Life on the Quarter» Kentucky

There’s Something about 25

Sarah — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:08:28 +0000

One very vivid childhood memory of mine includes my mother and the movie E.T. I remember making fun of my mom for how she would ALWAYS cry every.single.time we watched our recorded-from-tv-VHS-tape (you know what I’m talking about!). The phrase “E.T. phone home” is evidently gut wrenching. I never understood it.

Not only did I not get it, but I certainly never did it. I just didn’t cry over movies. The occasional book, sure, but movies, no way.

Then I turned 25.

Last year I turned 25 and apparently discovered emotions. Or at least emotional reactions to cinema. Over the last year there has not been a movie that I’ve seen that has not involved tears. And sometimes a mutlple parts.

I’m not talking about just a little eye water. I’m talking throat tightening, drops rollin’ down the cheeks tears.

There is something about turning 25 that also means turning into your mother. Maybe that something is the realization that turning into your mom is not such a bad thing.

Season of Firsts

Sarah — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:11:53 +0000

I have heard it said that there is a first time for everything. There have been a lot of firsts around here lately!

While it is not really a first, a couple of weeks ago I the chance to drive to Fort Worth to see my favorite author, Donald Miller. You may remember my previous post detailing my excitement about his newest book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. A couple of friends joined me, and we drove to Fort Worth to have dinner with a few of my favorite former students turned friends, and then on to see Don. Let me just tell you that it was more than worth the hour and a half drive and the $15 ticket. After Donald finished speaking we had the chance to wait for autographs. Kelcy, a student who joined the trip, remembered to bring her book however, I left mine on the kitchen table. We waited in line for her to get her book signed, and I got the chance to meet Don in a moment of awkwardness and awe. Highlights of our 30 second conversation include that he called me “nice” twice. Ahhhh. . . . Here’s a photo of me and Don.

Also recently I tried a new vegetable- acorn squash. I have seen them in the grocery, but never tried it before. My friend Steph posted a link on her blog with a simple recipe so I decided to try it. I must admit, acorn squash was very yummy! You should check out Steph’s blog for yummy recipes.

Tuck recently had a big first. In preparing for Thanksgiving, I felt really guilty about leaving him with other people so often this year. So, since Southwest Airlines recently changed their policy regarding pets, allowing animals aboard flights, I decided Tuck would come along for Thanksgiving. For the first time in his life (that I know of at least), Tuck got to spend lots of time in a crate and flew. The flight out was relatively uneventful, minus the three times Tuck busted out of the cage and decided to try to wander around. Luckily the people sitting around me thought he was cute and wanted to play with him. He was much happier when we got in the car with his grand-people.

May you have a happy Thanksgiving filled with a few firsts!

Things I’ve Learned

Sarah — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:44:00 +0000

As it turns out, death is certainly a process. Practically and philosophically speaking. In true blogger form- here are the things I’ve learned (all serious, some intended to be funny, so it’s ok to laugh):

Funerals are expensive. Probably unnecessarily so. But who’s going to question the prices or shop around at a time like that?
It only takes a phone call to withdraw someone from school when they die.
HOWEVER- it takes a complete medical history, copy of the death certificate, funeral director’s mother’s maiden name, your right arm, left leg, and a pound of flesh to fly in for the funeral. Seriously- Read my friend Shannon’s blog about my attempt at flying home. Then, NEVER fly Delta or Northwest, or any of their partner airlines again. I forbid it.
I will always write, “no card” or “n/c” in the guest book at a funeral. The idea of writing all those thank you cards is completely overwhelming.
Also, I pledge to not bring fried chicken when someone dies. Someone probably already has. Any variety of potato is always safe though.
It is REALLY easy to figure out what your unhealthy stress coping mechanism is. My mom smokes. I eat. A lot. And sleep a lot. Which is a really bad combination. I’ll be joining Bearcycle when I return for sure.
The things people do things for you, like bring you food, send flowers, hugs, tears, and prayers mean a lot more than they think they do.
Bubbly people might consider a class in appropriateness. Ask me about my Dad’s call to the benefit’s people at Toyota.

I might have more to add to this list later. I am grateful for all the prayers, calls, texts, flowers, cards, etc from those in our lives over the last 6 days (hard to believe it hasn’t even been a week). I am also glad to be in a family where we can cry and laugh together. Richard was a much bigger fan of laughter and joy than tears, so it seems fitting to remember to laugh. Here is a link to some pictures I put up on Facebook. He was clearly more photogenic than I was or am. Thank you all for praying for my family- it really does make a difference.