Making connections and making sense

On the 4th of August, 2016, Hans made up a couplet. I immediately typed it up and sent it to myself. A few days ago, I was looking through some email I sent to myself over the years and found his sweet little poem. Here it is:

Smile like the wind is blowing in your hair‎;

Because all the dirty stuff can get out of there!

I don't remember why he said those words. Maybe I was sad or maybe he was being silly...

It does not matter; a few days ago, when I read it, it made sense in a strange way.

The very next day, I also watched "Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind" for a second time. I loved it just as much as the first time.

Maybe because it is the end of another year and maybe because this year has been such a Dickensian year, Hans' couplet and Alexander Pope's quote from the movie stayed with me. I mean Hans is nowhere in the same league as the latter, but sometimes an 8 year old's ramblings are just as poignant!

2018 has been a year of wins and losses. Yes, I am somewhat employed which is better than not employed at all. But I had to give up work that I really did enjoy doing. On the same note, I gained a friend and lost a friend. I guess it is almost like a balancing act from a purely logical perspective, but from an emotional point of view, a loss is a loss and there is sorrow attached to it even if a gain is a thousandfold better.

But my memories keep them all intact and I wish I could pick and choose what I want to remember. If it was as simple as "wash that man right outa my hair" or go through a procedure to erase painful memories, I would most likely enjoy washing my hair even more or willingly go in for mind numbing surgeries!

Alas, life ain't that simple.

So, as 2018 is coming to an end, I would like to remember all the pain and the joy.

And I want 2019 to be the year when ASid gets that acceptance letter to the program of his choice at the University of his Choice. It may take him away from home, but I want him to fly and explore the world on his terms and discover new interests and make new friends. I will definitely feel some pain in the process, but ASid's joy will be worth it! Obviously, I will be overjoyed as well and the boy will be pained a bit!

Such is life and I am glad that life is complicated that way!

 

My First Tweet!

At exactly 3:33 pm today, I tweeted for the first time and it had everything to do with First LEGO League. Today was the tournament and Hans' team was 8th out of 23 teams at one point in time. It was such an amazing accomplishment that I had to scream it out in some way and I did - I tweeted! Not exactly a shout out, but the best I could with what I had at my disposal.

Eventually, the team finished in 10th place. However, they won an award in one of the categories. This was the one I talked about a few days ago in a post. It had to do with Core Values. Hans’ team won second place. The award is given to the top 2 teams that display the Core Values of Inspiration, Teamwork and you guessed it...Gracious Professionalism! 

It was an incredible moment.

The smallest and the youngest team demonstrated that nothing is impossible. The way they came together was unbelievable. They were honest about their weaknesses and proud of their individual strengths. 

They were so good that I tweeted a couple of more times.

I sincerely hope I haven’t caught the Twitter bug! But I may tweet again when the going gets good!

 

Dreaming while awake...

2 days ago, I had planned for a different day; however, it worked out very well the way it unfolded.

It started off with this 3 hour session in the morning where I was in a room with maybe 50 other "eager beaver" types who seemed excited to have been hired for a job that allows you to work only if you are needed and if a few others before you have most likely declined to work that day! I could explain that in detail, but why bore anyone with mundane information?!

What I will remember from those 3 hours is meeting this young woman. This one was maybe half my age with a sparkle in her eyes. Her mom dropped her off and she had a snack she pulled out half way through the session. That is the only thing I envied about her - that she is still a child in some ways and has a parent thoughtfully taking care of her!

Some days, I wish I was still a child. But then again, I love being a parent to my own children. I love my life the way it is.

And while I was reflecting on my life amidst paperwork, I received a sincere text message from my friend P. The first issue of the magazine I worked on was delivered to some homes around my neighbourhood. (The rotating postal strike has been an annoyance, but more power to our postal workers!)

P's text message was the first comment ever on my written work that is now in print. So, I want to share it.

"I just read your work. Wonderful and touching piece. Keep up the good work!"

P, coincidentally, was also the first person to hear about my job offer from my "second" interview. I was with her when I received the news. And I had burst into tears out of sheer relief and happiness!

So, 2 days ago, it became a bit real to me as I was filling out forms which were a consequence of my accepting the above job offer.

Most of my life, I have wanted to write and teach. I started writing when I created this blog; my children inspire me to write on a daily basis. But actually seeing my work in print was a dreamlike moment. And soon, I will be teaching in a classroom! It still doesn’t feel entirely real.

So, for the last 2 days, I have been walking around like I am in a dream. These have been the best couple of days of my life in a long time.

Noteworthy Remarks: Many moons ago, I believe I bought a book titled "Why do bad things happen to good people?" or something like that! That was how I felt then! Now, I believe that "good things come to those who wait"! It has been a long wait, but worth every second that went into it.

Never ever give up on your dreams. And when they come true, enjoy that feeling of dreaming while awake!