I live for these phone calls from my brother. They are precious and so uplifting to hear from him.
This week, I got two; one on Thanksgiving to tell me that he got his birthday package, he turned 24 yesterday. If you know him, please, please send him a birthday email. If you don't have his email, post a comment and I will send it to you!
The nerds that I sent him were a kick with all the kids at the school that he teaches! I plan to send more candy for him to handout when he gets my Christmas package.
Today, I got my second phone call thanking me for his presents and that he loved me.
That one day my house will be full with people for the holidays and where I am in the kitchen for days preparing delicious and scrumptious food! I think that it will be a while before I see that dream come to its fullness, but it is there in my mind.
This Thanksgiving, I had a dear friend, S, come up from Atlanta. I was invited to a few people's homes for Thanksgiving, but I really just wanted a quiet time in my own house, since I am rarely here. Well, it was not a house full of people, but I still got in the kitchen and made turkey breast marinated in olive oil, onions, garlic, rosemary and basil (it was soooooo yummy), homemade macaroni and chesse, green bean casarole, rolls, and my famous apple pie. S and I had a wonderful time just laying back talking, watching a few movies and just being us. There was no one asking us the daunting questions: what do you actually do?, are you dating anyone?, can I introduce you to?, etc.
In all reality, I think that this has been the most relaxing Thanksgiving I have had in a long time. It was a blessed time!
How can one person generate so much laundry? Someone, please explain that to me.
A few movies that I hope will help me post-surgery:
Godfather
Kill Bill I & II
Leaving Las Vegas
Bridget Jones Diary - I have already seen this but want to get refreshed for the sequel
Shrek 2
Dumb & Dumber
Citizen Cane
The Piano
There is something weird about Nashville and semis! I drive to Nashville quite frequently (every week to two weeks) and I usually leave in the evening so that I can just get to the hotel and go to sleep. Wihtout fail, everytime I drive to Nashville in the evenings, there is some major accident involving a semi. It usually takes me about 2 1/2 hours to get to downtown Nashville from my apartment. Twice I have been stuck in horrible traffice and it has taken me about 5 hours to get here.
Last night was no different, except that the accident was on the other side of the freeway. At least, I was not caught up in it, but I felt really bad for everyone that was backed up for about 10 miles or so. Looks like a semi flipped over, caught on fire and send a few cars in the divider!
I have to tell you, that I am always nervous driving next to semis between Nashville and Memphis. They are just too crazy!!!
Since I will have a lot of time of my hands during my recovery period, I have decided to take advantage of this and try to watch some movies that I have been meaning to watch.
So, I am wondering what everyone's favorite or must see movies are? I would love to pull together a list of some great movies and would love some help on this.
A few that are on my list are on my list so far: The Godfather, Citizen Cane, Grapes of Wrath, Silence of the Lambs, and a few recent ones.
It has been about three months since I last saw my brother before he left to go overseas. I cannot even begin to describe all the feelings that I have gone through the months leading to his departure and the months since I last saw him.
First of all, I am quite proud of all that he has accomplished and has a vision for in life. I will be the first to admit that I do not think that I could live in a foreign country, trying to make a change for future generations and say good bye to loved ones and friends; nevermind that he is living in a dangerous part of the word.
But, I have also realized how deep my love goes for him. I guess the saying is true that you don't really realize what you have or feel until it is gone. Why is that? Why can't we appreciate and love fully when that person is in our presence? Yes, I miss our daily phone calls about nothing...what new hole in the wall restaurant we found.......how to find a destination because he got lost for the 10,000th time..........how I can't stand his black/while checkered sneakers........etc. Somehow, all that nothing really was something.
I have got past the point of counting the days that I last saw him; rather, I am now counting the months until I see him and pray that I will be there the next time he calls my cell phone for a quick 5 minute conversation.
I have found that there are two things that always make me feel better and help me sort through my feelings:
1) Cleaning my house
2) Drinking a glass of wine while cooking dinner for myself
In the past couple of years, I have stepped back and noticed how more calm I have become, especially in the past year. As I was driving home tonight from Nashville, I was thinking about this and wondering why things don't really bother me too much anymore.
I think that part of the reason comes from situations that have caused me to step back and know that I am not in control. Rather, I just need to take one step at a time, have faith in God and allow Him to be in control - from health issues to saying goodbye to my brother to moving to Memphis to work to everything that comes up in my life.
My friends often comment that my life is one big soap opera - meaning that there is always something going on, usually not great stuff. I guess, in a way, that is true; but, I have also learned to be thankful for what is always going well. We must be able to see the goodness in every situation, no matter how bleak it may be.
So, for now, I am grateful for letters from my brother, knowing that I will have a skilled surgeon on December 1st, and that family and friends are only a phone call away.
If you have not had the oppurtunity to watch The Pianist, I highly recommend it.
While it is a story that is full of pain, there is a beautiful ending that brings an unexpected hope and joy. The music is, of course, phenonemal, which drew me to the movie; I have been listening to the soundtrack for sometime now. Adrien Brody did an outstanding job in showing the turmoil that he was feeling trying to escape, but also the internal turmoil that he was going through with being seperated from his family and his true love - playing the piano.
I don't want to give away too much here, but please take the time to see this movie and add it to your move club!!