Time Flies...

...when you're having fun!! Sometimes I can't believe how fast we grow up. I think about my life and what I have accomplished, and I am amazed at the opportunities and successes that have come my way. I am also extremely proud of my younger brothers and sister for the accomplishments that they have excelled at. Being further away from home really allows you to 'watch' people grow. Seeing them everyday you don't notice the differences as much.

You ask what this has to do with anything? Well, family is a huge part of my life, and sometimes when I reminisce, I wonder what other people remember from the past. I like to think of some of my favorite pastimes, and it's crazy how often they come about in my life today:

-I remember tacos at Dad's on the weekends. They were / (are) always so good, and to this day every time I make homemade tacos I get a little taste of the weekend with Dad.

-I remember the endless games that could be played at Grandma's in North Carolina. Who cares how old we were hide and seek never got old!

-I remember rolling in puddles in the rain when we lived at the townhouse in Silver Spring. (Now that I'm a bit older, I wonder what the neighbors thought when they saw me playing outside in the rain! I didn't care, I enjoyed it! But I'm sure they must've thought I may have had a few screws loose, at least once or twice!) I still love the rain today, and when the temperature is just right, I do still 'play' (in the form of running) in the rain.

-I remember having friends of all different colors, and never thinking twice about it. I think that is one thing that I enjoy the most about my life today - it is very colorful.

-I remember going to Grandma Judy's and Grandpa Jon's and throwing things off their balcony. How is such a simple thing so much fun?! (And even today, everytime I see someone sitting on the couch as I look over an indoor balcony, I have quite an urge to throw a pillow over the edge. I literally have to hold myself back sometimes and think, yeah, Brian's grandma would probably not appreciate getting walloped by a pillow that I throw at her. I do have to admit, the last time I actually did this was at Dad's place in San Antonio. Remember that T? That was a good one. I really got you!!)

-I remember my brother how he used to be so silly and crazy! It made me laugh sometimes, and drove me up the wall other times. Now, I just can't wait to see him, always.

-Then I remember how silly and crazy I used to be. I'm sure I made my parents laugh sometimes, and drove them up the wall others.

-I remember when the neighborhood in the back of Grandma's house in NC was built, and I remember it was the first time that I really thought of the reason why they had to build on such pretty land. Today, I am a bit of a sucker for a nice piece of property.

-I remember the ice cream truck, and how you could literally buy things for .50 cents, sometimes even less. Twenty years later, .50 cents would probably get you the wrapper of the ice cream that the kid next to you just finished...

-Saturday morning cartoons were always a fav. I always think that when I have kids I want to show them the cartoons that I watched, but then I think that is nearly impossible so they'll have to grow up in their own day and age.

I know I'm really not that old, but I do think about the past and have plenty of other memories. I think being further away from everyone really makes me homesick sometimes, but when I think about how many wonderful people we have in our family, I think of how lucky we are. I suppose life's been quite a barrel of fun, because my has time flown by...

I miss you, T, and really can't wait to hang! (And would love to hear some things you remember!)