What Does It All Mean?

A blog-friend was "tagged" to post about five things around her house that say something about the person she is. The rules indicate that you take a picture of these five things, post them, and tell the blogging world what they mean.

I thought this was great idea. Unfortuately, most of my things are still packed in boxes. So, I'll just have to tell you about them.

1--The Fireplace:

The fireplace, which I posted about when I first started this blog, says so much about my life. My love of family. My need to nest. I love our fireplace because it makes me closer to the life I had as a child, and the life I see for myself in the future. I love curling up next to a warm fire while readinig a book and feeling nestled into life. Happy. At peace. It says to me: you don't have to do the laundry, clean the bathroom, finish that proposal for work, you can just sit next to me and enjoy your life. In this moment. Worry about all those other things later.

2--A picture of Dave and me in front of the US Capitol on Inauguration Day

There's something about that picture that takes me back. It doesn't take me back to a "better time." It takes me back to a "different time". I was living in DC. I didn't have a car. I lived in a one room apartment. I watched George W. Bush, even though I disagree with him on every issue, be sworn in as President of the United States. It's small picture of the way we lived then. I was excited to see someone sworn in as President, but it wasn't unusual that I might attend that sort of event. Now, I'd be lucky to see a motorcade, and if I did I'd wonder, "Wow, who could that be?" Then, I was pissed everytime the Secret Service blocked the street in front of my apartment building.

3--Our Bookshelves

I love our bookshelves. They're filled with interesting and re-readable books. I love everything on those shelves. Sometimes I just stand in front of them and think about all the things I've learned from those wonderful pages. Such as "We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families". This book, as depressing as it is, completely changed my view of the world. There I was in 1994 thinking that life was just a breeze while 800,000 people in Rwanda were being killed because of their race. I didn't even know things like that happened anymore.

4--The Refrigerator

Not the contents, although I do love to eat and cook, but the things on it. It (if they were unpacked) is covered in photos of so many fun times Dave and I have had together, times we've each had with friends. It's like a collage of tiny, fleeting moments caught on film. Some are flattering. Some aren't. But all of them make me smile from ear-to-ear.

5--The Bathroom

OK, I know it sounds a little strange, but it's my sancutary. The place no one bothers me. The place I can go to settle my thoughts, my feelings, my life. It's the place I know I will always be alone. Maybe while I'm taking a bath, or maybe while I'm in the shower. But, it's my place. My little spot in this crazy world. And I love it.

So, that's it. According to my blog-friend, I'm suppose to "tag" someone. Well, I won't. If you think this might be a fun exercise to you. Then do it. If not, don't.

Pretty simple, really. But now you know all there is to know about me.
L.