Hitting the Books

Another first day of school has come around. Derek and I got our backpacks put together last night, all of our school supplies tucked safely inside, just like when we were little. But now, instead of a pencil box full or crayons and Elmer's glue, we have thick text books and ball point pens, plain college ruled paper, and graphing calculators (at least Derek has one).

I used to plan out my wardrobe for the first week or so of school, putting each top and bottom on a hanger in my closet where I could just grab it the night before and lay it out on the foot of my bed. I must admit, I barely thought about what I was going to wear today; maybe for a minute last night. I would get up and do my hair just so and leave plenty early to see my friends. This morning I combed my hair and pulled my bangs back, and left at 7:45, content to just get to work on time at 8.

I used to wonder who was going to be in my class, if there would be any cute boys, and if my teacher would like me. Now, I usually don't know a soul in any of my classes, unless it was predetermined by us, I could care less if there were cute boys (I'm married!) and I have to work hard to be noticed enough for my professor to have an opinion about me. Do I mind any of those changes? No, not really. I get to meet new people, I'm perfectly happy being married, and I like the challenge of getting to know my professors.

So yes, the first day of school is very different now. But I don't mind a bit. I've grown up I guess. But there are certainly some things that will never change.

For example, excitement over going school supply shopping. I have hauled Derek through the school supply section in Wal*mart so many times, I'm sure he has it memorized by now. But there's something about new notebooks, clean binders, newly sharpened pencils, and brand-spankin' new gel pens that make my heart race. It's exciting! I always want to buy a new set of crayons, even if I will never use them, a new cute binder, a bouquet of pencils, and two new boxes of Crayola Washable Markers (skiny tip and wide tip). But, now that I'm a "big girl" I have to practice restraint and remember I have tuition to pay and not go crazy. This year, I bought a new binder (it was on sale) and four new pens. I felt proud of myself for not spurging this year.

And there's always the excitement of new classes and new knowledge that I'm going to acquire this semester. What's not to love? I get to sit at the feet of some of the brighest minds in the world and learn from them. I get a fantastic education that I don't pay out the nose for. And I go to a school whose buildings are dedicated temples of learning. There's not much to complain about while at BYU.

Besides....football season starts this week....

Dear Void,

Sometimes I wonder if anyone ever looks at this blog. I think, "perhaps all of my comments just go out into that cosmic void that no one ever sees nor hears." And it made me a little sad, that perhaps no one really cared what was written here or what I really think about things.

But this morning, I realized that perhaps that is a good thing. I can write things...just for me. And it doesn't really matter what I say. I guess many people have blogs just because they like to write and it's not for anyone to read or see, but if they do, that's just great.

So, I guess that's what this blog is going to be. And I'm kind of excited about that prospect.

Working on it

So, I've started working on my essay for my application to the School of Education. It's due in...oh, like 3 weeks, and I am sooo nervous! I need to follow the prompt exactly, but I want it to be a memorable essay, not just a dime a dozen collection of words. Anyway, when I'm done, which should be within about a week, I'll post it on here and you can decide.

hmmmmmmmm..................

Time and Place

So, I have this list of places and things I want to see in my life. Moments I want to capture with my internal lens and treasure them as I do so many other experiences from my life.

For as long as I can remember, my family has watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from the time we get up until Santa shows up on the screen a few hours later. We sit in our pajamas and watch from the comfort of our couch, cereal or toast in our hands, ooing and ahhing at the floats and bands. But you know, one day, I want to be standing on the street, shivering in the New York cold, tasting the beauty of that Thanksgiving moment.

I've been to Washington, D.C., yes. But in my dreams, I see myself walking through an immense crowd, everyone in Red, White and Blue, celebrating the Birth of our Nation. What a beautiful moment that would be, too see fireworks bursting across the National Mall, engulfing the world in celebration! Standing on the steps of the Capitol Building breathing in the moment of joy as our great Nation celebrates the moment when over two-hundred years ago, fifty-six men pledged their Lives, their Fortunes, and their Sacred Honor that we might live free.

