Make sure you check out the National Book Festival if you’re in the city today. It’s held on the Mall in front of the Capital between 7th and 14th Streets from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. I want to head there after class. I’m not sure who I’m more excited to see: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, or Ken Burns.
What are you excited to do this weekend?
…and I’m back.
Friends, today was a lesson in going with the flow. You see, someone, in his or her wisdom, closed E Street and Independence Avenue this morning. And an hour and a half after traffic came to a halt on the Virginia side of the bridge, I got to the DC side of the bridge.
Keep in mind that I only live four miles from my school, so I’d alloted about forty minutes to get to class. Usually, that would get me there with 20 minutes to spare.
But after what will be known as the “bridge incident,” I arrived at the parking garage near my school, only to find that it was full due to a wedding. I should mention it’s the only garage there open on Saturdays.
And that is when I called Andrea, who saved the day and found me a place in her neighborhood. Thank you!
So I parked and was only an hour-and-a-half late for my two-hour-and-fifteen-minute class. Nice!
What is the point of my story? It’s not what happens on a given day but how you handle it that makes a difference. For instance, this morning was made better by:
- gorgeous weather and a sunroof
- Ryan Seacrest’s Top 40 and Homer’s sound system
- lunch with Andrea and her husband Brian
- a good nap
And while I did not make it to the book festival (would you want to go after it made you so late?), the day was pretty great anyway.
How do you cope with stress?
So, I really like Glamour magazine, and this month’s issue is particularly good.
There’s Erin’s column, which I always enjoy (so hopeful). There’s a story on women in the Congo, and some of the folks who are trying to help them (I can’t seem to find a link to the article, so you’ll just have to borrow my copy of the magazine. Warning: not for the faint of heart). And there’s an article that asks readers what they believe — mantras, mottos and some goofy stuff, too.
Which got me thinking: what do I believe? And my best answer is: “Sometimes, what you want and what you need are two different things. Living life means learning the difference.”
Oh! Here’s another: “All life situations parallel an episode of Friends or Sex in the City.”
What do you believe?
My friends, I am back! I know I’ve neglected you, and I’m sorry. Personally, I blame work. And school. And life.
But enough about that — has anything exciting happened to you in the past week or so?
A very Happy Birthday to my mom, Midgie! Actually in fact, her birthday is tomorrow, but we par-tay today.
Dad, Daisy, Madison, Rosie, the Boy Child and I love you very much!
A big howdy and hello to the new folks in “Intro to the Digital Age!” I think you’ll find this is one of the best classes in the program. Enjoy it — I look forward to reading your blogs!
It strikes me that so much has happened in the past year: new marriages. New jobs. And very soon, a new baby. Some sad things have happened, too, but I choose to focus on the good.
Life is so precious, and it can be filled with such joy. I even think the joy can be elective. So think of at least one thing that will make your life better, and make it happen. Maybe that’s starting a family. Maybe that’s going to school. Maybe that’s facing your biggest obstacle, and realizing it’s not as insurmountable as you thought.
What will you do?
Six years later, the pain isn’t lessened, the heroism isn’t forgotten, and the senselessness isn’t any easier to understand. But we love more, and we protect one another more, and we hope that, someday, our children will know something more.
