New Year, New Resolutions

I've started thinking about resolutions for the new year, but I
haven't had a chance to fully gather my thoughts on them yet. I know,
that sounds so contrary to the whole notion: procrastinating on new
year's resolutions. But honestly, I need to sit down and have some
alone-time to think about how I'd like this next year to be
remembered, what I'd like to achieve, how I want to grow.

Growing up, my mother always had us sit down and write 3-5
resolutions. We were told to think about it seriously for the last
couple weeks of the year. We were supposed to think about how we
wanted to be different from how we were the previous year - or how we
might continue improving in areas of life that needed work.

Our resolutions were supposed to aim high while being reasonable,
measurable, achievable. We were mostly encouraged to make resolutions
about practices that affected our character more than anything else.

So often, I think of wise words from my friend Kathy shared with me
years ago. I remember telling her how frustrated I was with myself -
that the same character and personality flaws I've always hated about
myself since I was a child persisted despite all my desire to change.
Her response? We may not be all we wish we were, but thank god we are
not who we once were.

And it's true. I have only to look at myself 5 years ago and think of
the ways I know I've grown since then to know it's true. I may feel
unchanged, but I'm not.

So I'm thinking about this year ahead and how I'd like to look back at
it five years from now. I want to say, "yes, that changed for me that
year; I made a resolution." Of course, I don't want them to be binding
oaths that keep me from being free and flexible. But I'd like them to
be meaningful and memorable. Let's see how I do.

Reading for pleasure

I'm reading Anna Karenina. Again. Well, not exactly "again"... I pick
up where I left off every time I'm at mom & daddy's house. It's so
good I always think, "how did I ever put this down?!" But I do. Every
time I leave.

I guess at their house, I relax a little more than almost anywhere
else. The unfortunate aspect of working from my home is that I never
leave the office. I can become so engaged all the time that I end up
working way too many hours in a day.

On other fronts of the mom & daddy's house vacation landscape, I think
I've gained about 5 pounds in 3 days from all the delicious Korean
food my grandma's been dishing my way. So amazingly delicious!!

Already jaded?

So update on my life from the past few hours: this flight is annoying. At least I have a pleasant rowmate. AND at least I got to carry my guitar on, no problem. Maybe after the whole "United Breaks Guitars" YouTube debacle, they're extra conscious. Who knows? Okay so I'm thankful for those things. 

Anyway, my flight didn't BOARD until 1pm - we were supposed to depart at 11:45. And they haven't made a single announcement about why they were delayed or what time they anticipate our landing. There wasn't even anyone at our gate until 12:50. So that is frustrating too. Oh well. 

On a more personal level, I drank a whole can of cranapple and need to pee like a caged dog. But they keep running into pockets of turbulence, so we're all chained to our seats. Of all things to drink and not be able to pee...Cranapple!! Why? Why? 

When we boarded the plane, they announced someone with a peanut allergy was on board, and they needed to know if anyone brought any peanut products onto the plane. If you had any nuts or nut products, you needed to ring your call button to alert a flight attendant. An older woman a row ahead of me anxiously rang while grasping her (delicious looking) Mrs. Mays snack bag. 

That must be one serious allergic reaction. You can't be on the same plane with peanuts?! It's an airplane! You were just in an airport! It's like peanut Mecca in there! Okay, in all seriousness, I'm sure there was a parent preventing the worst case scenario and making sure they weren't seated RIGHT behind someone with an economy-size canister of Planters who might drop some carelessly or offer their clueless (and deathly allergic) toddler a legume of the Knowledge of Good and Evil when the parent accidentally nodded off during the flight.

Which makes also smile... thinking about how the Worst Case Scenario is different for different people. Remember that book made popular years ago, something like the Worst Case Scenario survival handbook?  Maybe there should be a series of them like the Dummy instruction manuals, based on different people's fears and legitimate (though circumstancial or specific) concerns. Like the Worst Case Scenario Handbook for thr Incontinent. I could almost use that one for pointers now.  

Holiday Thoughts

Thanksgiving was a wonderful time for me with my family in Houston.
I'm always grateful for the time I get to spend with each of my
sisters, my parents, and grandmother, as well as cousins and other
extended family.

When I allow myself to think about it, I know I'm not pursuing the
career any of them envisioned for me. Considering that - and the fact
that I'm not in the securest line of work - I am so thankful for their
support and love.

If you come to a show in Houston, you're sure to spy my mom, daddy,
and probably my younger sister there. Every time. Which is amazing, I
know.

All this to say, there's so much to be thankful for. But the
relationships with those who love us despite how well they really know
us - including our broken histories and darker demons - seem
miraculous. Perhaps my Thanksgiving musings are a couple weeks late...
Honestly, I'm surprised I got 'em in before Christmas hit. And I'm
glad I've got these thankful thoughts on my mind before the next
family gathering.

Who would you change seats for?

I boarded a plane this morning, headed from home to Nashville for the
Americana Music Conference this week. As I put my guitar in the
overhead bin, I dropped my phone on the shoulder of the woman who
would be seated in front of me. She was comfortably settled in, and I
felt so awkward and sorry for bonking her with this brick.

I got settled in too. Then Patty Griffin walked by. Cool, right?

Well, then the funniest thing happened. The woman I bonked did the
most violent double take, stared at Patty walking away down the aisle,
grabbed her bags, and hurriedly changed seats to sit by her. Really.

So here's the question. If you were comfortably settled in, who would
have to walk by on your flight to cause you to grab your stuff and
move?

Airport life lessons

I aimed the phone to protect the innocent... But yes, this family had
eight kids. Well-behaved kiddos but still eight kids. With a hot mom
who looked about five years older and the same size as her teenage
daughter.

And here's life lesson #1: even if you're young and energetic and your
kids are good kids, it's still a freaking lot of kids. And they're
loud, even if each one is using his or her "inside voice." And they
cost a ton of money. Poor dad had to take the kids in three trips to
the vending machines just to keep it manageable, and he probably spent
thirty bucks on fritos and skittles.

Lesson #2: people are gonna stare and try to figure out the
mathematics of what is essentially none of their business. I certainly
did. This goes beyond the kids. Anything unusual? Gonna stare. Or keep
looking back. Kinda like when I was in Wisconsin in a small town and
people spoke really slowly to me.

Lesson #3: don't trust the "house specialties" in an airport
restaurant. Be prepared to be as disappointed as ever. It's still
airport food. I was telling this to a friend of mine, and he said
"that's why people eat at McDonalds - all they sell is consistency. Oh
well, that's not true, their fries are delicious."

Arizona

I love this place. I'm spoiled by the scenery.