The Boys of Fall

Both boys are starting Jesuit tomorrow morning, one as a sophomore and one as a freshman (Kiddo).  As I was driving in this morning, The Boys of Fall by Kenny Chesney came on and the emotions it brought on were surprising.

The sophomore is going into his second year of wearing the gold helmet on the field.  I have talked about Friday Night Lights before, until this year, he was who we were there to cheer for, there to pray for.  He is kicking butt and taking names, and comes home every night with new bruises that make me cringe.  But the next day, he is ready to go at it again.  This year, Kiddo started his newest chapter as the manager for Jesuit Football.  He is on the side lines, not in a gold helmet, but just as much a part of the team.  He is learning the plays, analyzing the films, watching his fellow players to ensure they don't lose too much weight during the practices, working out with them in the weight room.  He would love to be on that field but it's not his strength, his is in the knowledge rather then execution. Both my boys are Boys of Fall literally through the song and I couldn't be more proud of them.

However, that is not what moved me this morning.  Yesterday was Vos Parates where Kiddo picks up his name tag as is the tradition for freshman and both boys got their school pictures taken.  Imagine 700+ boys in white button downs and ties from the waist up and athletic shorts and flips flops or sneakers from the waist down.  That was the scene yesterday.  I got to see my boys interact in the halls with their buddies, new and old.  Laughing with each other, chilling out on the hall benches (there are benches everywhere for the boys to hang out on and even in the 10 minutes I was in the school saving their nice shirts & ties from the locker room they managed to 'chill'), running through the halls rowdy, and the new ones learning the ropes.  Each of the boys are the boys of fall to me right now.  They are starting a new year, a new challenge.  Some are just in the beginning of their high school dream while others are seeing the 4 years come to fruition.  

My brother spent 2 years in those halls, and now my boys are spending their four years there.  They are dreaming big and ready to take on the world.  They want the ball - whether it be the football, or just the challenge of new friends, new classes, new clubs, everything the year will bring.  Yes, they all have butterflies about what the year is going to bring, even if they won't admit it.  They all have each other's back - you mess with one man, you've got them all.  They are the Boys of Fall.

Good luck Jesuit Men - you are now and always will be Men for Others.

Insert Happy Sigh Here

Just watched a daddy dance with his chocolate lab puppy much to the laughter and joy of his adorable daughter.  I remember those Joe Cool days...they always bring a smile to my face, not matter how bad the day is.

Today I challenge all of you to find one happy sigh moment - and for you overachievers?  Find more than one.  They are out there, sometimes you just have to take a moment and open your eyes.

Thanks Daddy.

Pause

This morning - as I sit outside my window office (I went for a run and well, I sweat and probably smell so was trying to be nice to the others inside) - I am watching the high schoolers on the football field and runners on the practice field and paused to think of just how lucky I am.  The weather is beautiful today (a breezy 79 degrees in Texas IN AUGUST!!!!), I have my water and green tea and am just at peace.  Yes, I am working, yes, there there is a lot of work to do and the moment that the younger one is done with football the craziness of the day will start but for this next hour?  I get to work and listen to the surrounding music of the area.  With my green tea.  And my water.  

What happens when the power cord is gone

Live from my journal, the only 'computer' I had at the time...


Twice a week, I work from my 'window office' - a small table at a major coffee house across from the kiddos' school.  We can debate on if this is a true coffee house or not later.

Usually, I get a lot of work done, almost more than when I am in my cube, but today, my computer failed me and wouldn't boot up.  Of course, the power cord is gone - who knows where as we have 5 laptops in the house with different power cords so it should not vanish by I digress (typical, I know and yes, I have found it since...at the office).  Back to my point, due to the technology fail, I got to sit back with my decaf green tea and bottled water - leave me alone, our lakes are down so the facet water tastes like dirt & I will recycle, or use it as a bug killing jar, I promise - and observe.  Now, I have no doubt that I do ridiculous things people observe all the time so this is in no way judgement.  Everyone should be happy with themselves, and it takes all types...

