Random Blurbs of Happiness

I am babysitting at the moment, and will soon be doing dishes and then starting to work on some schoolwork (combo of stuff from last year and stuff for the oncoming year....), but first I wanted to write a post about some random blurbs of happiness, since I need to focus on the happy (I was inspired by my lovely far-away-friend Carolyn who will be mentioned again in a bit...). So here goes:

1. I was just thinking about how much I am craving an apple at this moment, which has been a pattern of late. I don't know what it is about the past several weeks, but the apples - mainly the Fujis and Jazzes - have been DELICIOUS. Sooo sweet and juicy and crisped to perfection.... I have been having them for snacks, with meals, for dessert, etc., multiple times throughout the day. And they are making me look forward to apple-picking this fall... there is nothing like an apple fresh off the tree, or applesauce made from freshly picked apples, sweetened and colored only by the natural sugars and hue of the fruit. I feel a little guilty.... our fruit basket has been depleted several times par moi, and I wonder what percentage of this month's grocery bill is taken up by the purchase of apples...

 2. This summer, I began writing letters to several friends who live a distance away. It's been so, so nice. For one thing, I feel so much closer to each of these people, even though it has been forever since I've seen most of them. Letters never fail to be more personal than a message over the internet, no matter how emotional or intentional the email/Facebook message. And it's easier to keep in touch with people via snail mail. Albeit slower than the more modern methods of communication, exchanges last so much longer through letters than an email chain, or a Facebook chain.

And what better pleasure than opening the mailbox to find not a catalogue, magazine, bill, advertisement, or simply no mail at all; but a letter addressed to you! I absolutely LOVE receiving mail. I always feel like a child again when Mom and Dad bring the mail inside, announcing the arrival of a letter for me, and I hastily snatch it away from the stack before running up to my room to curl up in my blue chair and read it.

More recently - about a day ago now, actually! - I received a letter in the mail from my friend Carolyn (you should definitely check out her blog, Ya Salaam! - she's super creative and witty and her tone of writing always makes me happy). Carolyn and I were friends ten years ago, when I was a wee seven year old and she a... hmm, I'm not sure. I actually don't know how old she is (Carolyn, if you read this, how old are you?). BUT in any case, we used to play together when we were very young, until I moved away and our church fell apart and she moved away, too. But thanks to the world of Facebook (I have lost interest in the Facebook phenomenon, but I must accredit it here), she and I were reconnected! This was a while ago... and just a few weeks ago we began our snail-mail correspondence, which this brings me great happiness. Also, she sent me a mix CD in the mail, which only added to the fabulousness! Which brings me to....

3. Mix CDs!!!! I have developed an obsession with making mix CDs. I have branched out in my musical repertoire this summer, and come to establish a rather eclectic blend of music on my iPod. (I listen to almost anything, although I don't listen to a huge amount of pop or hard-core rap, don't like screamo, and can only handle some country.) This has inspired me to share my musical interests with others, and compiling playlists for different people is SO much fun. It's a simple gift, but can be personal if you want it to be - I like to throw in some stuff I love as well as stuff I think the intended music recipient will enjoy. And the most fun way to share mix CDs is via snail-mail.... as I experienced yesterday, receiving music in the mail really brightens your day - at least, it brightens my day!

and.....

4. In addition to reconnecting with a now far away childhood playmate, this summer I decided to reconnect with a more local friend. She and I were close throughout my later middle school years, but grew distant as high school progressed. No reason in particular.... I guess it was more circumstantial than anything else. In any case, we had a wonderful friendship when we were close, and for the past three years I have hated the awkwardness between us, and the space. I had not acted upon those feelings or even acknowledged them much until this year. Just before the start of the summer, I decided that it was silly to sit and wallow in the loss of a friendship that could likely be rekindled. And so she and I have worked at becoming close again this summer. It has been one of the highlights of my year, honestly. Even though we have seen very little of each other due to our crazy schedules, it is more than wonderful to be able to sit down and pour out our hearts to each other and laugh hysterically at stupid things and feel close again.

This is a rather long post and I must move to the kitchen and get dishes done before tackling some school-work, so I will wind up now....

I guess this last bit made me realize how thankful I am for certain parts of my life. The past two years have been a struggle, certainly, and I have battled (and continue to battle, on and off) some pretty intense lows. But I have been blessed with incredible, INCREDIBLE relationships with individuals who have supported me in so many ways. Without the presence of these people in my life, I would be a train-wreck. Thank God for true best friends, loving teachers, mentors, elders, friends, family - in general, people who love me enough to devote time and energy to helping me in whatever ways in which they are able...