Whether or not I am influenced because my Dad served his mission in Italy or not, I do not know. What I do know, is that I long to catch a glimpse of Carnivale in Venice. Not only would I be breathing in the air of a city so ancient and full of life that I would probably clog my lungs, but I would get to see the gay costumes of the age, detailed and spectacular masks, and soak in the moments of a life that is... Venice.

There's no way Fall could be prettier anywhere but New England. There's a magic about the way the leaves coat the ground in musical confetti and the town seems to jump into a cozy sweater of golds, reds, and chocolate browns. I'd love to spend a fall in Massachusetts or Maine, soaking in the moment as leaves topple gently to the ground, just begging to be gathered into a pile.

There isn't really a time of year that I wouldn't LOVE to be in London, but who wouldn't want to mosey through Hyde Park at Christmas? Not too many places decorate the city like London does. From Christmas trees in Trafalgar Square, to Snowflakes hanging from wires on Oxford Street, to ice skating by the Natural History Museum, this city comes alive with lights and gaiety during the Holiday Season. A million moments of breathtaking beauty can be found in London, especially during the celebration of our Savior's birth.

I know I could go on for hours, spouting off brief sketches of the moments I long to tack onto my life. But I suppose the real beauty of life, is that there are so many moments to be lived and so many to treasure. Life brings the opportunity to cherish, love, and learn from those moments, photographs of life that we hold inside us and occasionally share with those we love. I can't wait to spend even more moments in this world and add to my album of memories.

YAY!

I have to tell someone! One of the curators here at Special Collections where I work, just offered to write me a letter of recommendation for my application to the History Teaching Major. Totally of his own accord, without ANY soliciting on my part. YAY!

Pages

I was looking at my recommended reading list, and realized that I could probably go on forever. In fact, I believe I will go on forever, adding to the ranks beautiful books that inspire.
Derek and I were talking about the Pulitzer Prize yesterday as we walked home from campus. He asked what it takes to get the Pulitzer Prize. I said that it goes to an article, book, play, etc. that is "earth shattering", something that changes the way we look at some one, something, some event, because of what was written. For example, Truman, by David McCullough. It looks into the mind of a man who made a decision that, literally, shook the earth. A man who changed the lives of--well everyone. And that book...well, it did the same. Just not quite as literal of a sense.

That made me think, about the extraordinary impact of words, the Power of the Press. And you know, perhaps I could put into my own words how I feel, and I think someday I will. But for now, I'll let a Prophet of the Lord say it for me.

President Gordon B. Hinckley once said,

"It is both relaxing and invigorating to occasionally set aside the worries of life, seek the company of a friendly book and mingle with the great of the earth, counsel with the wise of all time,. ..Youth will delight in the heroic figures of Homer; or more modern, will thrill to the silent courage of Florence Nightingale, on the battlefield...The power of Cicero's oratory may awaken new ambitions in the middle age, or the absurdity of Don Quixote riding mightily against a windmill may make your own pretentiousness seem ridiculous;...From the reading of "good books" there comes a richness of life that can be obtained in no other way. It is not enough to read newspapers....But to become acquainted with real nobility as it walks the pages of history and science and literature is to strengthen character and develop life in its finer meanings."

Amen.

Imagine

I cannot profess to agree with everything John Lennon did nor all that he said. But I must say, one of the most beautiful songs in rock history is Imagine. I sometimes look at our world, and feel the despair of countries where horrible things happen, simply because someone is different. Looking back through history, the horrific images in our texts all relate to this fact: someone thought they were superior to another and felt they had a right to desecrate that which they held most dear. Often times, this was the very breath in their chests.

So yes, this time I do agree with John Lennon...if only we could respect one another as children of God. And not see the differences in each others skin, in each others faith, in each others language. Just....imagine what the world would be like then.

Imagine there’s no heaven
it’s easy if you try
no hell below us
above us only sky
imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there’s no countries
it isn’t hard to do
nothing to kill or die for
no religion too
imagine all the people living life in peace

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
no need for greed or hunger
a brotherhood of man
imagine all the people sharing all the world

You may say
I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
and the world will live as one

Hello Again

So, this poor blog has been seriously neglected. Since I haven't posted anything since December, I decided I should at least write...something.

So here it is.

SOMETHING.