telling stories

Every now and then Elizabeth and I will be hanging out and I'll say something in a dumb voice or sing a line from a song at an absurd volume and she will laugh at me or smile and shake her head because she thinks I'm silly. But it's a good silly, a silly I understand because inevitably when I'm hanging out with Katie she'll do or say the same kind of thing. And I'll smile or shake my head because it's funny, and because it's my big sister being silly.


I realized today on that Katie girl's birthday that I learned how to be a good older sister because I have a good older sister; so much of the way I interact with my younger one comes from the lead I've taken from my older one. I figure Elizabeth will want to run errands with me or go to a concert because I always want to do those things with Katie. I introduce Elizabeth as my baby sister because that's how Katie still introduces me. I keep trying to convince Elizabeth to take a road trip with me this year because Katie planned a fantastic one when I graduated high school. And I know as the age gap that can seem like a big deal closes more and more every year, that Elizabeth and I will sometimes forget who is the older and who is the younger because we'll move into a really, really wonderful friendship.

So when Katie was born today 32 years ago, I obviously wasn't alive, but I count myself real lucky I got to come around 6 years later. And I'm thankful for the twenty-something years I've had with a big sister who seems as excited to hang around with me as I am to hang around with her...which is precisely why I just gave her the birthday present of a visit from me next month. Lucky lady!

I am sure she can't wait to buy me dinners at restaurants I can't afford and let me wear all of her clothes (though for the record, Elizabeth is NOT trained yet to be cool with me borrowing/stealing).

you are the best thing

Is anyone else besides themselves with excitement for the new Ray LaMontagne record to drop tomorrow? Download this please.

It's perfect you see because Morgan, eff kid...you are the best thing.

You are the best thing because you got these parents.

You are the best thing because Logan presented you Lion King style after your church blessing.

You are the best thing because in that blessing you were blessed with a heart as big as your mama's.

You are the best thing because you already have these awesome grownups in your life.

You are the best thing because so many people love you.

You are the best thing because at your party Logan actually fit 14 mini cupcakes in his mouth.

And baby, you are the best thing ever happened to me even if you don't always love me aggressively kissing you.

the next movement

Last night I stayed late at work to finish up a take home text for my Evolution of the Human Diet class. By the time I was done, it was dark and I realized my bike blinkie light is currently dead (cus maybe when I got it I forgot to turn it off for 4 days). I called my dad to see if he could haul me to the train stop since Murray in the dark with no light seemed not so smart. En route to the station he said he could just take me all the way downtown, he just wanted to stop at a gas station to get a drink first. It was 9:00, he wasn't expecting my call, and now the round trip would take about 45 minutes.

But then I remembered my dad is a take-a-drive kind of guy. Trips to the grocery store have always been the long way there and back. The cure for middle child self-pity usually involved a ride with him on an errand somewhere and there was often a gas station treat involved (if I played my cards right and appeared really wounded). So last night, as a 26 year old, it felt so comfortable to sit in the front seat with my head out the window while my dad drove me home. I figured that as much as anything explains why I love a car full of friends and a drive up a canyon or why I'll circle the block a time or two when I'm not quite ready to get somewhere.

My mother shines through in my face more and more, and I hear her words about half the time when I open my mouth. I've never wondered about what has shaken down from her to me because I see evidence everywhere...but it's nice when I get to catch a glimpse of my dad in the mix too.