mandolin lessons

new experiences.

there's something intriguing about

them -- these new experiences.

they have a funny way of

making us what we are.

new experiences...

just because.

just because you saw it

once.

just because you thought you'd

never.

just because you know he'll love

My cousin playing his new mandolin. He's just a wee bit excited!

it.

just because you were

curious.

just because.

it's always inspiring to

see people choosing, seeking out, walking to

these,

sometimes scary

sometimes intimidating

sometimes crazy

experiences.

like, 

deciding it's time to get a 

motocycle license.

like,

moving your entire family

to Texas

for a few months.

or like asking your parents to

buy you a mandolin

because you just wanted to learn

to play.

new experiences.

they have a funny way

of often

making us what we are.

cheers,

natalie

enjoying the impractical.

cheers to summer.


did you feel it today?
were you in it?
were you all about it?
were you absorbed?


on days like these my 
{sometimes too serious}
soul
needs to be reminded
to do things.
just to do them.


somedays my
{often too serious}
soul
needs to be reminded
to be a bit less practical
and just
enjoy.


lucky for me.
i have friends who help
my soul
remember
to
play.


and enjoy
the impractical.


so instead of going out
to get some practical
food item like breakfast, 
lunch or dinner.
she & i went to get
(of all impractical things)
a sweet.


at this place...

yum indeed!

while i've had a few treats

from this fabulous

establishment over the years,

i'd never before set foot in

their cafe.

and boy oh boy have i been

missing out.

so

one fork-full at at time,

as summer surrounded us

this

{sometimes a little too serious}

soul

was gently reminded to

forget about all the things

she wasn't doing 

and instead

kick her feet up,

grab a fork

and just enjoy.

cheers.

to sweets.

to my friends who teach me.

to enjoying the impractical.

oh and 
dear summer... 
cheers to you.


- n.

extended vacation

I took a little vacation. A little Memorial Day vacation. Ok, well sort of a long Memorial Day vaction. An  e x t e n d e d  Memorial Day vacation to be exact. I returned Thursday night as the sun was turning all things a milky orange color during the best time of day, dusk.


My couple of short airplane flights took me this time to Los Angles to visit a friend, two friends actually, the ocean, the mountains, the taco trucks and the sunshine. 

Quality time spent romping around LA with each of these friends of old was exactly what I had been looking for. 

The ocean was just as I remembered her -- brilliant, strong, always changing, yet comfortingly consistent. 

The mountains? They were perfect (as mountains often seem to be). 

And finally, judging by the rumblings of burritos still in my stomach and the skin on my nose starting to rebel by coming off of me -- I think the  e x t e n d e d  Memorial Day vacation was fairly successful.


How was your Memorial Day??


best,
natalie.

bus 21.

Upon my arrival this evening at the infamous MSP International Airport, my ride home didn't quite work out...


(i.e. I didn't have one)


so, I decided to give the public transit a go. The Light Rail from Lindbergh Terminal to Lake Street/Hiawatha exit to bus 21. No trouble at all.

As I smashed my way onto bus 21 with my backpack in front and my biking satchel in back, I took up more room than anyone really approved of. 


Then...


Two strollers with heaving, tired Moms behind them joined us on bus 21.


The man sitting across from me had a long, thick and full grayed beard. He even had a walking stick.


"What's in the bag sweetheart? Looks heavy."


Ahhh. He was talking to me? I was not quite prepared for bus interactions so his question caught me off guard.


"Oh, ummm... you know, clothes, a camera, socks...."


(Socks? Did I really just say socks?!)


"You know, I know these streets like nobody else 'round here. You know why?"


(My still somewhat surprised green eyeballs just staring at him seemed to indicate it was a good time for him to continue).


"Well, I used to biked up and down these here streets in the older days. Hell, I even remember the first time I saw a spotlight in the sky! Some thought it was aliens, but not me! I just took off on my biked, ridin fast I could toward' it. And you know what it was? It was Target's grand opening! Can you believe that??"


(No, I really couldn't).


The next few people made their way onto the bus. Baby strollers exchanged places and kids seemed to sorely out number parents at every block. I watched as this Full-bearded Man with The Walking Stick interacted with nearly every individual who passed him. He gingerly, at one point, leaned down to pick up some litter than others (like myself) had merely stepped over. As one of the mother's with a full stroller began exiting the bus, he stood up and shouted a, 


"Don't come on! A Mom with a stroller is gettin off!!"


(He winked at me).


The next batch of kids walked by him in breathless wonder with one little girl exclaiming from the top of her lungs,


"Holy ****! It's Santa!!!"


This Full-bearded Man with a Walking Stick put his finger up to his lips and leaned down to the little girl,


"Shhhh... don't let the adults know. See you at Christmas sweetie!"


As the bus began approaching Pillsbury Ave, I stood up to make my move. 


"You know your stop backpack girl? Often people stare off into space and forget to get off at the stop they want. I always try to help people get right where they're trying to go. You remember your stop?"


(Yes sir, I do in fact remember my stop).


"Maybe I'll see you again someday. I seem to always be riding the 21. It's a great bus."


We exchanged a "peace" as I scrambled through the bus doors that always seem to close quicker than they should.


And as I walked away from Lake Street and bus 21, I realized people like that -- like that Fully-bearded Man with the Walking Stick -- they're magic. 


Bus 21. I think I might just have to ride you again ....


   
cheers,
n.

wednesday specials

since beginning
this new year
wednesdays have become something very special.


i can't tell you
it's a "special wednesday."
because these wednesdays,
they keep coming.
after every 7 sleeps, actually.
that's why i should call it,
something like:


the wednesday specials.


i do many things
on my 
weekly wednesday specials.


things that might look like nothing
to many.
but it's something.
it is.


do you know how i know?


well, it's when that "special" happens.


the special of
...watching a 4 year-old discover how 
to count to $1 million.


the special of...learning new words
like "veteranarian" then deciding
right then and there
that you might want to be that.


the special of...
interruptions and calculations.


the special of...
thinking you know when
you don't. 


or maybe it's just the special of...
spinning the wheel.


and taking a LIFE tile.

see what i mean?

the wednesday specials.

- n.