Hats off to you

Hats off to you

After working 14 hours, two days a week with a few 10 hour shifts in between I always attempt to watch the news on my days off. I suppose it’s my way of reconnecting with the world.  Today is no different. I flip the switch and watch the end of some mindless soap opera only to wait and hear endless banter regarding hat selections for the upcoming royal wedding. ‘Hats bring a sense of positivity’ to people, the announcer insists while continuing to express that such hats range well beyond $100,000.00. I think to myself, a hat for $100,000.00 that may bring a little bit of positivity?

  I imagine the individuals that are able to spend such money on a little spark of positivity. I imagine the outrage of wrong colors, appearance of big foreheads, too many feathers and not enough spunk. I paint a picture in my head of royal wedding hostility including all the press and time that will be spent detailing the glories of the hats, and all the ‘positivity’ it was able to surround the newly married royal couple.  I stop myself and redirect the scene; maybe hats do bring a sense of majestic emotions and such said positivity. However, I can’t stop myself from thinking ‘really, your biggest worry is picking out that special hat; that really outside of a few comments, a shared smile and a 12 hour time spand really won’t be making a huge impact on the world.’ I imagine a world that hats are the biggest problem and positivity is picked up a-top the coat rack.

I laugh, stop  and surround myself in endless memories of Bourbon Street, jazz bands, mechanical whales, crazy out-fits, beads, laughter and hats. Picking up the album of our recent trip to the Big Easy, I flip through pictures of our decorated heads and mentally I am surrounded with every feeling I was consumed with walking through the French quarters.

A purple fedora that complimented Tina’s hair, a birthday candle cake top-hat that told every passer-by it was Jim’s birthday, a blue hat that left fuzz on my dress, an Irish inspired plaid hat that was shared by Dunker and Jarrett, and an astronaut hat that  welcomed Bohaty after the surprise of a life time.

I laugh as I remind myself of the simple joy such hats brought to our adventure. Fabric shaped for a head, inspired to create a smile, or better yet, maybe even some positivity.  I recap the moments Bohaty ‘called Houston’, Jarrett swung the hat around to dance with the ladies, Tina adjusted the purple fuzz to take the perfect picture, and the response of Jim saying ‘hell yes, it’s my birthday’; and I imagine a trip without our decorated heads. I embrace the memories of laughter and become great full for ‘Party City’.

While our hats were not broadcasted on the news at noon, nor would we imagine paying over $20.00 for them. Like the hopes for the royal wedding, our hats did bring positivity. I suppose picking out that perfect hat is worth some mentioning; the few comments, the shared smile and the 12 hour time spand that  is spent wearing them may not make a huge impact on the world, however it will make a difference in your own.  Perspective is a power tool and simplicity and smiles are often the best recipe for unforgettable memories.  Don’t let the chance of a hat bringing positivity pass you by. So here it is, from San Francisco, hats off to you. 

Simple Lessons

Here I sit again, on my purple couch with my trusty 9 lb side kick by my side.  While I attempt to write an entry as to what my good intentions were to be to capture the essence of my move out west; I realize that I have thus far failed to do much but use this as an outlet to vent, complain and tell myself that ‘it will get better’.  I recognize that I have only shared a few stories, feelings and hopes since moving to San Francisco; so here is my attempt to regain such ‘blogger’ status.

I can honestly say, life is different. I feel compelled to share tid-bits of the ‘life lessons’ I have learned as I can now officially say I have been west-ward for 6 months.

Lesson 1: The small things in life will always be the best things. A simple folding of laundry, a good morning kiss, a bad romantic comedy and a simple ‘I love you’ are what makes the days appear to not be so long.

Lesson2: Never take living by the ocean for granted. In short, never forget the beauty of nature’s wonders. Whether it is corn fields, sandy beaches, mountain tops or a grassy field of green; all of it is worth missing, and believe me some day you will.

Lesson3: A simple drink with friends after work will always fill the void. Work by its very name is tough; it is exhausting and can be overwhelming. Sharing moments of tequila shots and long talks will always bring you into greater spirits and in turn make you a better individual.

Lesson4: Relationships are the key to my existence. Love is powerful, it is worth the fight.

Lesson5: San Francisco is not that far away and it is not this giant ogre that cannot be defeated. Hopelessness breads success and bravery turns into a new way of living.

Lesson6: Dream big; then put it on the ‘to-do’ list. Make your dreams, your reality- because if you’re not, is it really worth dreaming?

Lesson 7: There is a big ol’ world out there; figure out a way to explore it. Cultures and people are fascinating, don’t let it escape you.

Lesson8: Outside of lesson 5; nothing has significantly changed since changing my zip-code. My core is still the same, maybe a bit stronger.

I laugh at myself as I reflect on moments during the previous six months of my move. Funny how we wish to escape particular actions or moments throughout our history- when in turn without such moments we may never have moved mountains.  Don’t let fears define who you are as a person, and certainly don’t become your hardest obstacle. Breathe, let loose, make mistake, act ridiculous, try new foods, let go of your ego, laugh at yourself and let the dog track mud in. What matters are the memories, so once again- Cheers to you, San Francisco, I appreciate your hospitality.