4/6

Numbers 3 through 6 so far…but the change is definitely for the better.

Family

I did a dance party with my Holly girl and after way too many songs, this is the one she got excited by…and, frankly, same girl, same. 

Family, singing in the kitchen

Family, running through the yard

Family, going on vacation

Family, on the credit card

Family, all in this together

Family, we're taking a chance

Family, like birds of a feather

Family, kick off your shoes and dance

Family, on the way to the city

Family, laughing in the rain

Family, it ain't always pretty

Family, can drive you insane

Family, got the keys to the kingdom

Family, take it a la carte

Family, all four seasons

Family, well bless your heart

You don't choose em, you can't lose em

We all have a song to sing

Some are crazy, some are amazing

All got a little bit of everything

Family, sons and daughters

Family, like a photograph

Family, baptized in the water

Family, put me on the map

Family, all in this together

Family, we're taking a chance

Family, like birds of a feather

Family, kick off your shoes and dance

Your shoes and dance

Kick off your shoes and dance

When worlds collide…

But not really. I need to find a better way to express…when all the best parts of your past and present gel together and you get to sit back and enjoy the show.

When I find better words, I'll be back, until then, enjoying the awesome.

Bad, Gina, No!!

Thank you to the friends who roll up a virtual newspaper and smack you on the snoot. Nice hair will be forever kryptonite.

Bad Gina. Bad!!

Success achieved

"To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." 

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Love language

If I picked one, my language or talent, I managed to pick a potpourri.

This weekend, I pulled off an epic dual extravaganza. My BIL, is a great dude, who is not used to having a spotlight shone on him.

I decided that needed to change. So, for 2+ years I listened to him and I took notes. I finally got to change this knowledge into a trivia game + music.

It was epic. He was happy. I affirmed that making people feel special is my superpower.

Core memory unlocked

Flash back to the 1900s, senior week in OC, two girls in beach chairs outside their rental next to overflowing recycling. Drinking cocktails, smoking cigarettes, listening to the Dazed and Confused soundtrack and laughing uncontrollably.

Current day, the same two women (technically), still in OC, outside a family shore house. The chairs are more comfortable and upgraded with ottomans. There's even a dog... Drinking wine and singing way too loud to Taylor Swift and every genre of music from the 50s through today. Applauding when a neighbor fantastically parallel parks in a tight space. Laughing uncontrollably.

I realized recently that a big red flag for me is people who don't have long-term friendships. Is it unusual to be so close to people that you've known for decades? Maybe... but there's something awesome about that. 

For starters, they accept you for who you are. They've been with you through it all - held your hair when you were sick, held your hand when life was falling apart, high-fived that same hand when something awesome happened.

Equally important is that they know who you are. There is no hiding. I'm where I am today because of these people... they never let my head get too big or too small. This is all predominantly led by nonstop teasing and shenanigans, but the love shines through.