Sunday, February 24, 2008

MY SIX WORD LIFE

I was just catching up on a little blog reading this afternoon and came across something Chilihead posted about ten days ago on her blog Don't Try This At Home. Inspired by the book Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure, which was edited by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser, Chilihead asked her readers,

"Could you summarize your life in six words?
Have you lived enough that six words would do?"

Well...that got me to thinking a little bit.
So very few words that say SO much...
It made me think of various times in my life. How could those time periods each be summed up into six words? Was I proud of the six words that fit me best? Sometimes yes, other times...definitely not.

As a baby and toddler...
"Inquisitive and fearless, requires little sleep."
My parents told me that I stopped taking naps before six months. I also once climbed from my high chair in a restaurant and walked over to some man and climbed in his lap. My parents were mortified. It was some random man and his wife that I had seen earlier in the day.

As a young girl...
"Bossy big sister, not always nice."
Oh my word! I could be so mean to Thing 2. Luckily, all is forgiven, and we are very close!

As a junior high student...
"Sweating the small stuff each day."
I used to worry about everything - I still struggle with that. A teacher pulled me aside one day and told me, "Don't sweat the small stuff." I have never forgotten that moment.

As a high school student...
"Smart girl reads poetry, runs fast."
I was the valedictorian of my graduating class. I also was in competitive poetry reading and on the track team. Six words were not really enough to sum up high school, but those were the best ones.

As a college student...
"Small town girl conquers city life."
I moved from a very small town to what was a very big town for me. I loved my college years!

As a newlywed...
"Learning how to live as 'one'."
I love Mr. Brownstone so much, and I thank God everyday that he put up with me in the beginning!

As a new mommy...
"Diaper changing, milk making, baby entertainer."
I think that is all very self-explanatory!

A few short years ago...
"Struggling to find my place socially."
This is a tough one to share. For many years I struggled to make close friendships. God has truly, truly richly blessed me in this area in the time since. I know that I would not appreciate it nearly as much if I did not truly know what I was missing. When I found them, I knew that my friends were a gift from God.

Just last year...
"Too busy to simply enjoy life."
I said "yes" to so many projects that I could not enjoy any of them. It really spilled over into time with friends and family. This year, I learned how to say "no".

Today...
"Happy...husband, children, family, friends...Life."
This means exactly what it says...I am so happy. I love my husband, my children, my family, my friends...I love my LIFE. I use a capital L because it is to represent the "life" I receive from being a child of God.

I am so thankful that God gives us the opportunity to change not only our vocabulary, but the ability to change the way we live our lives!

There was one thing that kept popping into my head while trying to summarize my life into six words. Do you remember the old Sunday School adage?

Jesus first. Others second. Yourself last.

Count them.

Just imagine how JOY-ful the world could be like if this was the six word memoir for everyone!

What would your six word memoir be? Let me know in the comments!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

WELCOME BACK, BROWNSTONE!

Please sing out loud and proud to the tune of "Welcome Back", the memorable "Welcome Back, Kotter" theme song written and performed by John Sebastian.

Welcome back...
Obstructed lungs were what kept me gone.
Welcome back...
To that same old place I once blogged for fun.
Well, the numbers have all changed since I wasn't around;
But my thoughts have remained, and I'm writing them down.
Who'd have thought they'd lead ya...
Who'd have thought they'd lead ya...
Back here where I need ya?
Back here where I need ya?
Yeah, you emailed me a lot 'cause you'd bookmarked the spot
Welcome back!
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.

Welcome back...
I always knew I could spot a friend.
Welcome back...
And I fret when I think how you must have been
'Cause I know what a mystery that I left in.
Was there something that made you come back again?
What could ever lead ya...
What could ever lead ya...
Back here where I need ya?
Back here where I need ya?
Yeah, you emailed me a lot when I vanished from this spot ~
Welcome back!
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.

If you are too young to remember the tune of "Welcome Back", please do not rub it in too gleefully. If you are too young to have even heard of "Welcome Back, Kotter"...well, then you are definitely younger than me, and you missed out on a pre-Grease John Travolta, so I feel sorry for you!

Seriously...
If you are a repeat visitor, an avid reader, or an old friend, then "WELCOME BACK" to my blog! Thank you for your patience and for managing to find your way back here after my long absence. Was it "Just My Imagination", or did some of you actually miss me? I sincerely appreciate the comments and emails from those of you wondering where I was and if anything had happened. You truly were like a burst of "Sunshine On My Shoulders".

My absence began due to an asthma-related illness. (Just ask Lurch-Lady...first she said, "'Lean On Me'", and then she made me go to the doctor.
"That's What Friends Are For", right?) It was a "Nasty" couple of months for the old lungs, but I finally had to "Pick Up The Pieces", pull myself together, and say, "I Will Survive".

Never one for missed "Opportunities", I wished on a "Lucky Star", and then asked "Mr. Brownstone", "'Wouldn't It Be Good' if we could just get away from "Our House" and "Relax"?'
And Dear Readers..."Against All Odds" or not, "Don't Stop Believin'" because "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"! To my great delight, "Mr. Brownstone" said, "'Say, Say, Say', that's not a bad idea. I've been thinking that maybe we could go "Walking On Sunshine" and say "'Hey, Mickey'" while visiting Disney World." So...off we flew to Orlando. It was definitely a "Thriller" vacation, and I surely had the "Time Of My Life"!

If you are a new visitor, then quite simply "WELCOME"!!! I hope that you will "Never Say Goodbye". Please choose instead to return "Time After Time", and "Take On Me" in your blog reading! It just wouldn't be the same around here "Without You".

"Time For Me To Fly"...I've got two forces of nature to wrangle in for bedtime, which is a process that at times causes my head to spin "Round And Round"! Come 9:00 pm, I am usually ready to "Enjoy The Silence".

Now that we are "Reunited", look for another post soon because I am "Into The Groove" again, and it's time to get back to "The Way We Were". So..."Get Ready"! It's gonna be a "Madhouse" around here! Let's "Jump", "Shout", and "Rock The Casbah"! "Let's Go Crazy" and party like it's "1999"! After all, "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"!

And
since the theme here today is obviously "Songs from the 70's and 80's"...please, by all means, "Express Yourself"! I love comments!

"Best of My Love" ~
~ Mrs. Brownstone