Anyone who has even read the description behind the title of this blog (Suitcases Open Doors) has figured out that I have lived a pretty eclectic and cool life. I was lucky growing up and experienced a lot of the finer side of things that most people never imagine. It was life, the hand we were dealt so to speak. It rocked.
In all the awesome, fun, challenging, adventurous challenges in my life I never thought I would be excited to see my son come in with a bug net full of a beautiful, complete cicada and know exactly where the killing jar was. In my pantry. Right between the coffee and Aunt Jemima Pancake mix. In case you wonder, it is a mason jar and now has NO FOOD EVER - BUG JAR written on it in permanent marker. You know, in case one of the teenagers decides one day it is a glass.
Words to live by? Freshman at Jesuit high schools need bugs and killing jars. I recommend keeping a mason jar in the pantry just in case.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
It's been a while - again.
This year has been full of changes for our little family unit and it all culminated in an amazing graduation trip to Paris with the kiddo . We walked all day everyday looking at anything and everything we could. Some of it was on a map, but most was very off map (maps annoy me so I don't tend to follow them). Ten glorious days without a computer other than the old Mac in the lobby of the hotel (which I did get on twice) and my cell phone although even that was limited as I turned off the sync function so I couldn't get email. I thought about blogging all about it but clearly didn't and am not sure I ever will.
The break from technology was great and something I will do again on my next vacation. Europeans are very good at taking holiday as they call it - a true break from work, time to simply enjoy their family and friends. We ran into friends while there, the kiddo got to spend a whole day with a buddy touring Versailles and the Paris metro system. I am not sure which was more educational, the metro experience or Versailles! He has since told us more than once that spending time with his buddy was one of his favorite days of the whole trip.
Well, that got me thinking. We have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. all these avenues where 'friends' follow us or check on us or, let's be honest here, stalk us. How lucky are we to have friends that want to know what is going on in our lives? Very of course. But how much luckier are we when we have friends that want to spend time with us, even if that means finding 12 hours in a foreign country because there was no time at home? Spending time with family and friends is what life should really be all about.
Now comes the part where I change my mind come full circle. I am not suggesting that everyone has to take a foreign vacation to spend time with friends, sometimes it is as simple as sending a note, FBing a status or texting a smile (there it is, the technology that I took a break from yet suggest you use now). Life is crazy and sometimes that is all you have time for - everyone knows that - vacations are few and far between. This week I challenge everyone, myself included, to send a smile to someone you like/love and that you haven't had time to see/spend time with - don't wait for your Paris. Use the technology we have (yup, full circle - it's my blog so you should all be used to that by now). And if you get a smile, send one back...you never know, the person may enjoy it as much as you do!
The break from technology was great and something I will do again on my next vacation. Europeans are very good at taking holiday as they call it - a true break from work, time to simply enjoy their family and friends. We ran into friends while there, the kiddo got to spend a whole day with a buddy touring Versailles and the Paris metro system. I am not sure which was more educational, the metro experience or Versailles! He has since told us more than once that spending time with his buddy was one of his favorite days of the whole trip.
Well, that got me thinking. We have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. all these avenues where 'friends' follow us or check on us or, let's be honest here, stalk us. How lucky are we to have friends that want to know what is going on in our lives? Very of course. But how much luckier are we when we have friends that want to spend time with us, even if that means finding 12 hours in a foreign country because there was no time at home? Spending time with family and friends is what life should really be all about.
Now comes the part where I change my mind come full circle. I am not suggesting that everyone has to take a foreign vacation to spend time with friends, sometimes it is as simple as sending a note, FBing a status or texting a smile (there it is, the technology that I took a break from yet suggest you use now). Life is crazy and sometimes that is all you have time for - everyone knows that - vacations are few and far between. This week I challenge everyone, myself included, to send a smile to someone you like/love and that you haven't had time to see/spend time with - don't wait for your Paris. Use the technology we have (yup, full circle - it's my blog so you should all be used to that by now). And if you get a smile, send one back...you never know, the person may enjoy it as much as you do!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)