Family Ties

   When contemplating the term "family" what is it exactly that comes to mind? I will admit that one of the first things, for me, is a photo of my best friend, Laura, and her husband in a silver picture frame with the letters spelling out "Family" printed along the rim.  With potential to grow, it signifies the beginning of their happy and precious life together.
   Family are the people whom you often share the most intimate moments of your life with.  Thorough the roller coaster of life you decide to grow together.  Learning from each other and dealing with emotional issues.  There is a powerful bond of love and hate that keep a family strong and forever committed to each other.
   Now, I know that many biological families are not like the one's I have described, but that's were the "chosen" family comes in to play.  The family of friends that you surround yourself with everyday.  The siblings and parents that you choose to grow with and love no matter what.  Your best friend that you get so uncontrollably angry with, yet would do most anything for.  The "adopted" parents that love and care for you when you may not be so close to home.
   Finally bringing me to my point, the family that you don't exactly choose, but chooses you: co-workers.
   Looking back over the past 3 1/2 years, I can only describe the Christopher's Crew as exactly that: Family.  We may be a twisted family with some very strange ties, but we would all go to the ends of the earth to support each other.  Many, including myself, have grown and left the nest, but Christopher's will always be home. 
   There I have met some of the best people that I am elated to have as a part of my life.  They can make me furious and hysterical in the same day.  We get on each others nerves and spend way too much time together, but Family Meals and play days/parties are some of my most fond memories of college (including Paintball, even though I hated it).
   I may never meet a group as close and special to me when it comes to co-workers, and I'm glad that no matter the distance, this family always sticks together.



Finding Purpose

   The time is coming once again to send another "child" off into the world.  For those of you that don't know, I'm a Puppy Walker for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind Inc.   My "children" may have 4 legs and fur, but they are no less a part of my soul.
   I only have but a single short year to teach them how to be an asset to their community.  I know that they will do great things with their short lives, but unlike many of your children, they will not come home for the holidays or call just to check in every once in a while.  As I say goodbye and shut the door to the transport, I will never pet their precious heads again.  It truly is goodbye that I am never ready for.
   It is in these last months before her return that I realize how much a part of my life Pansie is.  Because of her, I am never alone.  I will never go a second feeling unloved.  I am utterly needed, and it makes me sad to think that her blind person will never get to see her excited expression at the word "hungry" "ice" or "toy".
   She never surprises me at her level of excitement when greeting people.  Even when it's someone I don't particularly like, she can still only barely contain herself. 
   Even now, although all her toys are in the living room and she could play and run if she wanted, she sits at my feet while I type just to be close to me.  She will never be too embarrassed or angry to be around me.  I am her world.  And she is mine. 
   This job is very rewarding! Knowing that they will have such an amazingly wonderful impact on some one's life one day.  But until I get the placement e-mail, all I can think about is how much I miss them.  I could not imagine going to class or even the store without Pansie, but soon I will just be another face in the crowd.  A normal shopper.  Which has it's perks, don't get me wrong, but it will be a hard transition to make again.
   So I'll sit on the floor instead of the couch for just one more month so she can be close to me and I to her.  It breaks my heart that she doesn't even know it's coming.  That one day I will just disappear and leave her without any explanation.
   I love you Lucky and Pansie, and I will never ever forget you.

Southern Traditions

    It's that time again!  The Statesboro Kiwanis Fair has blown in with the crisp fall weather.  The Statesboro Fair is an event celebrated by all ages and remains a top priority of all Statesboro residents.  The flashing lights and sweet smell of fried Oreos and Twinkies draw the southern population in like mosquitoes to a black light.
    Overwhelmed by the shouts of the Carnies begging for "just one more player", it's easy to become engrossed in the dream world.  Masses of people swamp the carnival rides that only know two directions: vertical and spin.  Stuffed animals larger than some adult beckon in the younger audiences and parents spend 20 after 20 to knock down just one stupid metal bottle.
     Why do we subject ourselves to this year after year? It's tradition! Besides, where can you watch a steeplechase for pigs, eat a plate full of pancakes, view a quilt show, show your prize calf, and get so dizzy you could vomit all in the same place?  Only in the South.

  

Long Since Gone

  I keep a shoe box full of trinkets in my closet above my color coordinated wardrobe.  The box is almost bursting forth of item that would seem meaningless anyone but me.  A fake plastic butterfly, pins and buttons, a sample bag of coffee, name tags, and photos.  A pile of junk that will most certainly be tossed in the garbage once I pass on.

   To me it is something more.  Each item represents a memory I wish to hold close to my heart.  Moments in time that I do not wish to loose.  My first prom, a beautiful "I love you", a trip to Mexico, my first real job, and the best Christmas present ever.

   Why do we feel the need to hang on to these constant reminders of the past?  A habit that can cause us to bury ourselves in times that are long since gone and miss out of the wonderful moments of the present.

  How do you incorporate the past present and future into your everyday life?  Are you creating new memories through old connections?  Live in the happy days that are yet to come.