Sunday, March 25, 2012

Little Pink Book


As I was cleaning out a couple of drawers this morning, I found an old phone book from about 25 years ago.  In that little pink book were the names I haven't thought of in probably that same amount of time, and there were also several people listed that I have no recollection of ever knowing. No doubt I did know them at some point, but hard pressed to remember their faces. There were also stores listed that no longer exist, but those were the days of shopping for wants not needs.

Unfortunately, there were also names of too many people who aren't alive anymore. Family members and friends from school, work and other places and times in my life. Some died young and others lived very full lives. A bit shocking to see so many in one little pink book. I was grateful for the unexpected time to think about them again and enjoyed immersing myself in the 80s and 90s.

But the best part of finding this relic was how many friends in that little pink book are still in my life, albeit most with new and many more phone numbers. Some have been constant fixtures and others have had extended breaks...but all can be called friends.  Having friendship's with history, whether it's 5 years or 25 years, is to be treasured.


As I read each page for more memories, I couldn't help but giggle at the neatly written entries. My handwriting since the computer has been anything but legible. In years to come, with all contacts safely stored in our computers, people won't have the opportunity to find a little pink book while cleaning out a drawer...that's unfortunate since it made cleaning out the drawer this morning a little more fun.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Flight Tracker


10 years ago when Zach was six years old and asked to take a Mandarin after school class, I never thought that I'd be here now watching flight tracker. He and a group of kids from school are on their way to Beijing for two weeks. 14 hours on a plane...13 hour time difference...half way around the world.

It's hard having Zach this far away, but this is the next step. He can go to China and see Tiananmen Square, walk on the Great Wall, become more fluent, teach English to younger students at a school, and eat scorpions. What he is really doing though is building memories, learning about life, testing himself, and becoming independent.

We raise them to be part of the world and then go out into it and make a difference. I trust Zach in the world...it just feels a little hard trusting today's world with my son.

我爱你