Wednesday's Walk- A Ziplock of Pennies

In college my mom was faithful at sending two packages to me a year. One in the fall, and one in the "spring". I use spring loosely, because she would typically send it to me between my birthday and Valentine's Day.

I love surprises. Granted, the packages always contained a few specific items. Always cookies. Always supplies for school. Always some sort of food to hide away in my dorm room.

There were always the unexpected surprises. My dad would have the packages shipped from his warehouse. Since I would work there in the summers, I knew the people in the warehouse. They would be given the job of packaging it up and sending it out. Imagine my surprise when I received a package one time that had been foamed. By foamed, I don't mean those little foamy peanuts. I mean foam. That sprays out of a shower head thing into the box, and it's hot. And then it turns hard. It took several people several minutes to finally get that box open!

Turning 20 was what seemed to be a turning point. No more a "teenager", but one step closer to being adult. (Although sometimes I don't know now if I reached adulthood yet.) This particular package was full of additional surprises. Twenties. Not bills. But, twenties. Twenty paper clips. Twenty post it notes. Twenty hearts. And cleverly done too. A candle holder had hearts around the top. There was a heart necklace---- all added up to twenty.

BUT, one thing I still have now is a ziplock of pennies. Twenty pennies. Twenty pennies from the year I was born. AND, twenty pennies, one from each year of my life.

I love the memory.

So, each day, as you celebrate your life remember:

• Life is precious.
  
• Each day is full of memories.
  
• Remember them.
  
• Look for the good in everyone around you.
  
• Forget the bad.
• Send me a package. I'll give my my address. (kidding, kidding!)
  

Here's to another year!

A Little Light

I am sporting a new Kindle. It is amazing! Sorry for the product placement, however, the fact that I now have hundreds, (no thousands, no MILLIONS) of books at my fingertips at any given second, makes me a little excited.

The possibilities are now endless:

• Not only can I read three books at one time, I can have the three books with me at all times (or 10 or 20).
• There are hundreds of free books available electronically. Books I may never have thought about buying before, well, they are free! (Yes, I could have gone to the library, but now, I don't have to leave the house!)
  
• Word on the street- I can get books from libraries ! (I don't know if it's true, or easy or practical. But the thought is great!)
• I have always wanted to be able to read ALL of the Nancy Drew books. NOW, I can. And, I don't have to worry about storage!
• I've just over used the exclamation point way too many times! That's how excited I (still) am!
• Don't you worry though, I haven't lost my love of a bookstore, and the way the pages smell, especially when they are brand new.
  

Few other notes:

January is moving along.

• There's been a trip to Wicked (Broadway in Chicago!)
  
• Completing a school term
• Got a cold, fought a cold (and won!)
  
• Did a few "crafty" projects
• In the middle of reorganizing my kitchen
• I may have just taken out the trash (ugh, trash) wearing brown boots, an oversized shirt from the Caribbean, my favorite red coat, and cropped pants. These pants, I realized tonight, are probably supposed to end at the bottom of the knee. Some days, however, (like today) I am challenged height wise, and the pants are more closer to my ankle.
  
• I have these brown boots. They are too big (I didn't quite realize when I bought them), but they are so warm. My life is different now.
  
• And, Blanche is growing. However, about Blanche, does anyone have any ideas about how to keep her warm. She's by the door which is colder of course, but it's where she can be by the light.
  

Alright world. I think I'm off to read.....um. Sleep. Yes, off to sleep.

Love to all,

Great in '08, Fine in '09, Better than it's been in '10....

Lookin' like heaven in Eleven....???? I'll have to work on it.

Needless to say, the new year has arrived. I've been working on remember to write out 2011 instead of 2010. (The challenges of January.) I've also been (forgive me snow lovers) praying for a nice easy winter. If you are on Facebook at all, you'll also note that I'm fighting a cold, fighting school and lovin' my new couch.

I thought it would be interesting to check out the last few years on my blog and see what I wrote for New Year's Eve since I started. Remarkably, I only found one that really referenced the new year.

I also linked up to my friend Jenilee's blog. She has a Wednesday's Walk. Seeing as I don't have a Mommy memory (since I'm not a mom yet) I decided to link up an old post about my favorite mom and dad!

Takin' on 2011,


(P.S. For those of you counting the days like I am, my birthday is in only 16!)