The Leader of the Pack

I need to tell you about my amazingly creative friend, Michaela.
Michaela and I have been friends most of our lives.  In fact, she has a birthday card that I sent to her for her first birthday.  (yeah, I'm that good... or, my mom is anyway!)

We were the type of friends who could be completely goofy together.  I mean, sing-into-a-hairbrush-while-holding-a-glass-of-soapy-water-to-pose-for-a-picture goofy.  Yep, I just admitted to that.  Oh well.
Anyway, in Kindergarten, Michaela and I began dreaming about the day when we would be in high school and in the cool music group that performed for the whole school at the end of the year, hamming it up.  We just knew that when we were big kids, we'd sing "Eternal Flame" by the Bangles for our big number in the group.  I guess that's where we got started scheming about this bit.

Fast forward to our senior year.  Michaela, who had a huge soft-spot for oldies, decided that this song HAD to be our big performance of the year.  Being best friends and all, naturally I jumped on the band wagon with her.  Our friend Jera jumped on the wagon, too, and amazingly we talked a guy friend into wearing a leather jacket and riding a bike (although my memory is telling me it was a tricycle) around the stage, completing the effect.  Don't worry, we had awesome matching outfits, classic bob wigs, choreographed dance moves - we went all out.  That is why, to this day, I cannot hear this song without a big smile and fond memories of the amazing powers of friendship.

autumn

i carry with me the clearest, sharpest memories of simpler times.
as a child ...
when it's a warm day in a cold month, playing outside and the leaves are gone and the grass is like straw and i'm waiting... for relatives i've never met before, or not that i remember, and i am certain that we are going to have a wonderful visit...

when it's thanksgiving, and it's nice enough to wear that summer dress, the knee length one with the blue flowers, and i'm walking to my grandma's house...

when i'm at home, at only the age of 3 or maybe 4 and i'm lying between the curtain and the sliding glass window, in the sunshine, looking up and out at the trees...

now i'm 25 and i'm sitting on the couch, staring out the window at the beautiful colors of fall, and i remember so many years before, with the bright autumn colors and the sunshine and the cool breeze...
breathe it in... this life... it's meant for living.
remember who you are and where you came from - remember whose you are, and where you are going... you can steer.