Date Night

 (Sorry the photo is so blurry, I panicked and tried to get the shot before the screen changed. Even though the photo isn't great Danny was really impressed that I got the shot. He called me "quick draw." I'm sure he was referencing a spaghetti western or something. Either way, I'll take it!)

Last night, Danny and I had our first date since before the surgeries. We loaded up the truck and went to the drive-in movie theater. It wasn't exactly a romantic movie, but The A Team was pretty nostalgic for both of us. Of course, in my opinion, any movie can be romantic when you're at a drive-in! In fact, Danny and I saw two shooting stars! I won't tell you what I wished for on the first shooting star, but the second one I wished that everyone I know, everyone that I've ever met, would have a moment of complete relaxation. Hopefully, whether or not you knew it, you let out a big sigh of happiness. For the record, I don't believe that telling the wish ruins it. Maybe on birthday cake candles, since that only happens once a year, but regarding spontaneous wishes it's fine to tell what you're hopping for. Just my opinion.

I wished for a moment of complete relaxation because things get crazy in life, and we all need a moment or two to regroup. When I used to get worked up I would try to tell myself, "relax, relax, re-laaa-ax." But, lately, I've found an even better way to lower my heart rate. Instead of focusing on me, I close my eyes and silently talk to myself about all the things I want for my friends (the health of their babies, happiness at home, the fortune to find their big love, success at work), and I think about my dreams for the people of my town, of my state, of my country, of other countries, and for the world. I'm not sure why this new technique works as a de-stressor, maybe it's because it takes me away from myself. Who knows. Either way, it's insanely relaxing, and it makes me really happy.

Novelties In Life

Here are some photos from last weekend. Luckily, there's no such thing as a bad photo on the island. It was incredibly fun re-introducing myself to a place that I love so much! For example, I don't remember seeing snails on blackberry leaves before.

I've always considered myself to be very observant, but I could never understand why I had such a hard time remembering things (details in old memories and things of that nature - long term stuff). In fact, I can't count the number of times a friend, or family member has told a story that included me and I have absolutely no recollection of the event. Finally, now I know that I wasn't causing the lack of memory (due to inattention), but that my tumor was shoving my brain and taking away the real estate. Which oddly makes me happy, and makes me feel like I'm not crazy, or oblivious. I'm sure I've seen snails on blackberry leaves before, but often I get to feel like things are a new experience even though logically I'm sure I've experienced them before. I'm kind of like a child, very excited about the novelties in life.