Countdown

I have been keeping track of quite a few upcoming events, I have found that doing this helps in looking forward to more than the big events.  Seeing each one on my calendars (yes, I keep several to track home, office and work), and my countdown app makes it easier to know that there are quite a few small items to make it past before our big ones come to be.  Things to look forward to and make the tough, exhausting days a little easier to take on. It's like the excitement of going back to the dorms to see your closest friends and sisters come together from different parts of the globe for another exciting year of memories and adventures.  The joy and treasure of welcoming a new family member into the world after seeing them grow in the belly of someone you love and care for.  Being a part of special momentous occasions of those near and dear.  It is seeing your favorite people mingle in making new friends and connections, a party surrounded in love, laughs and my favorite-noise.  Its whispering a secret that makes the reality of it so much better, its making your kid sister from enemy to best friend, eating ice cream on a hot summer day and running in the rain on a steamy night.  Finding the perfect dress for that night out.  A water gun (propeller, as I had to say when working at camps) fight that makes the hot sun that much more sweet.  
In this, I keep thinking how close we are and hope to be in our home life.  The house has definitely changed and morphed into our (possibly forever-as Darren likes to think) home by the strength of Darren's hands along with those that have helped in its process-from my wonderful father to our friends.  It's a blessing to think that God has this for all of us and while trying to live in the moment that he has given us while looking towards an adventurous future that he has still in store for us.  
I guess countdowns may never lose their magic in making memories and adventures no matter the age.  They help me remember to be thankful for I have been given so much more than I could have imagined and its getting through the everyday moments that make it so much sweeter.  One item on my countdown before our 2 year anniversary and two more after that for our fall cruise.  I am certain to make more dates to look forward to but trying to enjoy this time before its gone.

Last journey

Last week I drove Ruby, my truck, for the last time. I spent just over ten years traveling in Ruby and while the passengers came and went she and I were going strong all this time. Atleast as well as it could given the different times she could not pull through for me but giving me a break from whatever I was supposed to be doing. I grew up in college and Ruby was right there to get me from one point to another. I turned up the radio and sang along to my favorite songs, drove with the windows down while the wind tangled my hair, slept at rest stops on the way to and from school. I took time to use the back roads in her, laughed at the conversations I had with others. I drove all my siblings in her, rides to the beach, grocery and other places. Turned my led foot on as I escaped the city and at times myself. With drive thru's, phone calls, living out of a bag in the backseat when work days turned into late nights or a sleepover. Helping me move in and out of the dorms, my first apartment and then into our home. She always had the room for buying all the lumber and sheetrock for our home renovations. Ruby was indeed faithful until she had her moments when she just was not feeling it which let me know she needed more than just up keep-she was getting lots of miles on her and giving me memories.

So on my last drive from our home to my parents it made me think about all the times I spent in Ruby. She is back with my parents who lent her to me all this time. I could not even tell you the day I named her but I always defended her when my MC girlfriends tried to call her something else.

Another chapter in my life closes, and a new one has already started with our "family car," the cube. Soon I will figure out a name for it, we just have to get acquainted. After all I did just spend more than a decade with a great lady.