25 Things I Learned In 25 Years

So, I had my birthday on Saturday.  It was my 25th birthday, as a matter of fact.  In honor of that, I've compiled a list of things I've learned in these 25 years I've spent on the planet.

Without further ado:

1.) That pan that you have in the 500 degree oven really is as hot as you think it is.

2.) If all else fails, turn on Eric Clapton.

3.) Sometimes, clutching your favorite stuffed animal and having a good cry is the only solution.

4.) In the immortal words of my best friend Amy, "We may not be able to drink the pain away, but we can sure as hell numb it."  Especially true when accompanied by a bottle of wine.

5.) People who consider themselves cultural elitists (aka those whose opinion on music/movies/TV is far superior to yours) are closed minded jerks who are missing the true point.  As long as it makes you feel something and brings you joy how can that be bad?

6.) Chocolate can solve all the world's problems.

7.) No matter how big a deal you make out of the major moments in life, the things you'll remember most are the little things.

8.) Nothing beats a midnight run to McDonald's for sweet tea and fries.

9.) Having your heart shattered to bits sucks.

10.) Always make time for shoe shopping.

11.) Bullies are a way of helping you realize your inner strength.

12.) Never try to explain migraines to someone who has never had one.  They think they're just really bad headaches.  They're not.

13.) Find a place (or places) on the planet that you love.  They make bad days/moments/weeks/months/years better knowing that they exist.

14.) Laugh, for chrissakes.

15.) Have a favorite movie.

16.) Listen.

17.) When the world is closing in and you feel like it can't get better: go for a drive.  Turn the radio up as loud as it can go and roll the windows down.  And drive.  Fast.

18.) Always have a favorite baseball team (go Cubs!).

19.) Be able to talk about sports.  Intelligently.  Same goes for politics and current events.

20.) Have fun, dammit.

21.) Donate as much as you can to causes you believe in.

22.) Having a pet makes a new place finally feel like home.

23.) Never underestimate a good creme brulee.

24.) Working with people you get along with is more important than people give it credit for.

25.) Keep discovering who you are.

The Road and The Radio

You have a lot on your mind.  Some of it’s good, some of it’s bad.  Either way you just want to clear your head.  So you get into your car after work and start driving home.

You turn a different way than normal.  You drive until you find a road that you don’t recognize and you turn.  Maybe it’s right or left, it doesn’t really matter.

You keep driving.  You drive until you’re on a road that you can drive freely on.  Perhaps it’s an empty highway or a lone country road.  There are no other cars around and no stop lights.  You just keep driving.

You take turns periodically, just to liven things up a bit.  Maybe you don’t, whatever – it’s your journey.

You fumble with the radio, trying to find the song that your soul needs to hear so you can start healing.  Amazing how the right song can change you.  You don’t know what it is you need to hear, but you’ll know it when you hear it.

It’s beginning to get dark out and a few raindrops are beating down.  You turn your lights on.  You flick your windshield wipers on.  They swipe across, wiping the rain away.

The street is all glittery now.  Everything glistens in your headlights.  The scenery is dark, glittery and empty.  Everything seems darker in the rain.  And yet, there’s a beautiful, eerie iridescence to it.

Finally, that song you need comes on the radio.  For a few blessed seconds, the world seems to stop.  The thoughts leave your mind and your soul feels warm.

And you cry.  Or you don’t, it’s of no importance.  But you start to feel better.  And as the song ends and you stop crying (if you ever started) you realize it’s time to go home.  So without even knowing the way, you find your way home. 

The lights are reflected back brightly in the black, liquid puddles on the asphalt.  The tires splash through sending droplets of glitter scattering through the air.

You get home, turn off the radio and fumble for your keys.

You walk to your front door feeling lighter.  Less thoughts cluttering up your mind.

Maybe you even feel a little free.

And you won’t tell anybody because it’s a secret. 

A secret between you, the road, and the radio.

Winter Driving

So, I drove out to my parents for dinner in the midst of a winter storm.  Watching the weather you would have believed that it was the storm to end all the storms.

Pfft.  Please, it was an awful lot of hullabaloo about nothing.  At least where we were at.  I mean, sure.  There was some blowing snow but as long as you use your brain (you know, the electric jelly located between your ears) it was fine.  Just don't go too fast and you'll make it to your destination all fine and dandy.

Having not driven in winter weather out to where my parents live - in the middle of cornfields - in quite some time I was a tad nervous if I would forget how to drive in the snow.  Honestly, this is one skill that I do not want to get rusty on.  Mostly because I figure that I would remember at some point while almost dying and pull the car over and listen to my heart pound in my ears...baBoombaBoombaBoombaBoom....

I am pleased to say, that it is like riding a bike!  Well, I'm sure it is if I could actually ride a bike.  But, I digress.  And that's another post for another day.  Short of a few rough patches, I made it out there alright.  Sure, I had to go about 35 on a 55 mph road...but in these conditions that's alright!

For those who don't drive out in the country during the winter all that often, roads can kind of be rated on how fast you can go:
55+ : Snow, what snow?
45 - 55: Eh, be a bit cautious, but you're alright
40 - 45: Okay, things are getting a bit dicey...just pay a little more attention
30 - 35: Roads are not great, but just keep both hands on the wheel and you're okay
20 - 25: Holy crap...radio off, cell phone silent, hands gripping the steering wheel with ninja grip
15 - 20: Mother of God...you're still allowed to drive in this?  Time to start singing "Jesus Take The Wheel"...
10 - 15:  Start praying.  Jesus, Buddha, Brahman....they're all your buddies now!
5 - 10: WHY ARE YOU DRIVING? Park the car, walk home.  It's not worth it.