1. A lime green Lamborghini - because you don't stand out enough in that car, let's make it lime green down to the rims; the rims really looked cool.
2. A women letting her cockapoo drive her BMW with the paws on the wheel and everything
3. No less than 20 GQ wannabes each hour.  You know the type, shiny sunglasses wearing the latest 'hipster' clothes that aren't hipster as 19 others are wearing them.
4. People just coming off a run looking like they are about to pass out (it is VERY hot here) but holding onto that extra hot latte as if it was gold. Been there.
5. That guy - in the perfectly ironed shirt, tailored pants and flip flops. Oh dear, he just drove away in a Prius.
6. Other moms patiently waiting in their window office for their kiddo no doubt making mental lists of all the things they could be getting done if not there BUT loving their children so much they wait.
7. The 3rd Bible study group this week.
8. The smiley Batista whose mind I blew by ordering a decaf tea instead of a black double shot drip.
9. SMU/Texas/A&M/OU/OSU fans, those who know recognize that I don't need to say anything else about that.
10. Those people post workout who are still in full make-up and perfect hair.  Really? Maybe I am jealous because I end workouts looking like death by whatever.
11. All black with white shoes or all white with black shoes.  Reminds me I need to polish my red shoes.
12. A Priest from the parish across the street that the Batista seems to know.  Very cool guy, he stops at some of the Bible study groups even though they are not Catholic.
13. A grandpa and his son that I see every week.  Last week, Grandpa used me to teach the boy about wireless technology and being able to work from anywhere.  It reminds me of the younger kiddo's trips with his Grandma to said coffee shop that have continued to this day.  Even in Paris.

I could go on, goodness knows I can talk, by why?  My point is that I love people - all people.  It takes all of us to make this world work so let's all rock our inner person & have fun with life.  This coming from the mom in the window office with a white skirt & aqua shoes scribbling in a journal instead of using her computer - what a nut job.

Update this morning...two men just walked by and I heard one say to the other "She's here every week -normally inside, she must love this weather today."  I am on the list too:)

It has many uses

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.

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!

Run for the Roses

I think I have mentioned it before, but I moved quite a few times growing up.  Once we moved back to the United States my mother unknowingly started a tradition for me when things get rough.  In one move I remember particularly, she held me (nope - didn't like being touched way back then but in this case, it was perfect) and started singing Dan Fogelbergs's Run for the Roses.  While the song is about horse racing, and specifically the Kentucky horses, the lyrics hit home. 


Run for the roses, as fast as you can
Your fate is delivered, your moment's at hand.
It's the chance of a lifetime, in a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined in the dance,
It's high time you joined in the dance.


These words struck me even more this weekend as I was telling this story to some of my wonderful friends as any time things get tough, I sing that son to myself.

Lately, a number of great things happened.  Many of my friends and family ran for their own roses, took their chance and danced without even knowing it.   The kiddo finished his last track meet and set personal records & this last weekend took 4th place in the state of Texas for speaking; a friend finished a long journey of 390 miles for those who need help; others completed races, some their first, some covered in mud not just sweat; some realized that they have so many friends who love them that they danced because they can. The stories can go on...

I danced many times this week spending times with friends and family (a quick high in the garage to lunches of celebration), running early in the morning (something I couldn't do a year ago!), having fun night cheering for the home team (even if the basketball we saw doesn't deserve mention the company does!).  Tomorrow morning I will be dancing my way through Heels & Hills, getting up before the sun to spend time with my friends and beating our own personal records.

All of these things, and many more that I didn't list, remind me to keep joining in the dance, even if you have two left feet.  It might be scary, and you might not reach every goal right away that you set for yourself but the time is now.  My friends, run for the roses - it is worth the effort so join in the dance.

P.S.  Thanks Mom.