One thing you don't know about me

This seems like kind of an odd topic, since obviously I've been writing these blogs for a few months now, but I've finally decided to address the actual physical act.

I've been writing since before I could write, and I've been reading even longer. When I was two or so, my parents used to hear noises coming from my room late at night. They'd open my door to find that I had climbed out of my crib and was sitting amidst a pile of books I had pulled off my bookshelf, just paging through each one. I didn't learn to read until around first grade when everyone else did. Books just always held a great mystery to me. There was always such a draw. There still is. Sometimes I feel like everything I know and think I got from a book somewhere, though I like to imagine that a bit of it is just me.

I dictated my first poem to my mom when I was three years old:
Raindrops fall from the sky.
Soft love.

That's all it was, but my mom kept it, along with an illustration I did. Poetry has since been replaced by other types of writing, and I like to think that that two line poem is the best I'll ever compose.

Now as I'm nearing the age where I need to decide what I want to do with my life, I realize that I've known all along. Writing is the only thing I've ever really wanted to do. My love of books has somehow translated into an intense desire to write them for myself.

I don't know if I'll be good-I certainly hope so, but I don't really know. I only know that it's the only thing I can ever be happy doing, and that it's the hardest thing in the world.

I won't make a lot of money, but that'll be okay. I can live in a box so long as I have paper and pencil. And a bookshelf.

Sorry about this tangent, but I was reading back over my old posts, and all of my "things you don't know about me" entries. It just seemed kind of silly that one of the most important things about me hadn't been covered. So now it has been, and you can go back to sleep.

Getting better all the time

Christmas just gets better every year. It really does.

Things that made this Christmas spectacular:
1. At 11:11 p.m. this afternoon I happened to be looking at a clock. For once in my life I honestly couldn't find anything to wish for (I didn't remember the pony I've been wanting until it was too late.)

2. To cut right to the material: I got a gorgeous new cell phone that I was not expecting at all and am currently in love with (sorry Christian.)

3. Since we went to church on Christmas Eve, we were able to just hang out for a few hours before heading over to my aunt and uncle's house.

4. My cousins got a Wii (wheeeeeeeeeeee) for Christmas, so we got to play that a little bit (they wouldn't relinquish it for long-not that I blame them.)

5. My grandma told me on the phone this morning that she's planning on coming down for my graduation this spring.

6. I have the whole rest of Christmas break ahead of me (with two projects to do, but I don't think about that.)

7. I get to go to sleep now-ah, blessed sleep!

8. And number eight, my lucky, favorite number. Jesus is born!

P.S. Merry Christmas

It's a Wonderful Life

Christmas should be really, really fun this year. For one thing, we're actually staying home. Last year we were in Wisconsin, and the year before that we were in Florida. It will be lovely to wake up in my own bed on Christmas morning.

Other reasons why I'm excited:

1. I got my Mom a gorgeous yellow i-pod nano. She just lost her old i-pod, and I knew it was something she'd never buy herself. Anyway, today in Target we were waiting in the check-out line and just chatting, when she happened to mention that she was going to hopefully get an i-pod somewhere down the road. I (very subtly) asked her which color she'd want, and she said yellow!!! I had to try really, really hard to act natural and not burst out laughing. She's going to be so surprised!!!

2. We have a huge Christmas tree. It's about eleven feet tall, and actually scapes the ceiling. We had to stick the angel on a lower branch because there was no room for her on top.

3. My family's going to go see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button sometime over break.

4. We have heaps of snow.

5. Our Christmas picture is acually decent this year. It consists of Amy and I sitting on either side of Annie (the dog) in front of the Christmas tree. Annie looks fairly demonic (her eyes are yellow and her tongue is lolling out,) but my eyes are open (a first), so I'm not complaining.

6. Church. I hope we go on Christmas Eve, because I think it's just more magical. Everyone's still waiting for Chrismas, and the church is all dark and peaceful. I don't know why, but I always feel like chuch on Christmas day is sort of garish, with the blinding sunshine and kids eager to get back to their presents.

A few minute details about me you may have missed:
1. I have wide feet
2. My ears are pierced, but I never wear earrings.
3. I have a scar on my left hand from scraping it against my saxophone reed.

A list before I come down off my cloud

4 Things I absolutely know to be true (or believe in, and won't be budged on):

1. The law banning gay marriage is completely unconstitutional, and I'm ashamed to live in a country where it exists.

2. I will never commit suicide-I just don't see the point, and frankly, it would be a sad day indeed if I ever got low enough to consider it.

3. There is no such thing as Hell. I don't care what anyone says. There is some good in every single person. Yes, even Hitler. I just don't believe God would damn His children, whom He loves, and whom He created.

4. There is no smell so wonderful as that early-morning floral, dewy smell that comes sometimes when it's warm out. I can't really describe it, but it's just heavenly.

I think I'll leave it here. I really don't know what's gotten me into this mood, but all of the sudden I feel like my life is too good, too big, for me to be sitting around not fighting for things I believe in, or at least to not enjoy the beautiful things I have.
This kind of feeling comes over me every now and then, and I feel like I'm destined for great things. I know that sounds kind of braggy, but I've never felt that I was going to lead a small, simple life. I'm going to do something great. Don't know what it is yet, but when I find it, I expect I'll know.

For your reading enjoyment

For your reading enjoyment, here's one of my favorite poems:


TREES
By Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

I really do love this poem-it keeps me humble.