This Is Your Life!

Sometimes you can have a moment that tells you all is right with the world.

Actually, it started last night. Lady Gaga sing-alongs at 12:30 am tend to make everything better. Feeling accepted and loved brings about all sorts of good feelings. I woke up today still happy, even with the thought of going to class LOOMING over my head. It was a beautiful day. I'm not always the type to notice that sort of thing; I'm always rushing somewhere. I'm not into the whole "live laugh love" thing or the "take time each day to appreciate nature" thing. It's just not me, and it seems unrealistic. But today, the sky was too nice even for me not to notice. I had a good day at my internship, solved the problem of my gas light appearing prematurely, and even covered up the stain on my shirt that came from dripping coffee when I was noticing how nice it was out!

I went over to Allie's house tonight; she's been home from the hospital for about a week and for the first time today, was feeling happy. As I drove down my street, I noticed that it was STILL light out at 9:30pm. I'd seen a lightning bug earlier. Even though MY summer started a month ago, summer has officially arrived. I took the scenic route over to Allie's; I stopped at Starbucks and went through Locust Valley as I noticed a movie being filmed there the other day and I wanted to investigate further. I drove through Glen Cove, and Locust Valley, and thought of how much history I have just on this one road. I looked over in the direction of a dear friend's house and thought of how we grew up together and somehow, she graduated high school this past weekend. Jaclyn is my dad's partner's daughter; I remember when she was born. She's off to Bentley University in the fall...and I'm graduating college next year...LA LA LA LA LA LA LA....

I drove past where my friend Sam lives and thought of how she's coming home soon. I passed the really sketchy Dunkin' Donuts where I've gone with friends at odd hours of the night. I passed the Million Dollar Deli and Buckrams and remembered that there were some good things about high school. College really gives you perspective; you either learn that you hate or you love where you came from. I learned how much Long Island really means to me, and how much I appreciate it now...and that sometimes, you can re-invent yourself. You can right the ship and not hate the place where so much hurt took place. Truth is, you're going to get hurt no matter where you go. It's not about where you live. My life here is so different than it was just three years ago, when I graduated high school.

My dad used to talk about this type of party he wanted to give someone (he discussed throwing it for my mother or my grandmother on respective milestone birthdays). He called it "This Is Your Life." We would start out at home, on a party bus or some other large vehicle. The bus would travel to (in the case of my mother)Brooklyn, to the house where she grew up, and my grandmother would get on the bus there. Next to her high school in Staten Island where her friend Pat would get on the bus. Next to Point Lookout, my grandparents' former summer home, where my mom's oldest friend Mary would get on the bus. You get the idea. Forest Avenue is kind of like a "this is your life" tour for me; there would be more places on the tour now, but Forest Avenue would be a good start.

Going back a bit...I was so happy to see Allie so happy tonight. She's getting a brand new car, and no one deserves it more than she does. I can't wait to ride shotgun :D Seeing Allie happy was the icing on the cake; all is right with the world.