These Happy Golden Years

So last weekend, C checked those books out at the library (they were out of "Weeds of the West" see, and she needed suitable back-up). I realized that I haven't read the adventures of Laura Ingalls in probably close to a decade. I ate them up. And I always forget how expressive of a reader I am. I go from my little half-smile, to grinning, all the way to breaking down in sobs in not very much time at all. Squealing happens also. It was kind of an adventure for my roommates who had never seen me read a for-fun book before.

So the moral of the story is, that I definitely should have been living way-back-when ago. I'm reasonably certain that it would have been a lot more conducive to my personality. And life perspective. But alas, I am a woman of the 21st century. So I'll have to struggle through the mire of wearing pants. And being able to work. And getting paid. It's so inconvenient that now we have to go to college, get an education. Bah. Not to mention voting... I mean who wants to do that? Getting all politically involved and all. Next thing you know, my family is going to be a band, going to the democratic convention to get Grover Cleveland re-elected (again).

Also, I've sort of been realizing lately just how grumpy I've been. I feel bad. Every time I talk to my poor parents it's complaining about how I don't know what I'm doing with my life. While valid, it doesn't mean I need to bring it up all the time. I think it's just that I've been so busy, that I don't have time to do or think about anything other than my unplanned life. So, since it's the only thing on my mind, it's basically the only thing I can talk about.

But you know what? Right now really is these happy golden years. Just because I'm sleepy, and grumpy (and dopey, sneezey, bashful, happy, and ... doc) more than half the time, doesn't mean that there aren't great, wonderful, fabulous things going on all the time. Even just regular things. Like my family. They're wonderful. Beyond. And C? She's there for me basically always. Work is great, it loves me and I love it. I'm learning lots of interesting things in class. My religion professor is an Egyptologist (which kind of brings me full circle to 3rd grade). I have friends everywhere I go. I have people who are concerned about me, and people who are looking out for me. I'm super lucky. I mean, the test questions on exams that happen to be things I already knew when I didn't have time to study? Like geography. They throw an essay question asking me to analyze the differences between different types of religious Architecture in Europe. Basically the luckiest person ever. Not to mention my Bishop. He's also pretty much my therapist. I get to watch my nephews and niece grow up--and they're amazingly cute. I have scriptures. I get to learn. Did you know that learning is one of my most favorite things? I get to do it all the time here! I get to travel, make plans, make friendships, make time, make food, make mistakes! Life is golden, I need to enjoy it while I can and stop waiting for the next part of my life to begin. "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays." - Professor Harold Hill

"Day by day, minute by minute, second by second we went from where we were to where we are now ...Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes.

This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." - TSM

Be grateful for what I have while I have it. Enjoy everything. Love life.