Timeless Truths

I've been studying Lord Byron for this unit of my class, and he's purely fascinating.

I love his writing -- so beautifully written, yet full of so many thought-provoking and deeply true sentiments. His characters in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Manfred are both on a search for comfort, for relief from their past. They've lost the women they loved, and they've lost the acceptance and joy they once knew.

And his life, wow. He became popular immediately after his first piece was released, and he was the first author to embrace fame like that. He was virtually the first-ever celebrity, complete with people following him around and everything. Rumors flew about him, and this led to his separation from his wife. He even had to flee the country to escape all of the negativity. He ended up settling in Greece and got caught up in their war for independence before he died.

Fascinating.

The thing I love most about reading classics like this is seeing the timeless truths of emotions and experiences. The ideas of losing love, seeking acceptance and joy again, and lesson-filled journeys still surround us today and even make up a bulk of our thoughts, stresses, and life in general. How awesome to be able to pick up a piece written nearly 200 years ago and find words that still speak for our hearts and minds today.

I leave you today with a stanza from Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Canto 3.

Could I embody and unbosom now

That which is most within me, -- could I wreak

My thoughts upon expression, and thus throw

Soul, heart, mind, passions, feelings, strong or weak,

All that I would have sought, and all I seek,

Bear, know, feel, and yet breathe -- into one word,

And that one word were Lightning, I would speak;

(lines 905-911)

Real Time And Conversations

I had the gift of spending a bunch of time with 3 of the girls I adore so, so much -- my cousins Jess, Jenna, and Jordan.When I'm home, I spend as much time as possible with my family, but really I think these girls get the most. I talk about them quite a bit, and I'll probably talk about them a lot more before The Big Move, too.

Friday: shopping, errand-running, and ice-cream getting (minus Jen). [Okay, so the ice cream was a bribe for Jor, who does have a fair amount of patience (sometimes) for a 9 yr old, but even a 9 yr old can understand the value of ice cream in exchange for stretching her patience and good behavior a liiiiittle longer. And it was THE most colossal ice cream cone I'd ever seen. There were at least 4 scoops in that baby!]

(Jor and I talking about The Big Move as we shop)

Jor: Why are you moving there? Isn't it cold?

Me: What?

Jor: Yeah, aren't there mountains and snow and everything?

Me: You're thinking Uh-Laska. I'm moving to Nuh-braska. No mountains there.

Jor: Oh, yeah! (thinks for a minute) But you went to Alaska once, right?

Me: Yes, yes I did.

Saturday: sleepover with the girls at our aunt and uncle's where I was animal-sitting (Thanks, Uncle Vic and Lizard!). Picking 2 movies and getting popcorn and candy to go with it. Making it through one movie. Singing and dancing. Jess joining us. More dancing. Hunting for the rumored second cat, Lucy, with no luck. TV watching together. Dropping off to sleep, one by one. Learning just how little bedspace you get when sharing a bed with a dog, a cat, and a little girl simultaneously.

(Jen's watching TV in the other bedroom...and I can't remember what Jess said/what I said...)

Jen: I'm hungry!

Jess/Me: So get something to eat.

Jen: I can't!

Jess/Me: Why not?

Jen: Because I can't pause the TV!!

Jess/Me: We call that 'old school technology'. We couldn't pause TV when we were growing up, and we survived!

Today: slow to wake up. Watch the girls tirelessly play ball with the dog. Homework after they go home. Jess keeping me company while I cook. Baby playtime break at her house. Back to the house to hang out until Uncle Vic comes home. Head home to my own bed.

A fantastic weekend with my girls. :)

~"Cousins are different beautiful flowers in the same garden." [-Anonymous]~

Conquering the Cranky McCrankypants Feeling

I have been cranky all evening. I could pinpoint some of the reasons (like a long and drawn out Coleridge biographical article that's nowhere as interesting as his life actually was...), but the bottom line is that I know the real problem is needing to just take some time to be still.

Awake,

still,

and calm.

Rational.

One of my favorite things about being back home is rediscovering so many of the little things I'd forgotten about. One of them is a piece of paper with my great-great-aunt's writing on it that I have tucked on a shelf so I see it frequently.

Think, thank, plan and pray and get going.

Thanks for reminding me, Aunt Mill. Days like this are when I need it the most.

(Part 2:) The World In Me

A continuation of yesterday's post, based off of yesterday's quote.

f r i e n d s

like

f a m i l y...

totally twins.

partners in crime.

some of my oldest friends.

the reason for the season. ;)

love those Schmidt boys!

these guys keep me grounded.

this boy loves peanut butter almost as much as i love our friendship. almost.

one of our last gigs while all of us were still at cuc.

two of the most beautiful women i know.

mama lisha!

big brother on the carousel at the mall. :)

gotta love a trip to Madison with Ls.

silly string fights were just the beginning.

~"Because I knew you, I have been changed for good." ["For Good" - Wicked]~