The one with the perfect opportunity

Today looked much different than it did three years ago, although the colors of the season were much the same. I tried to make it as ordinary a day as possible. 

At some point today I came to the conclusion that just because I’m single does not mean that I am not capable of doing the things that I want to do. I would now like to share how I acted on this conclusion, this epiphany.

I went to a movie by myself. I, of course, loaded up my purse with snacks from home before leaving. I was able to enjoy some circus peanuts and M&M’s while watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2. I always talked about wanting to go to a movie by myself, but for various reasons never actually did. What a perfect opportunity today was for me to do it.

For as lonely as I feel sometimes and as often as I yearn for someone to share my daily life with, I like being by myself. I like making my own plans, I like having my own timetable, and I like making my own decisions (as scary as they may be). For now, I enjoy being with myself.

Here’s to the next film I will take myself to see. Cheers!

The one Inspired by Coldplay, Glee, Midas, and Homecoming Season (and Cory)

When I was much younger I used to picture Heaven as a place of gold. Streets of gold, gates of gold, thrones of gold, shoes of gold, clouds of gold.  I pictured it more as a place that Midas had touched than a place of being eternally in the presence of God.

I used to think of all the things I would see in Heaven, all the lights and all the gold. I rarely thought of all the reuniting that arriving there would bring.  Even with being around my Aunt and both of my Cook Grandparents as they died and listening to their jumbled speech of all those from their pasts that they were seeing again, I rarely thought about what that would look like when it was my turn. I think getting to Heaven is like a homecoming.  And way better than any high school or college homecoming- although there is usually a fair amount of gold and glitter at those.

Moving back home has helped me to paint a picture of what I think getting to Heaven will look like- the homecoming. Before I moved home I felt as though my life had ended and that I was no longer living. I thought the light I was seeing was that of the Hereafter, not those leading me Home.  The adjustment was extremely difficult, but the way the lights guided me and the way my beloveds embraced me and my return gave me hope. They asked my story, wanted to fix and encourage my situation, and listened in a way as to say that time was of no importance.

Although I have no way to know what Heaven actually looks like, this is what I believe getting there looks like. I believe that upon arrival to Heaven we will be greeted by the ones we used to share life with and that tears will stream down our faces. I have always heard, “No tears in Heaven”, but I’m not so sure about that.

I believe that once reunited, we will share what we were worth, what ignited our bones, what we lost and couldn’t replace, the times we loved and it went to waste, the times we got what we wanted but not what we needed, and the things we learned from our mistakes.

Lights will guide us home, whether high up above or down below.

The one with Temple and Dharma

A year ago this time I was in St. Louis playing Bananagrams with these girls and meeting Temple Grandin.

I also met Dharma for the first time and happily accepted her into my world.

This is a picture of her first days with me.

Tonight she got to enjoy a nice treat from Three Dog Bakery as a way to celebrate still being with me.

I love you Dharma Orchid Gallion! You'll always be my baby bear.