-Theresa's persistence- made my week, well actually my year. I feel warm and fuzzy inside, smile with ease and don't care about those stupid passive aggressive, rude, inappropriate people out there. Those people can't hold down the Theresa's of the world!
THANKS TO MY FELLOW MARC TRAIN COMMUTER FOR BRINGING BACK HOPE!
Do you agree with this projection of happiness?
These coupons tickled me so much that I pulled out my coupon collection recently on the train to ponder when and which one I would use first. As we made our way home, I decided to cash in my Day Hike coupon for that weekend. I reached into the depths of my backpack and...what...no way...WHERE ARE MY COUPONS?...no way, they have to be here, I just had them...NO!...(emptied bag onto floor) THEY ARE GONE.. NoooooOOOOO!
A. is so smart. These were nontransferable and couldn't be redeemed without the actual coupon. He smiled mischievously at my dismay as I tried to convince him to recreate, he denied me, and I sank my shoulders with self-disappointment. BOOHOO for me, right?
THEN, about two weeks later, our school secretary told me that I had a phone message in my mailslot. This is not uncommon, so I slowly made my way to my mailslot to see who I owed a return call. The message read, "Theresa called about those coupon."
Ummm, what? I don't know a Theresa, not sure what "those coupon" would/could be, so I disregarded this message by telling myself there must have been an error. (Not once did A.'s coupons cross my mind, but I do usually call people back.)THEN, last week, the same wonderful secretary informed me of a letter that recently arrived for me. This too was placed in my mailslot. I sauntered that way and began to open the letter. This envelope was handwritten and the return address was from Glen Burnie.
I opened this mystery package to find...MY COUPONS!!
Theresa Arney from Glen Burnie mailed my coupons back to me! This incredibly persistent woman sought me out to return what most would have considered trash. She jotted a short note about how she tried to contact me at work but I never returned her call, so she just mailed them to me. Well, jeeze, I sure felt awful for not calling her back, but my Thank You note to her was mailed today.
Oftentimes I find myself disgruntled by human misbehavior. I find people rude, brash and inappropriate (especially those from my Mid-Atlantic region). Sometimes I can shrug these feelings away by looking at the amazing people I surround myself with, for they fill me with reassurance and sanity, but sometimes those yucky people stick with me so deeply I can't sleep. This seemingly simple gesture-Theresa's persistence- made my week, well actually my year. I feel warm and fuzzy inside, smile with ease and don't care about those stupid passive aggressive, rude, inappropriate people out there. Those people can't hold down the Theresa's of the world!
THANKS TO MY FELLOW MARC TRAIN COMMUTER FOR BRINGING BACK HOPE!
Do you agree with this projection of happiness?
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Uniqueness?
There are nine with my name; however, most of you may find it quirky to know that my real first name is not just Kerri but really Kerrilyn. There is no other Kerrilyn Bowers in the USofA. Thanks Mom and Dad, your clever naming has allowed me to proudly stand alone, amidst the few Americans with a made-up name. I do like being the only me!
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